Posted on 10/14/2024 2:14:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
One day after the Cleveland Browns' offense continued to crater in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Kevin Stefanski again placed his support behind Deshaun Watson as the team's starting quarterback.
"I think Deshaun gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win," Stefanski said Monday when asked why he wouldn't insert backup Jameis Winston as the starter. "We need to play really good offensive football at his position, and really at every position to be successful."
In Sunday's defeat, Cleveland's fourth straight, the Browns became the first team since the 2014 Jacksonville Jaguars to fail to reach 20 points in each of its first six games. Cleveland is also the only team that has not recorded 300 total yards in a game this season.
Watson has posted a 21.5 QBR, the lowest among qualified passers, but Stefanski said after the game that he is sticking with Watson at starting quarterback.
On Monday, he reiterated the decision to keep starting Watson is his own.
When asked if co-owner Jimmy Haslam is "forcing" him to stick with Watson, Stefanski said, "I don't get caught up in narratives, but we have a good dialogue with myself, [general manager] Andrew [Berry], 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."
What's worse for Steanski is that someday he could be fired for playing QB he knew hurt the team. The owner probably won't give him a pass on the losses. And he's been Coach of the Year twice.
It’s too easy for a guy like that to quit. Money is guaranteed. Why should he bother to go out and prove he’s worth it when he doesn’t have to? Think Al Davis. $31 million to Jamarcus Russell. If he could play he had no real need to prove it
This story makes me have a question for you. Have you ever been forced to say something by your boss/es that you knew was stupid, but you had to publicly say it anyway?
Were his eyes blinking “T-O-R-T-U-R-E” in morse code?
Just like Dak after Jerry ponied up for that big contract.
Bingo!
Pretty much.
I once got accused of sending out a payment to a vendor-—when there were not funds to cover it....on a Friday
When vendor called ON MONDAY 11 AM, boss/owner blamed me for sending it out when he said not to.
HE ACTUALLY had ordered me to send it-—despite my argument.
As he was trying to smooth talk the vendor, I interrupted the conversation & told the vendor what really had happened-—I HAPPENED TO ACTUALLY KNOW THE GUY WHO WAS CALLING....
AS I hung up & was gathering my personal items off the desk & writing a paycheck for PRIOR WEEK & 3 hours of that day, I could hear all the nonsense he was trying to shove over onto me.
When he came into my office, he was livid.
I SAID : SIGN these-—the 2 checks.
WHY? BECAUSE I AM DONE—I AM LEAVING.
YOU CAN’T!!
WANNA BET???
I took all my personal items-—went directly to bank & cashed checks. NEVER WORKED FOR THE GUY EVER AGAIN-—I HE HAD BEGGED ME FOR MONTHS TO COME WORK FOR HIM BECAUSE PRIOR LADY WISHED TO RETIRE.
LAST time I had a job that was from only one source.
I went self-employed & NEVER looked back. That was 1980.
I don't think that's it at all. Watson was a fantastic player in his first four years. It does not look like a lack of effort. In fact, it looks like he's pretty unhappy about what is going on. And you just don't go from where he was, to where he is by not trying. He can't do the things he did before. And, if he was 50% of what he was, he'd be making another big contract in 2027.
Personally, I think it's psychological. After what he did. Look at Tiger Woods. After his personal life fell apart, he was never the same golfer. Think Al Davis. $31 million to Jamarcus Russell. If he could play he had no real need to prove it
the Detroit Lions might have one of the best offenses ever seen. That was a clinic they put on yesterday...they were literally toying with the Cowboys. The Hutchenson injury is devastating though. The NFL is becoming very hard to watch. Every play you hold your breath...either a penalty flag or an injury. I dunno...
Do you guys actually watch football? There is nothing to indicate what you say is true. I am no Cowboys fan, Prescott has been pretty consistent, and he certainly didn't start out with a great coach. He plays consistently well in the season, especially against the the teams that aren't the top teams. In the playoffs, he is not as good. He's kind of like Romo in some ways.
He was franchise tagged for a year, then signed a big contract in 2021, he was pretty much his usually self.
He is down this year, but I see no evidence it's some kind of lack of effort. There was a huge amount of turmoil with the team, and I'm pretty sure most people would blame Jerry Jones for the problems this year. Some people would blame the coach also, but they have won 12 games each of the last three years.
Would you rather have Trevor Lawrence? He's never shown near what Prescott can do, and his contract was tied for the most money ever, when he signed it, now it's the second highest. Lawrence got that money without ever having to produce. His numbers are a tiny bit below Gardner Minshew. He's won one playoff game, but he three four (!) interceptions in it.
So, do you think Trevor Lawrence is trying?
That statement is not true. How do you say that about the guy that has the worst QBR in the entire NFL. I actually want to see Winston. The Browns have mortgaged the franchise ($230,000,000.00 and multiple first and second round draft picks) on a bust. Not the first time. The window for this team to win is closing fast. And won't happen with Watson.
Supposedly Russell didn't work hard enough, but I doubt that's the reason he was such a bust, because a lot of scouts thought he would be good, but apparently, he didn't have the talent. JaMarcus Russell hasn't gone bankrupt, but Mark Brunell made $50M in his NFL, and has gone bankrupt, not to mention all the lawsuits against him.
Jay Cutler made over $122M in his career, and he was never good. Alex Smith made almost $190M in his career, and although a nice guy, he was never an NFL-grade quarterback.
It gives them the best chance to win a first round pick :)
I am glad you left. Did you know you had something waiting?
Some people don't feel they can leave a job, even when they should.
He probably is their best bet. Not because he’s any good mind, just cause their backups are so bad. The Watson deal was stupid, everybody not a part of the Brown’s organization knew that when it got announced. So here they are.
You also need to surround them with great offensive lines. Dak’s offensive line is a shell of what he’s had from a few years ago. That’s all on Jerry.
But the present Browns iteration at the Mistake-By-The-Lake is lamentable.
Jameis Winston could probably do more for the team right now.
He was about to be traded to Atlanta, before Cleveland swooped in. Their deal was almost as bad, so they are lucky the Browns saved them. Pus, they ran Matt Ryan out of town to get him.
Maybe. Maybe not. He is the first player in history to throw for 30 TDs and 30 INTs in a season. He had eye surgery after that, but it didn’t to help when he went to the Saints. He’s a hot and cold QB at best. Of course these days Watson is just cold. Of course I’m a Steelers fan, so the worse the Browns are the better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.