Troy Aikman isn’t one to hold back what’s on his mind.

That was evident in Monday night’s showdown between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos.

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As Aikman discussed the Browns’ season and their 3-8 record at this point in the first half, he pointed to Deshaun Watson, why Cleveland is in their current situation and what could have been if Winston had done that earlier in the year would have received a nod.

Aikman called Watson an albatross to the team.

“It’s a tough league,” Aikman said.

“We all talk about parity, but when it comes to your hometown team, no one wants to hear it.”

“Kevin Stefanski is an outstanding football coach and he’s proven that… I get it, this year hasn’t been what people expected, but the albatross is Deshaun Watson.”

“If you go to Jameis Winston earlier in the year, will it be different?”

For those unfamiliar with the term AlbatrossIt is defined as “an annoying burden” or “psychological stress that feels like a curse”.

In other words, Aikman called Watson a curse for the Cleveland Browns.

And he’s right.

Although Cleveland has no one to blame but itself.

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They acted against Watson.

They signed Watson to the worst contract in the history of professional sports.

They gave Watson a $230 million guarantee.

They cursed each other.

And now we have to think about the question: “What if?”

Now we sit between 3 and 9 and all eyes are on next year.

Watson will have torn his Achilles tendon and hasn’t played good football in over four years.

His last truly great season was in Houston in 2020.

That was a lifetime ago in football years.

The curse is upon Cleveland, and until Watson is no longer with the team, which won’t happen anytime soon, the curse will remain.

As Aikman put it, “The albatross is Deshaun Watson.”