Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski has some advice for the Cleveland Browns after they fell to 1-4 in their 34-13 Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ second overall draft pick, went 14-25 with 238 yards, a touchdown and an interception; he also had 11 carries and 82 yards rushing, leading the team. After the loss, Rob Gronkowski suggested that maybe the Browns should bench Deshaun Watson and replace him with Jameis Winston.
“They need to start looking at Jameis Winston and maybe have an opportunity to put him in the game, just to give them some kind of spark,” Gronk said during Fox Sports’ coverage of the Browns game, shared by the user @lanamarie27. on X, formerly Twitter.
Should the Browns follow Rob Gronkowski’s advice and start Jameis Winston?
Despite Gronk’s advice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski won’t bench Watson, despite their dismal offense leading to ugly losses like their Week 5 loss to the Commanders. Instead, the coach refused to single out his struggling quarterback for the loss.
“It’s not about one person on offense,” Stefanski said after the matchby Stephen Whyno for the Associated Press. “We have to play better, I have to coach better and that’s really what it’s about.”
During the game, Watson had a fumble and was sacked seven times, throwing for an average total of 125 yards. He failed to throw for 200 yards for five straight games, the longest streak of his career. Additionally, his only touchdown pass came with seven minutes remaining and the game was already decided.
Likewise, the Browns had gained just 149 yards before the fourth quarter. After the loss, the quarterback blamed himself for the team’s offense.
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“This attack, it will go as far as I go. At the end of the day, if we don’t do enough offensively, as a quarterback you take all the pressure, you take all the heat, you take all the blame,” Watson said, playing the third of his five matches. year, $230 million contract.
Still, Gronk’s suggestion could benefit the Browns, who signed Jameis Winston to a one-year deal during the recent offseason. Maybe Winston can give the team a spark, and he probably couldn’t play worse than Watson.
Benching their starter would also tell him that he needs to start improving his game if he wants to keep his job.
Five games with Watson have resulted in just one win, and betting on him to suddenly change his game may not be a recipe for short- and long-term success.
