Deshaun Watson has clapped back at his team’s owner, Jimmy Haslam, more than a week after Cleveland Browns boss called him a ‘swing and a miss’ for the franchise.
Watson retorted over Instagram with a video where he does not call out Haslam by name. He does mention people have been doubting him and he knows he can be better than ever before.
Watson’s video takes place as he is working out in what appears to be the Browns’ gym.
Watson is shirtless for a lot of the video as he can still be seen with a walking boot on his right leg, while doing intense weightlifting on his upper half.
‘Greatness comes when your back is against the wall. It’s kind of better because you really got to lock in,’ Watson said. ‘You don’t have anything pretty much to lose, and I feel like that’s where I’m at right now. Everyone is doubting me.’
‘Everyone don’t believe in me. Everyone don’t think I can get back to where I was. But I know, and I believe the work that I put in, that I believe in myself. The peace that I’ve been channeling the last couple of months. I know, I’m gonna be way better than before.’
Watson has clapped back at his team’s owner, Haslam, after being called a ‘swing and a miss’
Haslam signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230million contract that has not paid off
Watson’s $230milliom guaranteed contract has not paid dividends for the Browns, who have not won a playoff game since before he came to Cleveland.
The Browns look ready to move on from Watson as their starting quarterback, as they have the No 2 selection in the NFL Draft and are linked with the top two signal callers on the board, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
The 29-year-old Watson was seen as a future star in the league several years ago with the Houston Texans, with his career being detailed after being accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women.
Those accusers’ claims led to Watson being suspended for 11 games during the 2022 NFL season.
While the Browns are hoping for a clean break from Watson as the team’s starter, he is still under contract through the 2026 season with the franchise.
