Browns QB Deshaun Watson unloads on critics in surprise appearance

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Deshaun Watson heard the noise after his disappointing first season with the Cleveland Browns, but the former passing leaders’ confidence didn’t take a hit.

Watson played in the Browns’ final six games last season after serving an 11-game suspension. The team went 3-3 on their starts and Watson admitted there was some rust he needed to clear.

The former Houston Texans Pro Bowler showed glimpses of his Pro Bowl form but completed just 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions. During a recent appearance on Twitter Spaces with Offseason Chopz, Watson opened up about his struggles and some of the criticism he’s received.

You can’t define my career in six games, Watson said. It’s like that when things like that don’t go your way and you know people have their own opinions. But like I said, I’ll keep a smile on my face. I’m gonna keep showing love, and none of this is gonna break me, man. I am who I am and people know who I am.

Deshaun Watson gets honest about Super Bowl expectations

Getty ImagesDeshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns made a massive investment to land Watson via a blockbuster trade last offseason, dropping a string of draft picks including three first-rounders and giving him a fully guaranteed, six-year, $230 million contract. The goal was to solve their decades-long quarterbacking conundrum and make Cleveland a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

With a full year under his belt in Cleveland, he’s confident the Browns can turn the corner this season, tying him to the Philadelphia Eagles run a year ago.

Who knew Philly was going to go to the Super Bowl and do what they did? said Watson. Nobody did. I felt like we did when we trained against them, because they were legit. So we knew they were going to be very successful. But the outside world, they weren’t talking about Philly. And it’s going to be a different team this year.

The host responded by saying, it’s going to be the Browns this year, you’re right. Watson quickly fired back: Yeah, exactly.

Outside of Watson, the Browns have key players in place, including running back Nick Chubb, defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward. All are locked into heavy contracts and the championship window is now for the Browns.

Browns confident Watson can turn things around Deshaun Watsons excited about additions to Browns roster, says Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to local reporters at NFL owners meeting about Deshaun Watson and how the quarterbacks offseason is going and looking to the season. Thursday March 30th, 20232023-03-30T22:21:20Z

Despite a not-so-stellar first season, Watson has plenty of support within the building. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has spent a lot of time with Watson and sees the benefits, is leading the charge.

I think the confidence for me comes from seeing it, and I’ve seen it do it,” Stefanski said at the NFL’s annual meetings in March. I saw him do it in those games last season. I know it wasn’t perfect. I certainly wasn’t perfect. We weren’t perfect around him and as we all know, it’s not a one-man show. It’s a team game and we didn’t have as much team success as we would have liked at the end of the season there.

But I’ve seen it from Deshaun in games, I’ve seen it in training, I’ve seen it in his career, that’s why I’m confident.

The Browns did some work to improve the Watsons’ weapons. They landed Elijah Moore via trade, brought in speedy veteran Marquise Goodwin, and selected Cedric Tillman with their first pick (No. 74) in the draft.

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