BEREA, Ohio — Jameis Winston, Myles Garrett and other Browns players processed their anger during the week at fans who cheered 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 made it very clear of my love and passion for these fans and how grateful we are that they are passionate fans,” said Winston, who admonished fans in an impassioned monogue after the game. “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 that decision to act in that way. So if you’re concerned about that, man, just pull up to the game and let’s show up. Let’s show up and show out and whatever you feel, let it be felt. But we need you. I think it’s so important when you have a storied fan base to support their team and I know we cannot do it without them.”
Garrett, who went to the podium even before Kevin Stefanski after the game to call out fans, knows how to elicit cheers instead.
“The fans want to see us win, so we’re going to go out there and get a win,” he said. “It’s all anyone really wants. Our organization, our team, we want to win, want to have fun, and want to win. Both those things go hand in hand.”
Garrett acknowledged that “of course not” it wasn’t all Browns fans in the stadium who cheered Watson while he was down on the field crying with what proved to be a season-ending ruptured Achilles, but that it still hurt.
“I mean, it was a bad moment for us as fans and as spectators of the game and custodians of the game,” he said. “None of us really stand for that. We want to be appreciative for everyone who steps forward in our colors and on the field. And we’ve got to move forward and be better, all of us.”
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, who was “disgusted” by the cheering, agreed that winning will take the edge off an unfortunate situation.
“I’m sure most Browns fans are respectful,” he said. “As for whether it was majority, minority, let’s put it behind us. We’ve got to play better. We understand. We want the fans to be able to come to games and enjoy themselves and have fun, so we’re going to definitely going to try play better. We’re gong to put in the work this week, try to get them a ‘dub,’ and then we’ll hear all the cheering and see all the happy faces again.”
Okoronkwo hopes to be part of the solution on Sunday as the 1-6 Browns take on the 4-2 Ravens.
“We’re a family,” he said. “We come together on Sunday and hopefully we can get this dub. It takes everybody, it takes our fans, us, our coaches, everybody. We all have to be on the same page and we’ve got to have as much positive energy as possible.”
Cornerback Greg Newsome II knows that it was likely a loud and vocal minority at Huntington Bank Field.
“I just feel like our statements is not all Browns fans,” he said. “I don’t believe that everybody in that stadium was necessarily cheering for him, so we’re still going out there to play for those loyal fans that always have our backs and that’s how we’re going to approach it.”
He said the players will do their best to win their first home game this season after three losses.
“A victory helps everything,” he said. “A win definitely solves everything. It’s just getting back out there and trying to get back on track. Like I said, I know there are so many loyal Browns fans that are out there, and we’re still definitely going to go play for them.”
He said he’ll still enjoy the love affair with some of the best fans in the NFL, who come out rain or shine, sleet or snow, win or lose.
“I believe so,” he said. “Especially those loyal fans that I know they are. At the end of the day, you can have disagreements, and I still believe that every Sunday, they’ll show up and they’ll be ready for us and they’ll pump us up.”
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who called the display “one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen” in a podcast clip on his Instagram account, won’t let it impact how he plays at Huntington Bank Field.
“My job doesn’t necessarily depend on what people think about me or anything like that, so my job is still the same as it was before,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate when you hear people cheering when someone gets hurt. And that’s the thing. …You can say what you want to about the man’s past, but it seems like if he was doing fine, nobody would say anything, so that’s where the issue is. So nothing changes about my job.”
He acknowledged that he’s still working through it as he heads back to Huntington Bank Field.
“But it is what it is,” he said. “They’re allowed to feel how they want to feel but at the end of day, we’re all human.”
Left guard Joel Bitonio said “I think it will work itself out. You don’t ever want to hear people cheering when someone’s hurt, but I think we’ll grow. The Browns have been here for a long time and the fans have been here for a long time and we’ll grow from it. For me, it’s not really a thought (this week).”
Running back Nick Chubb, perhaps beloved here more than any other player, still loves Browns fans.
“I thought it was disappointing that some people did have a different reaction, but I know we’re all in this together, us and Cleveland,” he said. “I know that everyone didn’t feel like that, 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 ahead.
“I saw what Nick said the other day,” he said. “We know everybody just wants to win, and we’re not doing a good job of that so it’s understandable why they’d be upset, but we’re just looking to move forward now.”
He said it hasn’t left a bad taste in his mouth.
“No, we need the fans,” he said. “Especially at home.”
Coach Kevin Stefanski couldn’t agree more.
“We have the best fans in the National Football League,” he said. “They have supported us; they’ve supported this football team since I’ve been here. Home field advantage is a very real thing with how our group responds and how hard they make it on the other side. I’m not thinking much about last week other than to say we’re excited to get back in front of our fans.”