First there's a big difference between "mailing it in" and not being "all-in." I never said Watson "mailed it in." But he never looked comfortable with the offense, did a lot of running around trying to make things happen and it didn't work, except that one half against the Ravens.
I never loved Baker and never once said Baker was a franchise QB. And I said from the day of the trade that Watson SHOULD be a giant upgrade over Baker. My opinion of Baker has nothing to do with the fact that so far the Watson trade is viewed by most as the worst trade since the Cowboys-Vikings Herschel Walker trade.
By any reasonable measure, Watson has been a complete bust in Cleveland.
But there's always next season for him to make it right.
This is a sobering - and measured - take; one that, as much as it sucks to admit, is hard to disagree with (or look away from).
Saying Watson, on the whole, looked 'uncomfortable in the offense' is generous! He looked downright lost at times. While Flacco somehow just waltzes in and looks and plays as cool as if he was back on the couch. Sure, the
offense still looks lost from time to time when Flacco is playing, but it is never
Flacco that appears lost. Can't say the same for Deshaun.
And it's not just "looking lost." He threw the ball at the feet (sometimes at best!) of so many wide open receivers this year, it was baffling. Connected on maybe two pretty deep (like, Flacco-deep) balls during his entire run.
I harbor no delusions that the Browns would move on from Watson - they're too far invested to even humor the idea all that seriously - but shit, with guys like Russ & Brady (well, at one point anyway) openly stating intentions/desires to play into their mid-forties, who wouldn't think
at least a little bit seriously about continuing rolling with Joe Flacco at 39, 40?? I mean, look at what the Broncos just did with Russ. If they think they could negotiate a palatable settlement with Deshaun, who's to say definitively it can't/won't happen?