Todd Monken has barely gotten settled in Cleveland, and he’s already staring at the kind of decision that can define a coach fast.
The Browns announced Monday that Deshaun Watson will open the season as the starting quarterback in Week 1 against Jacksonville, ending a competition that had been talked up all offseason. Monken said the staff looked at everything before making the call.
“Deshaun is gonna start against Jacksonville,” Monken said. “[We] took in the full body of work over the course of offseason, to training camp, to the games, the joint practice. Ultimately felt like, to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best opportunity to move the ball and score points.”
That choice did not sit well with a loud chunk of the fan base, especially after the way the preseason played out. The second week of the preseason against the Buffalo Bills is the game that seems to have pushed the conversation over the edge, because Shedeur Sanders clearly had the better showing.
Sanders completed 9-of-11 passes for 74 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He wasn’t electric, but he stayed on schedule and kept drives alive, which is exactly the sort of thing Monken said he wanted.
Watson, meanwhile, had a rough afternoon. He finished 5-for-12 for 36 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
The reaction has been fierce enough that it’s fair to wonder whether this was ever really a true open competition. Monken’s preference for the veteran shouldn’t have been much of a surprise.
The former Ravens offensive coordinator has long carried an old-school approach, one that leans toward limiting negative plays and handling pressure situations well, especially on third down. That naturally points toward experience at quarterback.
Where Monken may have invited the backlash is in how often he framed the job as being up for grabs. Week after week, he talked about the battle like it was wide open, and now the preseason results have fans questioning whether the process matched the message.
For a coach trying to make his mark in Cleveland, this is the first major flashpoint. Browns fans want wins, and plenty of them are looking at Watson’s track record and asking whether this is really the right direction to start Year 1.
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