One of Joe Flacco’s biggest cheerleaders on the Cleveland Browns sideline in Week 17 against the New York Jets was Deshaun Watson.
After capping an incredible first half with a 50-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford, Flacco was greeted by Watson with a big chest bump. Watson was also seen chatting with Flacco on multiple occasions after successful touchdown drives.
just a couple of guys being dudes
“QB LOVE!!!!!” one fan commented on the clip.
It wasn’t all love in the comment section, though. Watson has taken a lot of heat amid Flacco’s success due to his $230 million contract and largely lackluster results on the field statistically.
“Franchise QB and some guy we signed for $230 million,” another fan wrote, drawing more than 100 likes.
Flacco finished the first half 16-of-22 for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. And he did it without Amari Cooper. The Browns’ No. 1 wide receiver was fresh off a record-setting game but was ruled out with a heel injury.
The Browns also lost receiver Elijah Moore in the second quarter. He went down with a head injury. Moore notched five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown prior to the injury against his former team.
Flacco didn’t need a big second half as the Browns coasted to a 37-20 victory. He finished with 309 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Deshaun Watson Took Heat for Not Being on Browns’ Sideline
Getty ImagesDeshaun Watson previously took heat for not being on the Cleveland Browns’ sideline during a game.
Watson had previously been in Los Angeles for surgery and rehab on his shoulder. However, Watson recently returned to Cleveland and stuck around for the prime-time matchup. The last game Watson attended was in Los Angeles against the Rams. Watson sat in a box for that game and took some heat for it.
“I will agree it looks weird,” senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic said during an appearance on “Overtime” with Jonathan Peterlin on December 7. “For a player whose leadership has been questioned for very valid reasons — optics-wise, it’s not what you want. If I were his agent, I would have said to him that he needs to be on the sideline. But we don’t know what the coaching staff asked of him. And Joe Flacco is probably the type of quarterback who [is] like, ‘I got this.’ But we don’t know what Joe wanted or what the coaching staff wanted.”
However, it was later revealed that Watson wanted to be on the Browns’ sideline, but his presence was deemed too risky so close after surgery.
Deshaun Watson Will Be Starter for Browns Next Season
Getty ImagesJoe Flacco has been outstanding with the Cleveland Browns but Deshaun Watson will be the starter when he returns.
Even if Flacco were to manage a Nick Foles-like feat of winning a Super Bowl with the Browns, Watson will be the starter next season because the Browns have no way out of his $230 million fully guaranteed contract.
Flacco could become be a legend in Cleveland. But the Browns are invested in Watson as their quarterback of the future.
“Flacco, who’s loved being back in the game, will certainly want to be somewhere next season where he has a chance to play, and this might not be the right spot,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote on Sunday, December 24. “The only way he’ll see the field here is if Deshaun Watson gets hurt. There might be other opportunities for him to be a bridge starter or compete with someone for [a] job. But he loves it here, and the Browns love him.”
Watson will be ready for training camp next season.
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Browns QB Deshaun Watson Creates Buzz With Move After Joe Flacco TD