It’s been a rough year so far for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
So rough, in fact, that many pundits are suggesting the quarterback should be benched for backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
But a benching doesn’t even come close to what Fox’s Terry Bradshaw suggested the Browns do with Watson following a 34-13 drubbing at the hands of the Washington Commanders.
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“Do you put Watson down now?” the four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback questioned. “He has not played well since he’s been in Cleveland. Simply has not played well.”
If that phrasing evoked thoughts of Old Yeller for you, you weren’t alone. Fellow Fox NFL Sunday analyst Howie Long quickly chimed in, “I don’t want to put him down; I’d want to sit him,” drawing some laughs from the rest of the crew.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. That was a little harsh,” Michael Strahan added.
A supportive Rob Gronkowski, appearing in his part-time role as a studio analyst for the network, came to Bradshaw’s defense. “I know what you meant. I know what you meant, Terry,” perhaps sympathetic to being the butt of a joke himself.
It’s certainly not the first time Bradshaw has done some questionable things on the air, though this seems to have been an innocent, albeit comical, slip of the tongue.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.