Once again on Monday, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked whether or not the team could turn away from quarterback Deshaun Watson. He answered it the same way he had been for the last couple of weeks. However, it is worth watching whether or not this becomes a deeper issue.
To put it simply, the Browns offense is failing and there is no easy fix in reach. They need to try something because they are a 1-5 football team that is watching their season slip away week by week. Still, Stefanski does not want to make a change at quarterback, even temporarily.
“I think Deshaun (Watson) gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win, and we need to play really good offensive football at his position and really at every position to be successful on Sunday,” Stefanski said on Monday.
It is worth a try to at least see if backup quarterback Jameis Winston can light some kind of spare for the team. After not reaching 20 points in six straight games, it should definitely be on the table. Even if it is not an issue right now, it could eventually become an issue in the locker room .
Watson not getting it done can impact the jobs around him and future contracts as well for players in those kinds of situations where they are looking to get paid. If the team sees the coach isn’t doing what is in the best interest of the team, that is where the chemistry issues come into play. In the public view, Watson’s teammates are backing him. That does not mean that is what is going on behind closed doors.
In the NFL, these are grown men who are playing to build generational wealth and feed their families. They want to be put in the best place to succeed and build their careers.
Last year we watched Joe Flacco, P.J. Walker, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson lead a more explosive offense than the Browns have had this season. There are deeper issues with the offensive line and perhaps even the scheme, but the biggest is the player behind center.
Watson has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this year and is completing just 61 percent of his passes with five turnovers total.
It is not going to be against the Cincinnati Bengals likely, but eventually, Stefanski is going to have to reverse course and make a decision to pull Watson. If he chooses not to, things could turn a whole lot worse. Stefasnki persists it is his choice to continue playing Watson, which could be the whole issue.
“I don’t get caught up in narratives, but we have a good dialogue with myself, Andrew (Berry), and ownership, about all things that have to do with this team. They’ve been nothing but supportive, and any decision when it comes to football is my decision.”
Related: Browns’ Myles Garrett broke silence on how the locker room is doing after four straight losses
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