As the Cleveland Browns head into another rebuild following the disastrous 5-12 season, many just want the franchise win. Analyst Tony Rizzo is among them, and at this point, he doesn't care who helps the team land a winning season.

Rizzo, who vehemently supports rookie Shedeur Sanders, has even rallied behind Deshaun Watson lately and advocated for Watson to become the QB 1 if he proves his worth.

“I am a Browns fan. I don’t give a flying fadoodle who plays well. I’m 64, and I don’t have many seasons left. I don't give a c*** which quarterback plays well. And I am so desperate that I’ll take a chance on Deshaun Watson,” he declared on ESPN Cleveland. 

Ever since Deshaun Watson returned to practice after recovering from his Achilles injuries, Rizzo believes that he stands a better chance of becoming the starting quarterback for the 2026-27 season.

Watson, 30, was a first-round pick during the 2017 NFL draft and has thrown 123 touchdowns for 17,904 yards. His breakthrough performances with the Houston Texans got him a guaranteed 5-year, hefty $230 million contract.

However, he has consistently fallen short with the Browns due to multiple injuries. 

Why the Browns Analyst Had a Change of Heart

“You know, I am Shedeur camp all day long. But I am just saying, there is a scenario where Deshaun Watson plays well. What’d we do if that happens?" said Tony Rizzo.

While Watson has been around for longer, his season stats are comparable to Sanders's rookie season. Sanders managed to throw 7 TDs across 1,400 yards in the 8 games he played.

Meanwhile, Watson played the most for the Browns in 2024, appearing in seven. He scored 5 TDs while throwing for 1,148 yards. However, where Watson leaves Sanders behind is efficiency.

Watson boasted a 63.4% completion rate in 2024 compared to Sanders 56.6%. The veteran QB also had far fewer interceptions with just 3, compared to Sanders' 10.

So it is understandable why Rizzo, a hardcore Browns fan, is frustrated. The franchise has been underwhelming for most of its history, no matter which QB has led the squad. Since joining the NFL in 1950, the Browns have a 12-22 playoff record and have played in the playoffs only three times. 

They lost all three times against the Denver Broncos. In fact, throughout the years, the Browns have earned the “Graveyard of Quarterbacks” title. 

So it's safe to say that the ESPN analyst just wants results. Do you agree with Rizzo? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi