BEREA, Ohio — Jameis Winston, Myles Garrett and other Browns dealt with their anger during the week at fans who cheered for an injured Deshaun Watson during last Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals at Huntington Bank Field, and will try to give them something to cheer about. this Sunday against the Ravens.
“Oh, I feel like I’ve made my love and passion for these fans very clear and how grateful we are that they are passionate fans,” said Winston, who chastised the fans in a passionate monologue after the match. “I just know that there’s a way to do things and there’s a way not to do things, and I’m not saying that every fan made the decision to act that way. So if you’re worried about it, man, come to the game and let’s show up and let’s show it and whatever you feel, let it be felt. But we need you. It’s important to have a loyal fan base to support their team and I know we can’t do it without them.
Garrett, who took the podium even before Kevin Stefanski after the match to call out to the fans, rather knows how to generate cheers.
“The fans want to see us win, so we’re going to go out there and get the win,” he said. “That’s all anyone really wants. Our organization, our team, we want to win, we want to have fun and we want to win. These two things go hand in hand.
Garrett acknowledged that “of course not” not every Browns fan in the stadium cheered for Watson while he was on the field crying with what turned out to be a heartbreak. Achilles at the end of the season, but it still hurt.
“I mean, it was a bad time for us as fans, spectators of the game and guardians of the game,” he said. “None of us can really stand this. We want to thank everyone who shows up in our colors and on the field. And we have to move forward and be better, all of us.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, “disgusted” by the cheers, admitted the victory would alleviate an unfortunate situation.
“I’m sure most Browns fans are respectful,” he said. “As for whether it was a majority or a minority, let’s put that behind us. We have to play better. We understand. We want the fans to be able to come to the games and have fun and enjoy themselves, so we’re definitely going to try to play better. We’ll work this week, try to find a dub for them, and then we’ll hear all the applause and see all the happy faces again.
Okoronkwo hopes to be part of the solution Sunday as the 1-6 Browns take on the 4-2 Ravens.
“We are family,” he said. “We’re meeting on Sunday and hopefully we can get that dubbing done. It takes everyone, it takes our fans, us, our coaches, everyone. We all need to be on the same page and we need to have as much positive energy as possible.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II knows it was likely a loud and boisterous minority at Huntington Bank Field.
“I just feel like our statements don’t concern all Browns fans,” he said. “I don’t think everyone in that stadium was necessarily cheering for it, so we’re still going to play for those loyal fans that still support us and that’s how we’re going to approach it.”
He said the players will do their best to win their first home match this season after three defeats.
“A win helps everything,” he said. “A victory definitely solves everything. It’s just about getting back out there and trying to get back on track. Like I said, I know there are so many loyal Browns fans, and we’re always going to play for them.
He said he will always enjoy the love affair with some of the NFL’s best fans, who come out rain or shine, sleet or snow, win or lose.
“I believe it,” he said. “Especially these loyal fans that I know. At the end of the day, you can have disagreements, and I still believe that every Sunday they will show up and be ready for us and they will motivate us.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who called the display “one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen” in a podcast clip on her Instagram account, won’t let it affect the way she plays in Huntington Bank Field.
“My job doesn’t necessarily depend on what people think of me or anything like that, so my job is still the same as before,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate to hear people cheering when someone is hurt. And that’s the problem. …You can say what you want about this man’s past, but it seems like if he was okay, no one would say anything, so that’s where the problem lies. So nothing changes in my work.
He acknowledged he was still working on it as he returned to Huntington Bank Field.
“But that’s how it is,” he said. “They’re allowed to feel whatever they want to feel, but at the end of the day, we’re all human.”
Left guard Joel Bitonio said: “I think it will take care of itself. You never want to hear people cheering when someone is hurt, but I think we’ll grow. The Browns have been here a long time and the fans have been here a long time and we’re going to grow from that. For me, that’s not really a thought (this week).
Running back Nick Chubb, perhaps loved here more than any other player, still loves Browns fans.
“I found it disappointing that some people had a different reaction, but I know we’re all in this together, us and Cleveland,” he said. “I know not everyone felt that way, but yeah, it’s a tough situation. But we all love Deshaun here.
Safety Grant Delpit acknowledged it was upsetting, but is ready to look to the future.
“I saw what Nick said the other day,” he said. “We know everyone just wants to win, and we’re not doing a good job of that, so it’s understandable why they would be upset, but we’re just looking to move forward now.”
He said it didn’t leave a bad taste in his mouth.
“No, we need the fans,” he said. “Especially at home.”
Stefanski couldn’t agree more.
“We have the best fans in the National Football League,” he said. “They supported us; they’ve been supporting this football team since I’ve been here. Home field advantage is a very real thing, considering how our group reacts and how difficult it is to succeed on the other side. I don’t think much about last week other than saying we’re excited to get back in front of our fans.
