Jim Brown statue outside Browns' stadium used to send Deshaun Watson message
Protesters placed signs on a statue of Jim Brown outside the Cleveland Browns' stadium to express disapproval of quarterback Deshaun Watson. The protest follows Watson's return to the field after a long absence and his controversial history regarding sexual assault allegations.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the ongoing tension between sports franchises, their players' personal conduct, and fan expectations.
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Someone taped signs on Hall of Famer Jim Brown’s statue outside the Cleveland Browns ' stadium criticizing the team for having quarterback Deshaun Watson on its roster because of his checkered past.
Coach Todd Monken announced Monday that Watson, who was booed at home in Saturday’s 31-7 loss to Buffalo in a preseason game, will enter the season as the starting quarterback . Watson, making his first appearance in 22 months because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, lashed out at the fans afterward and called the booing “personal.”
Watson’s presence in Cleveland has been controversial since he signed a guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in 2022.
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