RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Deshaun Watson said this week that he didn’t care if Cleveland Browns fans booed him. It appears he might care a bit.
Watson was booed in Saturday’s preseason game. There was a smattering of boos when he entered the game in the second half, from a small group of fans in its seats already. The boos were noticeable after Watson threw a bad interception in the second half.
Watson was not happy with what he called disrespect from the fans.
“I think the whole world knows, it has nothing to do about performance, It’s a little bit [more] personal than that,” Watson said after the game to the Cleveland media . “It’s a disrespectful thing. I’m going to keep whatever I feel between me and my family.”
Watson faced several lawsuits for sexual misconduct when he arrived with Cleveland. He was suspended six games by the NFL for that. Watson has also drawn the ire of fans for not playing well after Cleveland acquired him in one of the biggest trades in NFL history, then signed him to a fully-guaranteed $230 million extension. Since the Browns traded for him in 2022, he has thrown only 19 touchdowns. Owner Jimmy Haslam called the trade a “big swing and miss” in March 2025, though the team is having Watson compete for a starting job this season.
Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after the team's 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game on Saturday. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Nick Cammett via Getty Images
One thing that has set Watson back is injuries, and he referenced that after Saturday’s game. He tore his Achilles in 2024 during a game at Cleveland and some Browns fans cheered .
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fanbase cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said Saturday. “What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in their own city, and they cheer.”
Watson was asked if he regretted coming to Cleveland.
“I don’t regret anything in my life,” Watson said. “I think the Lord puts me in these situations for a reason. I don’t regret anything at all. I had different throughts on how it was going to be, but it is what it is.”
Watson said he thought working back from two Achilles injuries, doing charity work in Cleveland, “hanging out with fans whenever I do see them” would help his relationship with Browns fans.
“I guess it hasn’t. It’s personal,” Watson said to the media . “It is what it is. There’s only so much you can do to change that.”
Earlier this offseason, Watson said he had no ill will towards Cleveland. That also doesn’t appear completely accurate, after Saturday’s comments.
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