When Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken announced who would be their Week 1 starter when the team opens up on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, fans were unhappy. It’s not quarterback Shedeur Sanders; it was Deshaun Watson. The reaction was mainly negative, but head coach Monken went with the decision that most would deem unpopular.
It’s clear that the Cleveland Browns are not expecting to contend for the playoffs this season. If they do, all the better.
The roster has young talent but is mainly
inexperienced, and a head coach who has no NFL head coaching experience prior to being hired in Cleveland. Fans will want Monken fired and type mean things on the internet, but at the same time Monken, who is viewing this opportunity as a last chance to be a head coach, is going with the veteran instead of the second-year player. Watson, who hasn’t played well since being traded to Cleveland, blasted the fans on Saturday but later apologized for what he said. Monken talked about what went into the decision.
Instead of making the decision based on one preseason game and the post-game press conference, Monken stuck to the full body of work. The reports throughout OTA’s and throughout training camp would be either Sanders or Watson was the better quarterback. Monken tipped his hand about who was the starter when the team had their joint practice with the Buffalo Bills.
Regardless of how the preseason game went, the starter was already determined beforehand. Monken wasn’t willing to start Sanders because Sanders didn’t give him a legitimate reason to start him. It’s easier for Monken to start Sanders because of these specific things:
- Sanders is younger and has more upside
- Fans prefer Sanders over Watson (or anyone over Watson)
- Some fans believe that Sanders is the future (while others don’t)
It’s rare for an organization to listen to its fanbase because if they did, those people in the organization would be out of a job. It wasn’t a decision made by owner Jimmy Haslam to start Watson; it was a decision made by the person who is on the practice field and in the offensive meetings every day.
The last thing Monken needed to do was make an emotional decision and lose the locker room before the opening game. It was the unpopular decision, but it was the tough decision Monken had to make. Now, the results on the field will decide whether he made a proper decision.
What has to happen for you to think Monken’s decision to start Watson was a good idea?
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