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sports Monday 15 august 2022

With Watson on board, Browns bracing for more boos on road

By TOM WITHERS in however long it's been is to address what his team
AP Sports Writer probably a bigger concern. could be facing down the
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The But the crowd was loud for road — and on the road.
booing has begun, and a preseason game in Jack- "It's our job to focus on the
it's only the preseason. The sonville. They got pretty things that are important
Cleveland Browns expect loud down there." The sta- in those game settings,"
it to increase and intensify dium was only half-full, so he said. "We'd be doing
over the months ahead. imagine what it will be like ourselves a disservice if we
Deshaun Watson is a tar- in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and focused on anything that
get, and so are his team- Cincinnati, Cleveland's people were saying about
mates. As they prepare for AFC North stops where the us before the game, during
Watson to be suspended Browns were already the the game, after the game,
by the NFL for violating its enemy before they traded those type of things."
personal conduct policy, for Watson under center. For the first time in camp
the Browns know they're "I'm sure every stadium we on Sunday, Jacoby Bris-
probably going to be sub- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson throws during go, we'll be booed," Bitonio sett, who will start during
jected to rougher and row- an NFL football practice in Berea, Ohio, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. said. "I don't know if it will Watson's suspension, took
dier treatment from fans Associated Press get worse. I think people the majority of snaps with
during road games this It was a preview of how this The shaky performance get tired of booing, you Cleveland's first-team of-
season. season will be. prompted questions about know? But I'm sure every fense.
"It seems like more than Watson showed some rust whether Watson was rat- time he goes out there, Brissett didn't play against
ever, 'Cleveland against and maybe jitters in his first tled by his unresolved situ- there'll be some sort of boo the Jaguars and Stefanski
the world,'" All-Pro guard game in nearly 600 days — ation and uncertain future. to start the game and we'll said he'll also sit out Sun-
Joel Bitonio said Sun- he sat out last season — by "I haven't talked to him kind of go from there." day's home game against
day, repeating a popular completing just 1 of 5 pass- about that," Bitonio said. Browns coach Kevin Stefan- the Philadelphia Eagles.q
phrase adopted in a city es for 7 yards in three series. "I'm sure not playing football ski doesn't have any plans
that has long felt like an un-
derdog. "So we'll be ready
for it." Watson was booed
throughout his exhibition
debut on Friday night in
Jacksonville. There were
some in the crowd at TIAA
Bank Stadium who direct-
ed profane chants at the
controversial quarterback
accused of sexual miscon-
duct by two dozen women
during massage therapy
appointments in Texas.
The three-time Pro Bowler
for Houston is facing a pos-
sible year-long ban and
significant fine from the
league, which appealed a
six-game suspension hand-
ed down by independent
arbitrator Sue L. Robinson.
Watson's playing status
rests with Peter C. Harvey,
appointed by Commis-
sioner Roger Goodell to
handle the appeal. Har-
vey's decision could come
any time or there could be
a settlement between the
NFL and NFL Players Asso-
ciation.
Watson, who hasn't spoken
to reporters since June 14,
apologized for the first time
before Friday's game in an
interview with the team's
preseason TV crew.
Bitonio was one of several
starters who didn't play
against the Jaguars. But
while he watched from the
sideline, Bitonio, who has
seen plenty in his eight sea-
sons with Cleveland, heard
the noise.