Prime Video/NFL
Prime Video's coverage of Deshaun Watson is being widely criticized
Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns, one of the early surprises of the NFL season, were featured on Thursday Night Football this week. Virtually every member of the broadcast crew was ripped for how they discussed Watson’s past.
From sideline interviewer Taylor Rooks to commentators Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit to analyst Tony Gonzalez, based on the general tone of NFL fans on social media, Prime Video completely mishandled its discussions about controversial quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Prime Video’s coverage of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday Night Football is being widely criticized
Prior to the game, Rooks sat down for an interview with Watson that frames his tumultuous last few years — which saw him accused of sexual misconduct and assault by dozens of women — as “adversity.”
Airing a piece that reframes the many RAPES of Deshaun Watson as “adversity” would be shameful for everyone involved at any time
But doing it in the wake of this Cornell news is next level evil stuff https://t.co/sLk708utnY
— jack (@actionjack69) October 2, 2026
Then there was Michaels and Herbstreit, who said that “don’t have to go through the whole Deshaun Watson” thing while waxing lyrical about his performance.
Herbstreit’s comments were particularly eye-opening, as the longtime College GameDay staple said, “When you convert on 3rd downs, you hit passes, you lead this team to victories, those boos turn into cheers.”
This is gross and nasty behavior from men in a position of power speaking to a national audience.
We need to be better. Have some accountability. https://t.co/SJ4ITdcNJu
— Jacob Schneider (@_jacobschneider) October 2, 2026
Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez was similarly criticized for painting Watson as some kind of feel-good comeback story.
“The stuff that Deshaun Watson has gone through” like he’s some victim.
Tony Gonzalez making a fool of himself on this postgame show
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) October 2, 2026