Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said again Monday that he has no plans to bench quarterback Deshaun Watson despite his titanic struggles.
When asked during his press conference whether he might bench Watson after Sunday’s 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and turn to backup quarterback Jameis Winston to jump-start the struggling offense, Stefanski gave he gives the same answer he has been giving for weeks and weeks.
“I think Deshaun gives us the best chance to win, still gives us the best chance to win, and we have to play really good attacking football in his position, and really in every position to be successful,” said Stefansky.
There’s no question that the Browns need to play “really good offensive football” at quarterback, but that’s not what they got with Watson. In fact, according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN, Watson is off to the worst start in the history of modern competition. Since 2007, of the 566 passers who threw 100 pass attempts or more in their team’s first six games, Watson’s QBR ranks 558th. He ranks 565th in yards per attempt (5.1), 565th in yards per dropback (3.9) and 566th in first-down rate (22.1%).
Stefanski’s answers about why he continues to start the visibly awful Watson have become repetitive. Cleveland.com reporter Mary Kay Cabot even asked Stefanski if he was forced to play Watson by team owner Jimmy Haslam. Stefanski’s no-answer response didn’t exactly inspire much confidence.
‘We have a good dialogue with myself, Andrew [Berry, the GM]ownership,” Stefanski said. “Every decision when it comes to football is my decision.”
It’s hard to believe Stefanski is being honest about that, especially when he keeps saying, “Watson gives us the best chance to win” when the Browns are 1-5. But right now, Stefanski is the only one talking. Neither the GM nor the owner has said anything about the decisions made surrounding Watson. So until that changes, Stefanski will remain the only person affected by this disastrous start to the season.
