As Deshaun Watson faces a high-stakes ultimatum, insider rumors suggest a reunion with Jameis Winston could provide the Cleveland Browns a veteran lifeline if their current quarterback experiment crumbles.
The Cleveland Browns threw a curveball to the league on Monday when head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was a business decision for the Browns, who need to give Watson one last shot to redeem the contract and draft picks they gave up for the former star of the Houston Texans.
The Browns first two games of the regular season are on the road, giving the team an opportunity for Watson to receive more love from opposing fans than the one he gets in Cleveland. If he doesn't perform well by Week 3, the Browns can move on at quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders is QB2 at this point, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated thinks the Browns have another option at quarterback this year. He noted the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, Jameis Winston, could be worth trading for this season.
"I don’t think it’d be a terrible idea for the Browns to call the Giants about Jameis Winston," Breer wrote. "He has played in Cleveland, so he understands the dynamics there, and he was with Todd Monken for three years (2016 to ’18) in Tampa."
Winston is the QB2 in New York behind Jaxson Dart. Obviously the Giants need a strong backup quarterback due to worries about Dart taking hits.
However, the Browns could look to use Winston as a starter if the experiment with Watson and Sanders fails.
On Monday, Watson walked back his comments about the Browns fan base, saying his emotions got the best of him after being booed.
"Putting a lot of time these last two years to get back and spend time in this facility and the city, meeting a lot of different people in the community, I thought I was going to get a little different response," Watson said, via CBS Sports.
"But I think my emotions got the best of me. My comments wasn't intended to go at any of the fans around the city, because there's been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me."
It might be too late for Watson to repair the damage. For Sanders, his time should come at some point this season. And if all else fails, the Browns could look for yet another quarterback.
