The Cleveland Browns, alongside numerous other NFL teams, kicked off their 2024 season this past Sunday.

However, what many fans had hoped would be a promising start to the season turned out to be a significant disappointment.

The Browns, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, fell to the Dallas Cowboys in a 33-17 loss, leaving fans frustrated and questioning the team’s future.

Watson’s performance, in particular, was underwhelming as he threw two interceptions, adding fuel to an already raging fire of dissatisfaction among Browns supporters.

The Browns’ acquisition of Watson has been a divisive issue since the team traded for him in 2022.

The Browns sent a considerable amount of draft capital to the Houston Texans in exchange for the quarterback, a move that was seen by some as a gamble, and by others, as a necessary step to potentially elevate the team to Super Bowl contention.

However, Watson’s tenure with the Browns has been far from smooth sailing, starting with his suspension for the first 11 games of the 2022 season.

The suspension stemmed from multiple misconduct allegations, including accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior from over two dozen women.

These allegations led to lawsuits, public outrage, and a significant hit to Watson’s reputation, making his trade to the Browns a controversial decision from the outset.

For Browns fans, the 2022 season was a mixture of anticipation and frustration.

Watson was brought in with the expectation that he would be the franchise quarterback who could lead the team to success, but instead, he was forced to sit out nearly the entire season due to his suspension.

When he finally took the field, his performances were far from the elite level he had shown during his time with the Houston Texans.

In his limited appearances during the 2022 season, Watson struggled to find his rhythm, and the Browns missed the playoffs yet again.

For many, it was a painful reminder of the risks associated with placing so much trust and hope in a player surrounded by so much controversy.

Entering the 2024 season, the hope among Browns fans was that Watson would have shaken off the rust and returned to his Pro Bowl form.

After all, this was the year that the Browns were supposed to see the full return on their investment.

But Sunday’s game against the Cowboys raised serious questions about whether that will ever happen.

Watson’s two interceptions were glaring mistakes, and his overall performance left much to be desired. He appeared out of sync with his receivers, and his decision-making was questionable at best.

The Browns’ offense, once touted as a potential juggernaut with Watson at the helm, looked disjointed and incapable of keeping up with the Cowboys, leading to their lopsided defeat.

To make matters worse, Watson’s off-field issues have continued to haunt him and the Browns organization.

Despite the legal settlements that took place in 2022, which resolved many of the lawsuits brought against him, new reports have surfaced indicating that Watson is now facing yet another lawsuit for sexual assault and battery.

The details of the lawsuit are not fully clear, but the mere existence of yet another legal battle has reignited concerns about Watson’s character and whether he is the right person to lead the Browns moving forward.

As a result of these ongoing issues, Browns fans and NFL pundits have begun to speculate wildly about the situation.

One of the most outlandish theories circulating on social media involves the idea that the Browns organization itself may be behind some sort of plot to sabotage Watson.

This theory gained traction after a tweet, which suggested that the team could be setting him up for failure, went viral.

The theory posits that the Browns, having realized that Watson may not be the player they hoped he would be, are somehow orchestrating his downfall, perhaps to get out of the massive financial commitment they made when they signed him to one of the largest contracts in NFL history.

While this theory seems far-fetched, it speaks to the level of frustration and disbelief among Browns fans.

They have been through a rollercoaster of emotions over the past few years, and the Watson saga has been one of the most tumultuous chapters in the team’s history.

The idea that the organization might intentionally undermine its own player may be absurd, but it reflects the desperation and confusion that fans are feeling as they try to make sense of the team’s current trajectory.

At the core of the issue is the massive financial investment the Browns made in Watson.

In March 2022, the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year contract worth $230 million, the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history at the time.

This move shocked the NFL world and was seen as a bold, if controversial, statement of faith in Watson’s abilities.

The Browns essentially bet their future on Watson, hoping that he would be the quarterback to finally lead the franchise to a Super Bowl.

But as the losses pile up and Watson’s legal troubles persist, that gamble is looking more and more like a catastrophic mistake.

The frustration with Watson is compounded by the fact that the Browns have a long history of quarterback woes.

Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the team has cycled through dozens of quarterbacks, searching for the elusive franchise player who could bring stability and success to the organization.

Watson was supposed to be the answer to that search, the player who could break the cycle of mediocrity and lead the team to sustained success.

But instead, his arrival has been marked by controversy, legal battles, and underwhelming performances on the field.

The Browns’ fanbase, known for its passion and loyalty, is understandably growing impatient.

They have watched their team struggle for decades, often finding themselves the butt of jokes around the NFL.

The acquisition of Watson was supposed to change that narrative, but so far, it has only added to the frustration and disappointment.

Fans are left wondering whether the team made a grave mistake in mortgaging its future for a quarterback whose best days may already be behind him.

As the 2024 season progresses, the pressure on Watson will only intensify.

The Browns have invested too much in him for there to be any easy way out.

The team’s front office, coaching staff, and players are all counting on Watson to live up to his potential and lead the Browns to success.

But with each passing game, the doubts grow louder.

If Watson cannot turn things around soon, the Browns may find themselves facing one of the most difficult decisions in franchise history: whether to continue sticking by their quarterback or to cut their losses and move on.

In the meantime, the speculation and conspiracy theories will likely continue to swirl.

The idea that the Browns might be sabotaging their own quarterback may seem ridiculous, but it speaks to the state of disillusionment among fans.

After years of false hope and unfulfilled promises, many Browns supporters are grasping for answers, trying to understand how their team ended up in this situation.

The 2024 season is still young, and there is time for Watson to redeem himself and prove that he is the quarterback the Browns thought they were getting when they traded for him in 2022.

But after Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, the road to redemption looks steeper than ever.

For the sake of the team and its long-suffering fanbase, Watson will need to show significant improvement – both on the field and in his conduct off of it.

Whether or not that happens will define not only his legacy but also the future of the Cleveland Browns as a franchise.