Mike Florio expects Deshaun Watson public shaming by fans to continue until they break him
Deshaun Watson's suspension is over, but his punishment continues in the form of protests. During his debut game with the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback was audibly booed. Watson allegedly wrote it off as a typical fan reaction, but one NFL analyst has claimed it was beyond that.
Speaking on Pro Football Talk, NFL analyst Mike Florio claimed that the boos were linked to his refusal to acknowledge what happened that led to his suspension. As a result, until he confesses and repents, the quarterback will continue to face public shaming. Here's how he put it:
"Every time they have a road game, the booing is going to be there. It's just going to be part of it. He's tried to just shrug it off as well. ‘You know, when you're the road team, that's what happens.’ No, no, no, no. It's not that. It's not because you're the road team. It's not because it's a rivalry."
He continued, explaining the battle of attrition taking place between Watson and the fans:
"It's because there's a guy who has allegedly done some vile things who served a suspension for them. And the last we heard from him on it, he says, 'I maintain my innocence.' And now he won't talk about it at all. So that's why the booing is going to happen. That's why it's going to continue to be a focal point... It really is a strange situation overall."
The quarterback is coming off a 11-game suspension resulting from dozens of accusations of sexual misconduct from massage therapists. Over the last year, Watson has dealt with a huge number of civil lawsuits that he has settled out of court. That Deshaun Watson has maintained his innocence, it's hard to see how he can be making progress with his treatment.
It seems likely that until Watson makes some kind of admission or announcement, the booing will continue.
How did Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson play in his debut against the Houston Texans?
Many expected Watson's return to lead a newly boosted offense, but the defense stole the show instead. The Houston Texans scored 14 points and the Browns defense and special teams scored the same number. The Browns' offense failed to score until there were about ten minutes left in the game. Those points came from a field goal.
Deshaun Watson just threw an absolute DART to a Houston Texan
Watson completed 12 of 22 passes for 131 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception in the contest. To put it simply, the rust was clear. Will he get into a groove next week?
Deshaun Watson will need to hit form if the Browns are to make the playoffs. Cleveland are 5-7 and realistically have to win all their games if they are to have a shot. The Browns have their work cut out for them, starting with next week's battle against the Cincinnati Bengals. With everything to do and the majority of the world seemingly against him, it will be interesting to see if Watson can silence his critics.
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