So, apparently the criticism of Deshaun Watson last season was premature.
Maywood
Posts: 2,190 ✭✭✭✭✭
After all the "massage" drama had passed and Deshaun Watson was finally able to play the 2023 season was a major disappointment for him. Drama, it seems, wouldn't stop at the massage table, it carried over to the training room table!!
Watson was injured(or so it was reported) in Game 4 and struggled to get back on the playing field. He was called quite a number of disparaging things in the media, primarily "weak" and unwilling to play through the injury, choosing instead to sit on the bench or stand along the sidelines. Rumors swirled that he wanted to be traded and that his days in Cleveland were numbered. He made a brief appearance in Game 7 and returned for Games 9-10 before the true nature of his injury was discovered and he sat out the final seven games.
So here's the line at the time: Initial injury in Game 4, final diagnosis of a strained rotator cuff and injured glenoid(socket). What the actual injury was that most likely took place in Game 3 was a shoulder fracture. The surgeon who operated on Watson, Dr. Neal ElAttrache/the LA Rams team physician and independent of the Browns, expressed amazement that Watson was able to play in Games 9-10. The last game was a scintillating 14 point comeback in the 4th quarter led by Watson who ran and took some pretty good hits.
In the final analysis Deshaun Watson missed all the games last season for a good, old fashioned reason --- he was injured. It takes time, but the old adage rings true, good will always triumph over evil. The truth will always make itself known.
Maywood.
Comments
Who do you like defending more, Lamar Jackson or Deshaun Watson?
@perkdog, I'm not defending either one. If anything, I think I'm critiquing the media and I have in the past over different things. Also, I believe a lot of the things going on in sports recently, as reported by the media, is tied to gambling and the fact that it's legal during the season/games from what I've heard at the venues where events are being held. Look at the report I just posted about where an NBS player is banned for life because of gambling.
I'm old school, I think it was bettor(sic) and more sexy when legal gambling was in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Absent that, you did what I did and knew a bookie at a bar where you placed bets. I also liked it more when there weren't a gazillion sports outlets and the reporting was more factual and less sounding like a gossip page. The world has turned a corner, though, and there's no going back.
But to Watson, it does interest me since I'm a Browns fan, that he was roasted, even by Cleveland media, and pretty much called a pussy and a quitter because he didn't play. Turns out he really was injured and played through it. The Cleveland sports media is horribly spiteful and vindictive, once they get on someone they never quit. They have driven many away from local sports teams and then turn the table and paint the player poorly. Heck, they even drove Bill Belichick out of Cleveland.
Well the media is awful. We can agree on that
Regarding Watson and his medical situation why didn't the Browns front office be more up front about his injuries and the extent of them?
Look, Watson situation was under a microscope
He did what he did to the masseuses, I don't know enough to say he was guilty or not but it was a thing either way. He was facing a certain suspension
The browns sign him and they pay him 1 million for the first year which is ridiculous and never would have happened but they wanted to circumvent the pain of the suspension
He is suspended and out but he only loses short money
Comes into his second season. he plays like crap and is out hurt, gets his 45 million and is out for the season.
Ofcourse Cleveland fans are going to be BS and destroy the guy. I'd do the same thing if it was a Patriots player.
I don't blame anyone that was pissed about this especially not understanding the clear cut definitions of his injuries, not to mention everyone thought the Browns were going to be a serious contender with Watson