BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan – The aggregators and trolls came for Joel Bitonio two weeks ago and Wednesday, he disposed of them like would a defensive tackle.
Bitonio, the longest tenured Browns player on the roster along with long snapper Charley Hughlett, received criticism online and on social media for his answer to a question about dealing with the Browns being booed by opposing fans because Deshaun Watson is on the team.
During the preseason opener in Jacksonville, Jaguars fans booed Watson, who will serve an 11-game suspension following a disciplinary settlement with the NFL.
“I'm sure in every stadium we go to we'll be booed,” Bitonio said on August 14. “I don't know if it'll get worse. I think people get tired of booing. I'm sure every time he goes out there, there'll be some sort of boo to start and we'll go from there.”
A few questions later Bitonio was asked to clarify if he meant they would be booed on the road if Jacoby Brissett was playing or just because of Watson?
“I’m not sure about that. You know, I think once Deshaun came out of the game we got booed less,” Bitonio said, “but you go to a road game, they boo you anyway, so you know what I mean? So we'll see how it goes.
I'm sure, it seems like more than ever, Cleveland against the world, so we'll be ready for it.”
Wednesday, Bitonio answered the criticism he received for that candid response with honesty and class.
“Yeah, I noticed it,” Bitonio said of the keyboard warriors coming after him. “I noticed, and what I said was, we’re going to go to stadiums and we’re going to get booed by people no matter who’s playing quarterback for us and as a team we come out and say, ‘Cleveland against the world.’
“If people want to take that in the wrong context or talk about it in the wrong context, that’s their opinion, but I know we have good people on this team that are working hard and trying to be the best for the Cleveland Browns and that’s where I am at as a player who has been here for nine years. And if someone wants to think that I don’t love and appreciate things in my life, that’s their opinion. But I know where I’m at and where I’m at with Cleveland and the people on this team.”