None of the above.

That’s my choice in the Browns quarterback competition that was on full display in their 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears in the preseason opener on Saturday at Soldier Field.

Neither quarterback — Deshaun Watson, who started and played the first half, nor Shadeur Sanders, who played most of the second half — looked anything like the man to lead the team.

Watson’s pocket presence wasn’t horrible. It was much worse than that. It was non-existent. He looked as skittish as a cat on a hot tin roof.

Sure, the offensive line wasn’t very good when it came to giving him time to throw, but he should not have been surprised because he practices with that group every day. He refused to hang in the pocket and find a target, making the line look even worse. I bet those guys were thrilled with him.

His accuracy issues cropped up again. He had a receiver wide open and threw it at his feet. Another time, he had another receiver even more wide open but didn’t see him
because he was juking around like he was on an episode of “Dance Fever.”

Sanders wasn’t any better. He lobbed a pass up into the air like he was hitting fungoes to infielders. Not surprisingly, it got picked off. He fumbled a perfectly good snap while under center. He threw several passes that were batted by defensive linemen.

Other it was embarrassing than all that, he was outstanding.

It was ugly.

It was embarrassing.

And it was completely unacceptable.

That was not a professional effort by any stretch of the imagination.

There’s only way to go, and that’s up.

The Browns — and their two quartetbacks; I’m not including Dillon Gabriel, because if he plays it’s a waste of everyone’s time —have a week to get their act together before they host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Huntington Bank Field. Sanders will get to start this time and play through the first half, while Watson will start the second half.

Steve King