Phil Simms Believes Steelers QB Situation is Better Than Browns

The Cleveland Browns historic, while also controversial, $230 million guaranteed deal with quarterback Deshaun Watson has certainly not panned out thus far. The Browns also sent three first-round picks to Houston in the trade for Watson.

The move, which on the surface was incredibly desperate, looks to be a massive mistake by Cleveland. Watson has a 14-12 touchdown-interception ratio with a 59.8 completion percentage and 81.7 quarterback rating in 12 starts with the Browns over the last two seasons. In 2022, he was suspended 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. And last year, he missed most of the season with a shoulder injury.

Former New York Giants quarterback and CBS Sports color commentator/analyst Phil Simms thinks the Browns are in turmoil with Watson.

“What was he doing when he was healthy? He was playing out of control. We talked about it, it was really unbelievable. It was like he was out there mad at the world. And was going to try and beat everyone up on the defensive side. Which, when you try to do that as a quarterback, you lose,” Simms told his son Matt Simms on the Bleav Podcast.

The Pittsburgh Steelers improved their quarterback situation this offseason with signing Russell Wilson in free agency and trading for Justin Fields. While not everyone is sold on the Steelers’ quarterback plan, Simms at least thinks it’s better than what Cleveland is dealing with.

“Russell Wilson, he got slapped around. His reputation and all that. Listen, it’s big motivation when they count you out. ‘Oh, he doesn’t know how to get along with people.’ He still has talent. He’s got a good, strong arm. Can throw it down the field. … Justin Fields, he got better as the year went along last year,” Simms said.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens have top-flight quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, respectively. The AFC North is widely considered the best division in the NFL.

It should be interesting to see how the Wilson and Fields situation plays out. If it’s a disaster, at least they’re on cheap contracts and not under long-term deals, unlike the Watson mess in Cleveland.