If you've been keeping up with the 2024-25 NFL season, you probably saw how painful it is to watch Deshaun Watson. Once deemed one of the brightest stars in the league, he now appears to be the biggest reason why the Cleveland Browns are amongst the worst teams in the NFL.
Reflecting on his epic decline, Shannon Sharpe stressed the role of having your confidence diminished by using the example of Ben Simmons . The Australian playmaker was once revered as one of the best guards in the league but now is easily seen as a financial burden; he is earning over $35 million annually but cannot log even average stats to help his team.
Sharpe on the similarities
Watson was among the most feared quarterbacks in the NFL and considered to be the future face of the league. However, a series of on and off-the-court problems made him miss a lot of time since 2021. All these problems made it impossible for him to live up to the 230 million dollar contract he signed.
To illustrate the extent of Watson's decline - in 71 games for the Texans, he completed 68% of his passes, logged 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, and averaged 269 yards per game, culminating in a 104.5 passer rating. In contrast, over 17 games for Cleveland, his completion rate dropped to 60%, with just 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and only 181 yards per game. Consequently, his passer rating stands at 79.5.
To make matters worse, Watson is now the first quarterback in NFL history to average 5.5 yards per attempt or fewer in each of the first five games of a season. Discussing the epic decline in confidence, Sharpe compared his situation to that of Simmons, who fell from grace after he was publicly criticized by his head coach and former teammate.
Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers fans also did not want to see him suit up for them, so the three-time All-Star's confidence took such a brutal hit that he has struggled to regain his form, even after moving to another team.
"I don't think Deshaun, I don't think what happened - same thing, look at Ben Simmons," Sharpe said . "Look at Ben Simmons in basketball - All-Defensive, All-Star, All-NBA, Rookie of the Year; yeah, he got hurt, but his mentality was that what happened in Philly. Y'all remember I said he was never going to be the same. His coach and the best player on the team Embiid criticized him. I said it's over. I said he was done in Philly."
Related: Mike Krzyzewski on the biggest problem in youth basketball and college: "I'm not sure the love of the game is the impetus to be good"
Ben needs to change the narrative about himself
Given that Simmons has showcased his potential to be an All-defensive First Team member and a strong candidate for the DPOY award, he is required to work tirelessly to change the perception of analysts like Sharpe. The fact that he has averaged 6.5 points and 7.1 rebounds over the previous two seasons hasn't helped.
Every offseason, he promises to maximize his potential yet fails to play even 45 games for his team, mostly due to injuries. His offseason videos have been mocked by some, especially the ones where he is working on his biggest flaw: outside shooting. It's safe to say that if Ben cannot reinvent himself soon, he may even be considered one of the biggest flops in NBA history and out of the league before turning 30.
Related: "Your defense changes overnight" - Gilbert Arenas names two teams that can boost their championship pedigree by adding Ben Simmons
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