The Browns are going to deny it, and dismiss it as utter nonsense.

I get that, for if I were the Browns, then I would do the same thing. You would have to do it. You have no other choice. The financial investment, the Browns have in the guy leaves them with no other alternative. 

But the facts are the facts, and you can’t deny them. In addition, perception is 90 percent of reality.

And the reality is that people inside and outside of Northeast Ohio and those in Browns nation do not have a whole lot of confidence in quarterback Deshaun Watson.

A recent article in The Athletic listed the Browns, because of all the questions surrounding Watson, as having one of the lowest quarterback confidence ratings in the AFC. That is, that no one outside of Berea believes much in Watson.

I am in that group. Are you? Perhaps you are.

When it comes to sports, I can believe in things only if I’ve seen them, and I’m not seeing much from Watson. He has been injured for most of his two seasons in Cleveland, and when he has played, he certainly hasn’t looked like a top-tier quarterback most of the time.

Now, when I saw Joe Flacco play at the end of last season, it didn’t take long for me to have confidence in him, because what I was seeing was that he was productive and had ignited the offense.

So, while I have only hope in Watson, I have confidence and Flacco.

And that’s a big difference.

The Browns are doing a lot to try to change that narrative by bringing in coaches they feel can maximize Watson’s potential. That’s a good idea. But until I see improvement, then I won’t believe it.

And the fact he is trying to come back from serious shoulder surgery serves only to make my lack of confidence grow.

Steve King