Peter King retired following the Super Bowl, but had he still written his column this week, he said his lead item Monday morning would have been how badly he feels for the fans of the Cleveland Browns.
An embarrassing 33-17 loss to Dallas in the season-opener wasn’t the worst part for Cleveland fans. With more disturbing off-the-field allegations surfacing with regard to quarterback Deshaun Watson, some are wondering whether the Browns could use his alleged conduct to escape his $250 million guaranteed contract and the accompanying salary-cap implications.
“They probably will try at some point but I have no sympathy for the Browns whatsoever,” said Yahoo! NFL insider Frank Schwab on Wednesday’s edition of Inside Coverage.
How much the Browns knew about their quarterback before they acquired him in a 2022 trade is uncertain. What is certain, according to Schwab, is Watson’s play will not return to its 2020 form and the Browns should be accountable for his contract.
“They made one of the worst trades in NFL history and signed one of the worst contracts in NFL history. They deserve no pity in this scenario. They are stuck with this and they deserve to be stuck with this.
“And at some point, contract or not, Kevin Stefanski has to look in that locker room and say, ‘I have to do what’s best for the team. I can’t keep putting him out there.’”
Watson’s backup is Jameis Winston, the first overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Browns will win more games with Winston under center, Schwab said. Winston has started only 10 games the past four seasons, none in two years. And in his last full season as a starter, 2019 with Tampa Bay, he led the league with 30 interceptions, most by an NFL player in a season since Richard Todd threw 30 in 1980.
“Jameis Winston’s going to make his mistakes,” Schwab added. “We’ve all seen Jameis Winston, we’ve been on the Jameis coaster and we know he’s going to make five plays a game where you’re just like, ‘Oh my goodness, Jameis; what are you doing?’ At least he gives them a chance to win, which Deshaun Watson is not going to do this season. I truly believe that. I’m out on Deshaun. I’m out on the Browns until they make this quarterback change.”