Haslam on Watson: Cautiously Optimistic

It's April 5th, I'm Cory with The Story, and this is NFL News Today, Football News

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Cleveland Brown's owners Jimmy and D. Haslam have faced non-stop heat since buying the

team back in 2012.

In the 14th season since, the squad's gone 78 wins and 150 losses, including a brutal

zero, and 16 year, and a one, and 31 stretch over two seasons.

Draft busts in that massive DeShawn Watson trade just piled on the pain for fans.

Earlier this week at the NFL's annual meetings, Haslam talked Watson and got twisted by social

media.

He admitted wishing he'd worded last year's Swing in a Miss Label, better on the trade,

but stood by it.

He praised Watson's effort and toughness, pointing to major injuries like a torn shoulder

and two Achilles tears, plus an 11 game suspension.

That's kept him sideline.

Fans and online chatter blew up, claiming Haslam saw Watson turning into a home run.

Turns out, that line was a reporter's question, not his words.

The backlash makes sense given the Brown's rough history.

Nobody's giving the Haslam's easy passes anymore.

Haslam stayed measured, calling himself cautiously optimistic.

He noted Watson was once a top two quarterback, and with new offensive-minded head coach Todd

Munkin, who succeeded with all kinds of QBs, there's a shot.

But Watson's in the best shape in years, reporting April 7th for workouts, and Haslam's

stress is too early to name a starter.

Full quotes paint a clearer picture.

Haslam's rooting for a rebound, but letting Munkin and the field decide.

Smart move, Brown's nation.

Let's watch how it plays out this off-season.