There were some surprising NFL upsets Sunday, but none bigger than the Cleveland Browns knocking off the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns (8.5-point underdogs) beat the Ravens, 29-24, a win made even more remarkable because it came with quarterback Jameis Winston making his first start since 2022. The veteran replaced Deshaun Watson, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7.
Winston played very well, confirming what many fans and media had been saying for weeks: Winston should have gotten a chance to play earlier this season, as Watson struggled mightily.
Why did the Browns wait? Because the team “lied” to everyone, according to Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show co-host Jason Lloyd.
On Monday’s show, Lloyd ripped the Browns for not making the QB change sooner.
“My thought was really simple — for the last month, the Browns have lied to you,” Lloyd said. “They told you that Deshaun Watson gave this team the best chance to win. You knew it wasn’t true, I knew it wasn’t true, we all knew it wasn’t true, the entire city of Cleveland, the entire franchise knew it wasn’t true, and they still kept running him out there because of the contract.”
Ah yes, “The Contract.” The Browns’ decision to give Watson a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract in 2022 is already regarded as one of the biggest contract mistakes in NFL history. Lloyd, a columnist who covers Cleveland sports for The Athletic, said the Browns have been trying to justify that contract, which hurt the team.
“[They were] trying to prove the contract was a valid decision. It wasn’t,” Lloyd said. “We knew that by the end of September. And they wrecked their own season, they sabotaged their own season to try and prove some sort of point.”
“For the last month, the Browns have lied to you.” – @ByJasonLloyd#DawgPound | https://t.co/Stzz7VHJcC pic.twitter.com/yR7YEYI4kH
— Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show (@ultCLEsports) October 28, 2024
“The season didn’t have to go this way,” Lloyd continued. “They didn’t have to be a 2-and-6 football team and out of the playoffs already … whoever’s decision that was, whether it was (head coach) Kevin Stefanski or someone above him, whoever insisted they keep running Deshaun out there, shoulders the blame for what happened to this season.”
The Watson situation is a sore point with fans, but Browns players have stuck up for the injured quarterback. Winston had an interesting pregame interview with CBS Sports Sunday that led some to believe he was sending a message about Watson’s treatment by fans and media.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.