The Cincinnati Bengals and their fans can always take solace in the fact that they aren't the Cleveland Browns. Really, the state of Ohio is a football-crazed area of the great US of A, and we deserve better than the pathetic displays of both these franchises over the years.
But while the Bengals are in the midst of a promising new era spearheaded by a Super Bowl-chasing Joe Burrow, their intrastate AFC North rival is a complete and utter dumpster fire. Case in point: their training camp quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
A normal, competent team would recognize the obvious move to make here. This description has not applied to the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999, and probably never will.
Browns head coach Todd Monken has indeed made his egregiously bad decision on a quarterback as of Monday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Watson will be the Week 1 starter under center for Cleveland against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
Godspeed, Deshaun.
Browns' decision to start QB Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders was always a lose-lose situation
The whole premise of Cleveland's QB derby was fundamentally flawed from the jump.
Think about the two possible outcomes: If Shedeur Sanders wins, he's already lost out on so many reps to Deshaun Watson, which has stunted his development. If Watson wins, Shedeur's development is sabotaged even more, and the Browns are starting a player their fans and the vast majority of other citizens loathe.
Seriously, what was the benefit of even giving Watson a crack at this job? He's torn his Achilles twice since he last set foot on an NFL field. His last good season was in 2020. You know, over a half-decade ago.
Not only is Shedeur losing the job to Watson a bad look for him — it's the ultimate exercise in toxic franchise futility.
I mean, Watson had the gall to say this after fans booed him for completing five of 12 passes for 35 yards and an INT in his last preseason outing, via ESPN.com's Daniel Oyefusi:
"The whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance...It's a little bit [more] personal than that. So I think it's a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I'm going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on. [...] Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt...So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?"
Uhh, Deshaun? It has to do with the entirety of you as a human being. Not only are you a shell of your former self as a football player; all those lawsuits pertaining to alleged sexual misconduct might have something to do with why your own fans despise you.
It's shocking how little self-awareness Watson has. He's taken no accountability and shown no remorse for his alleged actions.
Remember this: The evidence from the Watson allegations presented to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, based on his personal judgment, merited "at least" a year-long suspension.
Goodell deemed Watson's conduct — again, based on the evidence he reviewed — to be "predatory behavior."
Those last two bits deserve their own lines. Deshaun Watson has no business still being an NFL player. He's a horrible quarterback, and based on the evidence Goodell was presented with, apparently a worse human being.
The Browns just can't help themselves, can they?
Cleveland's laughable offseason (and naming Watson their starting QB) makes Bengals heavy favorites in 2026 AFC North matchups
As much of a fan as I am of Browns defensive end Jared Verse's game and potential, the dude fails to finish so many plays. Is he really about to improve at his craft in Cleveland of all places after being the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Rams' blockbuster Myles Garrett trade? I have serious doubts.
Look, you can argue that the massive haul Cleveland got in exchange for Garrett was a massive win for the offseason, but how does that help them this year? It doesn't. They're objectively worse.
And good luck to Verse filling Garrett's shoes, especially without an MVP QB like Matthew Stafford to complement him on the other side of the ball.
Speaking of the Rams, isn't it hilarious in retrospect how great Ty Simpson has looked in LA to date? The Browns were right there with a chance to draft him even after they traded down from the No. 6 pick to ninth. Instead, they selected Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano. Maybe he'll be good, but like...LOL.
The Bengals face the Browns in Weeks 13 and 18 and should be favored by at least a touchdown on each occasion, barring some unforeseen catastrophe in Cincy.
Deshaun Watson vs. Joe Burrow is about as lopsided as a quarterback duel gets. Congrats, Cleveland. You clowned yourselves again.
By botching their QB situation for the umpteenth year in a row, the Browns Browned all over themselves once again. Oh, and shipping out the face of your franchise is a rough look any way you slice it.
Cleveland fans, it's not too late. Join the Bengals bandwagon. Maybe that franchise should've just stayed dead, eh?
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