Stephen A. Smith Taking Heat For What He Said About Deshaun Watson
09/27/2024 01:47 PM
Deshaun Watson's off-field activity has made him one of the more polarizing players in the NFL, and his lack of on-field production has only increased that divide.
The Browns are essentially stuck with the underperforming quarterback after signing him to a massive deal in 2022, and there have been calls for the team to re-evaluate that deal when possible.
During Friday's episode of ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith defended Watson and said that he would like to see him return to the Pro Bowl form he once had with the Houston Texans.
"I'm very disgusted with Deshaun Watson. Here's why: Because I root for the brother. I want the man to succeed," Smith said on Friday.
"I remember what I saw in Houston with the Texans... I don't know what the hell happened to him since that period of time. But the only thing we do know about him is that the cases against him went away, but so did this game."
Stephen A. Smith on Deshaun Watson: "I'm very disgusted with Deshaun Watson. Here's why: Because I root for the brother. I want the man to succeed. I remember what I saw in Houston with the Texans... I don't know what the hell happened to him since that period of time. But the… pic.twitter.com/VTX8wBVfcO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 27, 2024
Fans reacted to Smith's comments on Watson, and they called him out for supporting a player with such a checkered past.
"What the heck is Stephen a saying he's rooting for Watson. That is the most asinine thing imaginable for him to say. The man deserves to be in prison but because the nfl is profits first and the browns sold their soul he plays on Sunday. Disgusted Stephen a would try to brush that aside," one fan said.
"Deshaun Watson was a very good QB in his early years. He was must-watch football. Even if he was the KC Chiefs draft pick back in the day, there's no way I would ever root for that man. He's irredeemable. He's a bad man. What is your problem," another fan asked.
"'I root for the brother, I want the man to succeed', should never be attached to Deshaun Watson," said another fan.
"How could anyone root for him and want him to succeed? He's a scumbag. If he weren't an NFL QB, he would likely have been indicted," one fan added.
"'The cases against him went away' .. that's a hell of a way to describe settling civil lawsuits," said one fan.
It's clear that many fans around the league aren't willing to give Watson a second chance after his allegations and settled lawsuits, and they're expecting the same judgment from Smith when it comes to the quarterback's character.
Related: ESPN's Elle Duncan Rips 'Unlikable' Deshaun Watson In Viral Rant
