Stephen A. Smith didn’t waste a second Thursday morning before unloading on Deshaun Watson.
After Watson’s comments in a Wednesday press conference drew a rough reception, Smith came out swinging on “First Take,” calling the Browns quarterback’s response to criticism a bad move after a bad outing. Watson had just come off Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the questions around him were already pointed. Smith thought Watson made things worse.
“Deshaun Watson, in Cleveland, you have been awful,” Smith said. “And if you were to get arrested for being awful, I wouldn't knock it.
I said it months ago. I'm going to say it again.
It has been very, very bad. But I'm going to tell you how you just made it worse.
“Awful is one thing. Stupid is another.
I'm not calling you stupid, Deshaun Watson. Wouldn't disrespecting you like that, bro.
I'm calling your actions stupid. You know why?
You're complaining about people talking about you playing football. Haven't you done other things that people could be talking about?
They're not bringing it up, none of it.”
Watson’s return to a regular-season game for the first time since October 2024 didn’t help his case. Against Jacksonville, he went 16 of 22 for 205 yards, threw one touchdown and one interception, and took five sacks.
Smith’s bigger point was simple: Watson should want the football chatter, not fight it. In his view, that’s the safer lane compared with reopening the door to everything else surrounding the quarterback.
“How, with all that you have been through, Deshaun, could you be complaining about people talking about football?” Smith asked.
“You should embrace every football conversation because there's ammunition to talk about things other than football. Think!
Think! You should be embracing football conversation.
“Do you want me to ask about something else? Do you have any idea what jokes can be talked about?
Do you have any idea how you can be trolled? And the people in Cleveland are trying to support you.
And the media in Cleveland is trying to support you cuz they're not bringing it up, and you're complaining? That’s just stupid.”
For now, Watson is slated to start Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Browns coach Todd Monken. But with the performance against Jacksonville fresh in everyone’s mind, the conversation around his role isn’t going away anytime soon.
In Other News...
Browns Rookie Tackle Faces A Tough Truth After Uneven Debut
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The reviews reflected that reality, with analysts offering mixed assessments of how Fano handled the assignment and where the pressures came from. For Cleveland, the bigger question is not whether the debut was uneven but how quickly he can translate a rough start into growth. The Browns do not need perfection from a rookie tackle right away, but they do need signs that he can adapt, clean up the leaks and keep improving as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
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The latest surge from Allen has also revived a curious little footnote from that draft cycle, when Jenna Jameson reportedly urged the Browns to take him before the selection was made. It is anecdotal, not an official team position, but it fits the broader pattern in Cleveland: the warning signs were there, the debate was real, and the consequences still linger. Every big Allen performance now works like a fresh reminder of how expensive quarterback instability can be when a team gets the decision wrong. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A Defensive Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Browns injury report heading into Week 2 brought a familiar sort of early-season unease, this time on the defensive side. Defensive back Tyson Campbell did not practice because of an ankle injury, while offensive guard Teven Jenkins also sat out with a back issue. Elsewhere, the news was more encouraging, with centers Parker Brailsford and Elgton Jenkins and defensive tackle Maliek Collins all listed as limited but still expected to be available.
For Cleveland, Campbells status is the one to watch as the Buccaneers game approaches. The Browns have spent the week trying to sort through a few nagging practice absences, but a missing defensive back at this stage can quickly turn from a routine injury note into a real matchup concern. Whether Campbell can get back on the field before kickoff will go a long way toward shaping how comfortable Cleveland feels about its secondary. [Read more 🡒]