Rex Ryan Says He'd Cut Deshaun Watson After Video Ripping Browns Fans amid Shedeur Sanders QB Battle

Deshaun Watson made headlines last month when he ripped Cleveland Browns fans for booing him during a preseason game, and former NFL head coach Rex Ryan revealed Sunday that would have led to a drastic response if he was in charge of the AFC North team.

"No way would I have started him," Ryan said on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown when discussing Cleveland's decision to start Watson over Shedeur Sanders. 

"No way. In fact, I would have cut him. I mean, that press conference. … There's no more important thing than that fan base. No way in hell. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. … I don't care who was the backup, no way would I have kept this guy."

While Watson's comments may have been upsetting to Browns fans and Ryan, cutting him would have been a financial blow for the franchise.

As Mike Ginnitti of Spotrac detailed last month, cutting the quarterback ahead of the 2026 campaign would have left approximately $41 million in a dead cap hit for 2026 and a stunning $86.2 million dead cap hit for 2027.

That is financially unfeasible, regardless of how the organization feels about Watson at this point.

His comments surely didn't help his standing, though, as he did not hold back when discussing Cleveland fans.

"I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said at the time. "It's a little bit more personal than that. So, I think that's a disrespectful thing.

"... Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt.

"What does that have to do with it? What does that have to do anything with my performance? When a person gets hurt, especially from their own city, and they cheer... I had different thoughts on what it was going to be, but it is what it is."

It should be noted he later apologized in his next media availability. 

While the Browns couldn't realistically cut Watson as a tenure that has been defined by injuries, suspension and poor play continued, they could have started Sanders instead.

Yet head coach Todd Monken gave the starting nod to the veteran, who will lead the offense in Sunday's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cleveland surely hopes Watson returns to the form he demonstrated with the Houston Texans when he was a Pro Bowler for three straight years from 2018 through 2020. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if there is a short leash when it comes to making a quarterback change if he once again struggles to start the 2026 campaign.