QB Deshaun Watson (8.22.26)
What were your thoughts on the performance today?
“Yeah, it just didn’t go our way. We didn’t get completions and execute, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
What did you see on the interception?
“I don’t know, I got hit, so I was asking guys on the sideline what happened. I haven’t even seen the play actually, so I’m not even sure.”
On that last fourth down, did it get tipped?
“Yeah, it got tipped.”
We talked to you before the game about how you might respond to whatever reaction the crowd gave you. What was your reaction there?
“Man, I didn’t have any reaction. I think the biggest thing is, I think you guys know, and I think the whole world knows, it has nothing to do with the performance. It’s a little more personal than that. So, I think that’s a disrespectful thing. I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that, and just move on.”
But don’t you think that winning and playing better would eliminate some of that bully?
“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles, and that same fan base cheered when I got hurt. So, what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in their own city, and they cheer.”
Does any of that make you regret coming here?
“No, I don’t regret anything in my life. I think the Lord put me through situations for a reason, so I don’t regret anything at all. But I had different thoughts on how it was going to be, but it is what it is. Sometimes the tables turn, and I’m patient enough because I’m a child of God, to wait for that time to change. So, I’m not tripping on it.”
How about the quarterback competition? Do you feel like your whole body of work, how do you feel you’ve presented yourself in terms of trying to win this thing?
“I don’t know. I mean, that’s going to be Coach (Todd) Monken’s decision. I just continue to try to win the day each and every day, and like I mentioned before, the organization, Jimmy and Dee (Haslam), AB (Andrew Berry) and Coach Monken, is going to make that decision for the organization.”
Do you feel like you’ve won the job?
“I don’t know. I don’t even get my hopes up, honestly. I mean, yeah, I think I’ve done a good job to be able to lead this team and be a starter in this league. But, again, I don’t know how other people feel internally, I haven’t talked to Coach Monken about that or anybody else. So, again, I’m just kind of open with you guys on how this is going to play out. I just take it one day at a time, and whenever that time comes, it comes.”
Coach Monken said he doesn’t know when he’s going to make it, but he wants to get somebody in place so they can start getting all the reps with the ones. How valuable would that be to be the guy moving forward?
“Yeah, I think it’s very valuable for whoever the position goes to. You’ve got to build that trust, you’ve got to build that rhythm, you’ve got to know how guys operate. And not just for the quarterback, but for the whole team, for the whole offense, for the offensive line, being able to hear one cadence, one voice, walking in the huddle, being able to know how this person operates, when things break down, how this quarterback is going to operate. So yeah, I think it’s going to helpful for not just the quarterback, but for the whole offense and the whole team.”
If you are named the starter, do you feel like some of those feelings that you talked about before will dissipate and that you can develop a really nice relationship with Browns fans, and you can put that stuff in the rearview mirror or will you always carry some of that stuff with you?
“I don’t know. The only time I feel that energy is when I’m in the stadium or it’s on social media. Like I mentioned before, when I’m in public, no one’s mentioning anything. So, I think that’s the only time those people who are holding it in is trying to disrupt the energy. Because on social media, players can’t respond back and in the stadium, players can’t respond back. So, I get it, I understand it. It is what it is.”
The quarterback job is toughening up. Can you defeat that negativity?
“I don’t know. It’s a mental battle every day. I feel like I get more love on road games than I do at home games. So, if it is my spot and he does make me the starter, maybe it’s 17 away games, then. I don’t know.”
What about the fact that you guys do have your first two are on the road and your first six of nine are on the road. If you win the job, might that work in your favor?
“Again, I’m not sure. I don’t know. I thought being away for two years and working myself back from two Achilles injuries and putting the time in, being around the facility, being around the city, doing charity work in the city, supporting the Cleveland Browns, hanging out with fans whenever I do see them, being honest, being the type of person I know I am, and the character would help, and I guess it hasn’t. So, that’s why I say it’s more personal. It is what it is. People have their own opinions, and there’s only so much you can do to change that. So, at the end of the day, I just have to continue to work on it and strive to be better mentally moving forward.”
You’ve talked a lot about your mental health despite the backlash. In dark moments, like maybe today, what have you done to help you not fall into that dark place?
“Today wasn’t really a dark hole, it wasn’t something I didn’t expect, I was just kind of neutral with it. But I lean on my mom, and ultimately, I lean on my wife. That’s my biggest person of peace that I have. You might catch me during the games, in certain situations, looking up to her in the suite, just making sure that as long as she’s there, I’ll be good, I’m going to get through it. She’s been there the whole time, through my situations the last five years, so she’s the best person in the world that I can lean on for support. I’d say my wife and my mom, for sure.”
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