Broadcast comments spark Watson debate
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit’s comments during the Browns’ preseason finale sparked a fresh wave of discussion around Deshaun Watson. What they said touched on Watson’s career, his return to Cleveland, and the difficult road that brought him to this point.
The conversation quickly drew attention beyond the game itself, raising questions about how his comeback is being discussed as the regular season approaches. Here’s a closer look at the broadcast, the reaction, and the facts behind the latest controversy.
Michaels highlighted Watson’s early NFL reputation
Michaels recalled Watson’s early success with the Houston Texans and described him as highly regarded when he entered the NFL. He also mentioned Watson’s knee surgery during his Houston tenure, while Watson’s shoulder surgery occurred later with the Cleveland Browns.
Michaels then discussed Watson’s 2017 donation to three Texans cafeteria workers affected by Hurricane Harvey. Watson donated his first NFL game check, totaling $27,353, to the three women.
Herbstreit emphasized a second opportunity
Herbstreit said people around Watson earlier in his career knew him differently before the allegations emerged. He added that he believes people deserve second opportunities while acknowledging that Watson’s Cleveland tenure had been a disaster.
Herbstreit also called Cleveland’s trade for Watson potentially one of the worst trades in NFL history. He noted Watson was 30 and had been among the league’s top quarterbacks.
The comments came after Watson was named starter
Cleveland announced Watson as its starting quarterback for the 2026 regular season before the preseason finale. Head coach Todd Monken selected Watson ahead of Shedeur Sanders, while Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green played against New England.
The Browns entered the game after Watson missed the 2025 season with an Achilles injury. Cleveland’s decision renewed discussion about his performance, contract, injuries, and past legal controversies.
Watson had recently faced boos from Cleveland fans
Watson was booed during Cleveland’s 31-7 preseason loss to Buffalo on August 22. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and threw an interception before describing the crowd’s reaction as “disrespectful” and “personal.”
Two days later, Watson apologized for his remarks and said his emotions had gotten the best of him. On the same day, Cleveland named him its starting quarterback for the Week 1 opener against Jacksonville.
Watson’s legal cases had ended earlier in 2026
Two civil lawsuits against Watson were dismissed in February 2026, according to court records. The cases were among nearly 30 civil lawsuits filed after women accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massage appointments.
Watson has denied wrongdoing, and two Texas grand juries previously declined to indict him. Most cases had been settled before those dismissals.
The NFL had suspended Watson in 2022
The NFL suspended Watson for 11 games in 2022 after he violated the league’s personal conduct policy. He also received a $5 million fine and was required to undergo evaluation and treatment under the NFL-NFLPA agreement.
The suspension followed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Watson maintained his innocence while the NFL and NFLPA reached a settlement on the disciplinary terms, and he continued his NFL career with Cleveland.
Cleveland made a major investment in Watson
The Browns acquired Watson from Houston in March 2022 after a trade that included three first-round draft picks. Cleveland also gave Watson a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million, creating major expectations around his return.
His time with Cleveland has been limited by suspension and injuries. According to the Associated Press, Watson had played only 19 games for the Browns before the 2026 season.
Interesting fact: Cleveland’s Pro Football Hall of Fame history includes 18 inductees who spent at least part of their careers with the Browns, including Otto Graham, Jim Brown and Ozzie Newsome.
Watson’s playing career had been interrupted repeatedly
Watson entered the NFL with the Texans in 2017 and became a productive starting quarterback. His career was then interrupted by the allegations, his 2022 suspension, and multiple injuries in Cleveland.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from an Achilles injury. His limited availability has kept his Cleveland playing sample smaller than the contract and trade investment suggested.
Interesting fact: The Browns selected Baker Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the first quarterback drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland since Tim Couch in 1999.
The Browns entered the finale with other quarterbacks available
Cleveland did not use Watson or Sanders in the preseason finale against New England. Gabriel started and played the first half, while Green handled the second half as the Browns evaluated quarterbacks before the roster deadline.
Gabriel completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns in Cleveland’s 37-13 victory. Despite that performance, the Browns had already identified Watson as their regular-season starter.
The broadcast drew attention beyond the game
Clips of Michaels and Herbstreit’s Watson discussion circulated after the broadcast. Sports media outlets reported criticism of the segment, particularly its emphasis on Watson’s past charitable act and the idea of another opportunity.
The criticism focused on how the broadcast presented Watson’s career and history. The discussion also referenced the allegations against Watson and described his Cleveland tenure as a difficult period.
Watson remains central to Cleveland’s 2026 season
Watson is scheduled to lead Cleveland into the regular season after winning the quarterback competition with Sanders. The Browns are scheduled to open against the Jacksonville Jaguars, making Watson’s return one of the team’s major early-season storylines.
His 2026 role follows four years in Cleveland involving legal controversy, league discipline, injuries, and inconsistent availability. The team’s decision continues debate surrounding its long-term quarterback investment.
The internet is also talking about Oregon high school football program ending 2026 varsity season after one week of practice.
The controversy now includes the broadcast itself
The Michaels and Herbstreit discussion created a media storyline around Watson’s return. Their remarks became part of coverage surrounding his starting role, recent apology, past allegations, and limited playing time with Cleveland.
The underlying facts remain separate from the broadcast criticism. Watson’s civil cases have ended, his NFL suspension occurred in 2022, and Cleveland has chosen him as its starter entering the 2026 regular season.
In other news, NFL officially decides to end the Pro Bowl.
What do you think about the comments from Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit about Deshaun Watson? Like this slideshow if you found the discussion informative, and comment with your thoughts on how the broadcast handled the topic.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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