The Cleveland Browns have entered the annual part of the calendar that everyone was hoping to avoid.
Welcome to Quarterback Controversy Season!
The Browns had barely left the field on Sunday following a loss to the two-win New Orleans Saints before head coach Todd Monken was asked who the starting quarterback will be for this week’s game against the Houston Texans.
Monken rightly pointed out that, you know, the game had just ended, so maybe it wasn’t the right time to discuss such things.
On Monday,
presumably having had time to sleep on the matter, Monken had the opportunity to put the nonsense to bed before it started, but instead decided to start digging his own grave and state that he has still not made a decision.
Let’s assume Monken and the coaching staff are not planning to pull the surprise of the season and start either Dillon Gabriel or Taylen Green against the Texans. So that leaves Monken with two options:
- The quarterback he handpicked to start the season and, through some form of voodoo, played a role in helping the Browns to a 5-3 record and a spot to play meaningful games in the final two months of the season.
- The backup quarterback, who was just 5-of-8 for 38 yards at halftime against the two-win Saints, but rallied the troops in the second half thanks to impressive YAC totals from the receivers in a one-point loss.
At this point it may not matter much as the defense is worn down after being overrun the past three weeks to the tune of 501 rushing yards. And for all the “explosive plays” on Sunday, the offense needed almost five full quarters of football to score 22 points on a New Orleans defense that was allowing 28 points a game.
All Monken needs to do is pick someone- it doesn’t matter who- and stick with them the rest of the season. It’s simply too exhausting to go through all this stupidity again.
We’ve had enough – time to get going with today’s edition of the Daily Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature
Todd Monken denies report Browns already made Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson starting decision for Week 10 (Jared Mueller): What are you doing to the fans, coach?
Browns 2027 NFL draft positioning: Flip spots with Rams after Week 9 results (Jared Mueller): One way or another, it’s looking like the Browns will have a high draft pick come 2027.
Browns Week 9 loss: Shedeur’s progress, weapons galore, season in balance at trade deadline (Curtiss Brown): Yes, the conversation that no one asked for and no one wanted.
Browns vs. Texans odds: Opening lines for Week 10 matchup (Chris Pokorny): Welcome back home, Browns. Your reward? The Houston Texans, who have won three of their past four games.
Browns draft picks: Rams dealt another major injury; will it halt LA’s momentum? (Jared Mueller): The Rams might actually be cursed.
The Feed
Will the Browns make a move? Jump into The Feed and join the discussion!
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Cleveland Browns
Todd Monken won’t name Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders as Browns QB (Beacon Journal): Browns fans have pretty much embraced Todd Monken. Why does he now want to hurt them?
Todd Monken declines to say if Shedeur Sanders earned another start, but Deshaun Watson still has 5 4th-quarter game-winning drives (cleveland.com): Are there really any winners in all this?
Sanders or Watson: What should the Browns do? (Terry Pluto): Just pick one and get on with it.
Todd Monken says he’s not ready to name starter between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders (Browns Zone): Pounds head on the keyboard …
NFL
Is the NFC North the best division ever? Sizing up wins for Packers, Lions, Bears (ESPN): It is certainly not the NFC South.
The Winners and Losers of the NFL Week 9 (The Ringer): The one where Shedeur Sanders makes a guest appearance.
NFL trade grades: Jaguars overpay for Jordan Davis while going all in on Super Bowl chase (The Athletic): Jacksonville was busy on Monday.
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