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The US Sun
Cringeworthy moment Cleveland Browns star Joel Bitonio ‘refuses to accept’ team-mate Deshaun Watson helping him up
By Bob Williams,
5 hours ago
A BRIEF interaction between Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and one of his offensive linemen has sparked an online frenzy.
Watson had a nightmare display in the Browns’ season-opening defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, with two interceptions and six sacks.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson offers to help Joel Bitonio off the ground JohnnyNicks216/X Watson reaches in to lift the offensive lineman JohnnyNicks216/X Bitonio swatted away Watson’s hand and got up on his own JohnnyNicks216/X A video of the incident went viral on social media JohnnyNicks216/X
Midway through the game, Watson attempted to help up offensive lineman Joel Bitonio from the ground.
Bitonio swatted away Watson’s hand, rolled over, and got up.
The incident was captured by an eagle-eyed fan, who posted a video on social media.
“Anyone else see Bitonio refuse help from Watson after he recovers his fumble?? Not a great sign…” the fan wrote.
“Hopefully it’s nothing…As a big man that’s a bit beat up, it’s a lot easier to get up by turning over and pushing yourself up rather than trying to get up by being pulled up from somebody,” one fan noted.
“Offensive lineman preference is rolling over and pushing themselves up I believe,” another fan said.
A third fan commented, ” It looked more like overall frustration. I guess we’ll see in the next couple of weeks, though.”
Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas also commented on the incident and said it had nothing to do with Watson’s frustration.
“Whether Joel loves Deshaun or hates Deshaun I have no idea, but this video doesn’t tell you anything…” Thomas said .
“Big old offensive lineman are like turtles; we can’t get up unless we roll over and do the ‘push-up to kneel to stand routine.
“Achy backs, big bellies, lots of bracing on our knees and ankles: it’s nearly impossible to help us up like that, we just can’t bend like the skinny skill guys.
“I did that several times in my career and then people realized to not try and help me up!
“Carry on, nothing to see here…”
It was a bad look for Watson after the Brown’s 33-17 defeat to the Cowboys.
The quarterback did not impress at all, finishing 24 of 45 for just 169 yards and one touchdown.
“Yeah, he got hit way too often,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
“We can’t let that happen to him. He fought like crazy, and listen, the football team fought like crazy to the end.
“But bottom line is, we have to protect our quarterback better than that.”
Browns fans showed their dismay with the team by jeering them at halftime and leaving the stadium in the third quarter.
Bitonio warms up before Sunday’s game against the Cowboys Getty Watson, pictured on the field, was sacked six times in the 33-17 defeat to the Cowboys Getty The quarterback, seen on the field, threw two interceptions during the game Getty
Watson said the performance did not shake his performance.
“Hell no,” he said.
“I’ll always be Deshaun Watson, regardless of whoever else says otherwise.
“We all have days like this when you’re playing this type of game, and that’s just part of what comes with it. It comes with the territory.
“And especially in my position: much is given, much is required.”
Watson also revealed that his father died on Friday and that a former teammate passed away on Saturday.
“It’s been a long week and they gave me the opportunity to go back home, but I told them I wanted to be here with my guys,” he said.
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