CLEVELAND, OH — With the Cleveland Browns soundly defeating the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals 24-3, this could be a pivotal moment for troubled franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson.
Watson, who served an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy in allegedly sexually assaulting 20-plus Houston-area massage therapists, went 3-3 in six games under center for the Browns.
Now, one full off-season later and almost all cases settled, it is now time for Watson to fulfill his record $230 million fully guaranteed deal.
Thanks to two total touchdowns, highlighted by a 13-yard scramble, Watson began to show signs of his former four-time Pro Bowl version from his time in Houston.
Make no mistake, Cleveland has gone all in by paying Watson his controversial deal and sticking with him thru all the off-field issues, but now, it’s up to Watson to hold up his end of the bargain in producing much better results than 154 yards, one touchdown, one interception and barely completing 55.2 percent of his passes.
Yes, it may sound trivial and not-picking, and even downright petty, but if you’re going to be paid that amount of money to lead a franchise as desperate as Cleveland to overpay for, then your production will come under intense scrutiny every week.
Will Watson deliver? Time will tell.
While many are happy with the win—especially against a bitter rival such as Cincinnati—depending on how Watson fares in primetime vs. the archrival Steelers down on the Confluence, will determine just how much of a proverbial return on investment, Cleveland fans and the Browns front office should expect on their hefty gamble.