Watson's return creates frustrating situation for Browns, fans

Cleveland Browns fans have been here before.When the Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson in the spring of 2022, many were outraged.Watson, who was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans, came to the Browns as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.But he also arrived draped in scandal, as 27 women had accused him of sexual assault. In spite of that, the Browns gave Watson a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract.A number of fans were furious at the transaction, and claimed they'd stop following the franchise.Most didn't follow through on the threat. But the angst around the move did create a negative feeling around the franchise, one that persisted and has intensified whenever Watson has been on the field.Which, hasn't been that often.In 2022, the quarterback was suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of the season.Since then, he's been beset with injuries, and started only 19 games.Worse, when he has played, he hasn't done well.When Watson tore his ACL in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, the home fans cheered.The quarterback hasn't appeared in a regular season game since. At the time, most thought he'd never start for the Browns again.It was hoped that, when the Browns drafted Shadeur Sanders in 2025, the franchise could finally close the book on the Watson era.But that didn't happen.And now, it feels like the spring of 2022 again.Todd Monken, Cleveland's new head coach, picked Watson over Sanders as the Browns starting QB for the 2026 season.This is despite the fact that Watson hasn't played in two years, hasn't been good in six, and delivered a tone deaf rant aimed at Cleveland fans after they booed him – again – after an awful performance in a preseason game Saturday.When the Browns dealt for Watson four years ago, I didn't like the move, but could at least understand it from a football side.Watson was a better quarterback than what the team had at the time. The late Jim Donovan – the franchise's beloved radio voice – raved about Watson's play during his first camp.Donovan, who also did sports on Channel 3 in Cleveland, told viewers that it was clear after the first day that Watson was the best quarterback Cleveland had in the expansion era.With a few exceptions, we just haven't seen that.And now, fans are being told Monken can perform one of the great reclamation acts in sports history.Unlike some, I won't threaten to desert this franchise.That's never going to happen.But I certainly understand the frustration and anger the fans feel.In Monken's defense, he can't afford to listen to the fans.Monken is 60 years old, and has been in the coaching profession 37 years. This is his first – and likely only – chance to lead an NFL team.The coach also has to know that he won't be given a long grace period. If this season crashes out, there's no guarantee he'll get a second one from owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who have already fired two head coaches (Rob Chudzinski, Freddie Kitchens) after a single year.Yes, the fans don't want Watson as the quarterback. But Monken needs to win as many games as possible.He believes – given his options – that Watson gives him the best chance to do that.The choice isn't popular, to put it mildly.But there's an old saying about coaching: "If you start listening to the fans, pretty soon you'll be sitting with them."Monken can't be faulted for making what he feels is the best choice.And yet…The Browns can be faulted for making fans watch Watson again.We've been through this before.And once was enough. Zach Baker is the sports editor for The Courier and Review Times