Former NFL QB suggests Browns fans should boycott games after Deshaun Watson decision

The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback to begin the 2026 regular season on Monday morning.

It should come as little surprise that many Browns fans, likely the same ones who were booing him at the game this past week in Cleveland, were not a fan. So, with Watson now the starter, what should the fans do? Boo some more?

ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has a different idea. He believes that Browns fans should boycott Browns games this season in the wake of this decision to start Watson.

Dan Orlovsky believes fans should boycott games over Browns' Deshaun Watson news

"If they somehow come out today and name Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback, if I was a Browns fan, I would not go to the game," Orlovsky said.

"I don't think they can have Deshaun Watson on the team after that interaction" – Dan Orlovsky pic.twitter.com/ZsejX3VJiH

This comment from Orlovsky is a brutal one, but for many fans frustrated about the decision, it's one that might resonate.

Why should fans spend their money to go watch a quarterback they don't want to watch? It's been years with Watson as the starter, and it seemed like this was finally the year the Browns could finally move on naturally.

Shedeur Sanders is a young QB with some fun upside. Even if he's not the long-term answer, why not take a chance on him when he's under control for three more seasons and is significantly more exciting than Watson.

But, the Browns went with the $230 million QB. The on-field production wasn't significantly different, but the off-field and fan dynamic is probably the worst of any QB in the NFL right now.

MORE: Deshaun Watson apologizes to Browns fans after critcizing them for booing him

Orlovsky doesn't just think fans should boycott either, he also doesn't believe Cleveland should even keep Watson: "I don't think they can have Deshaun Watson on their team after that interaction."

The reason why is simple: Watson's complaint about Browns fans booing him in Cleveland during Week 2 of the preseason didn't sit well with many fans and analysts.

It was a bad look, and as Orlovsky said: "I felt bad for those fans." Browns fans are in a tricky situation with Watson. He's a negative asset for the team, but the franchise is sticking by him to begin the season.

Whether it's sunk cost fallacy or the Browns simply believe Watson is better than Sanders, regardless, choosing Watson as QB1 is not going well, enough to the point where Orlovsky, an ESPN analyst and former NFL QB, believes fans should boycott.

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• Why Patriots traded Kayshon Boutte to Texans for Jaylen Reed and a 7th-round draft pick
• Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders