Signs criticizing the Cleveland Browns for including quarterback Deshaun Watson on their roster were placed on a statue of Hall of Famer Jim Brown outside Huntington Bank Stadium in Cleveland. The protest followed Browns head coach Todd Monken's announcement on Monday that Watson would be the team's starting quarterback.
The signs included comments regarding Watson's previous allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct by more than two dozen women during his time with the Houston Texans. One sign stated, "Permanent Damage To The City & Franchise," while another criticized Watson and Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, reading, "Cleveland is done with the Haslams and their freak Watson."
A representative from the Cleveland Browns removed the signs from the Jim Brown statue shortly after they were placed. The decision to name Watson as the starting quarterback has drawn criticism from an already frustrated fanbase, which booed him during the team's 31-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend. Following the game, Watson expressed his frustration towards the fans but later clarified his comments when speaking with reporters after being named the Week 1 starter.
"Just myself getting very emotional," Watson said. "Putting a lot of time in these last two years to get back, spend time at this facility and in the city, meeting a lot of different people in the community. I thought I was going to get a little different response, but I think my emotions got the best of me. My comments weren’t intending to go at any of the fans around in the city ’cause there has been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me."
Watson is set to make his first regular season appearance in 22 months after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.