Brady Quinn has little patience for the story Deshaun Watson is telling about himself after the Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The former Browns quarterback went after Watson on Fox Sports Radio following Thursday’s 27-24 victory, arguing that the current starter should treat the win as a team result instead of another chapter in his own hardship.
“Dude, stop throwing a pity party for what’s happened in the past for yourself,” Quinn said. “You won a game, make it about the team, make it about everyone besides you. Because quite frankly, you’re on a really good team. You are there and successful because the help you have around you. I hope he stops trying to get people to feel bad for him. Go play football. Just keep winning football games. That’s the only way you move past all this.”
Quinn said he was glad to see Cleveland beat Pittsburgh, but he separated that pleasure from the framing around Watson.
“It’s good to see the Cleveland Browns winning, particularly against Pittsburgh,” he added. “But I want to be very clear — I feel good for the Cleveland fans and a lot of those players. It is odd, this PR spin or revisionist history they’re trying to make. Anything he endured in the past, he brought on himself.”
The radio remarks followed Watson’s own comments about his mental state, including an interview with Taylor Rooks that aired before the game. Watson said his mindset had affected his play and described the strain of public criticism.
“I was dealing with the world kind of flipping against me,” he said.
Asked whether skepticism from Browns fans was fair, given both his performance and the controversy around him, Watson answered, “Fair? Of course, to me, I’m gonna say no.”
He later said he could understand fans’ hesitation while objecting to attacks on his character. Watson served an 11-game suspension and paid a $5 million fine in 2022 after sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Watson has already drawn criticism this year for calling preseason boos from the home crowd disrespectful.
After Thursday’s win he took a different tone with Prime Video’s Kaylee Hartung, saying, “It was electric and amazing. This is what it’s all about. Nights like this in Cleveland in front of our home fans.”
He also admitted that his own second-half mistakes made the night harder. He lost a fumble and threw an interception before Cleveland set up Andre Szmyt’s winning 56-yard field goal, and he credited Jerry Jeudy, who caught two passes for 27 yards on the deciding drive after a quiet night.
“He showed up tonight and made some big catches late in the fourth quarter and third quarter,” Watson said.
The Browns improved to 3-1 with their third straight win and visit the New York Jets on October 11.
Quinn’s point was narrower than the standings. A victory over Pittsburgh was worth celebrating, he argued, just not as proof that Watson deserves sympathy for trouble of his own making.
