Troy Aikman isn’t one to hold back what’s on his mind.
That much was clear during the Denver Broncos 41-32 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
When discussing the Browns season and their 3-8 record at that point in the first half (now 3-9), Aikman pointed to Deshaun Watson as to why Cleveland is in their current situation and what could have been if Winston was given the nod earlier in the year.
Aikman referred to Watson as an albatross to the team.
“This is a tough league,” Aikman said,
“We all talk about parity, but when it comes to your hometown team, nobody wants to hear it.
“Kevin Stefanski is an outstanding football coach and he’s proven that…I get it, this year hasn’t been what people thought coming in, but the albatross is Deshaun Watson.
“If you go to Jameis Winston earlier in the year, does this look different?”
For those that are unfamiliar with the term albatrossit is defined as an ‘annoying burden’ or ‘psychological burden that feels like a curse.’
In other words, Aikman called Watson a curse on the Cleveland Browns.
And he’s right.
Albeit Cleveland has no one to blame but themselves.
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They traded for Watson.
They signed Watson to the worst contract in professional sports history.
They gave Watson $230 million guaranteed.
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They cursed themselves.
And are now left to ponder the question, ‘What if?’
Now sitting at 3-9, all eyes shift towards next year.
Watson will be coming off a ruptured Achilles, and hasn’t played good football in over four years.
His last true great season was 2020 in Houston.
That’s a lifetime ago in football years.
The curse hangs over Cleveland, and until Watson is no longer on the team, which isn’t happening anytime soon, the curse will remain.
As Aikman put it, “the albatross is Deshaun Watson.”
