What happens when the story you were about to write plays out in real time before you can write it?

I’m not sure, but that’s what happened with the story you’re reading now.

I was going to write a story about how the Browns need to do a much better job of protecting quarterback to Deshaun Watson or else he was going to risk getting hurt. And lo and behold, that is what has taken place.

Watson is in concussion protocol following the hits he took — and there were a lot of them — in Sunday’s 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The punishment he has been taking all season was not sustainable, I was going to say. The Browns need to bulk up their offensive line, not just so they can run the offense successfully and win games, although that is very important, but also so that Watson can stay healthy. 

He was getting pounded time after time after time, and sooner or later, something like this was going to happen. The human body is not made of stainless steel, but rather parts that break if you pound on them enough.

The Briebs have to get better along the offensive line. They just have to. That will come in large part with, hopefully, paying a lot of attention to the position in next spring’s NFL Draft. In the meantime, though, the Browns have got to figure out a way to make this line better for the rest of this season. If not, then Shadeur Sanders, who, as we speak, will be the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the host New Orleans Saints if Watson’s condition does not improve, will get beaten up, too, and then we will have to look at Dillon Gabriel playing.

We wanted to see Sanders play this year, but not at the expense of having the starter ahead of him exit with an injury.

Steve King