Todd Monken has brought a little edge back to Cleveland, and the Browns are feeling it after a 2-1 start. But one joking remark about the Steelers could give Pittsburgh plenty to work with if Thursday night goes the wrong way for the Browns.
Monken, who doesn’t exactly hide what he’s feeling, was all smiles after Sunday’s win and even showed up for his postgame press conference with his hat turned backward. That kind of energy has helped set a different tone in Cleveland, and so far it’s been backed up by results.
The moment that may follow him into Thursday came during his media availability on Tuesday, when he was asked about T.J. Watt and offered this line:
"I think it's about time that he retires," Monken began. "To me, and Heyward and all those guys, credit to those guys, how long they've done it at the level they've done it. And it's been tough to go against."
The comment clearly came with a wink, and it was aimed at Watt and Cam Heyward in the context of how long they’ve been tormenting AFC North offenses for Pittsburgh. Watt already has 3.5 sacks this season, earned his eighth straight Pro Bowl nod last year, and remains in the mix as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Still, jokes have a way of turning into bulletin-board material. If Cleveland loses Thursday night, the Steelers’ social media crew could have a field day with Monken’s words, and the Browns would be left wishing the joke had stayed in the room.
For now, though, Monken has given Browns fans something to like beyond the record. After the ugly 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, he looked like a coach on shaky ground. Instead, Cleveland has answered with back-to-back wins, and Monken appears to have unlocked at least part of the old Deshaun Watson.
The passing game still isn’t where anyone wants it, but Watson’s mobility is back on display in a way it hadn’t been during his Browns run. That has locked him in as the starter, which didn’t feel guaranteed not long ago.
There are still issues. The offensive line remains a problem, and the penalties keep piling up. But wins have a way of calming everything down, and right now the Browns are walking into Thursday night with confidence, even if Monken’s joke about the Steelers veterans might come back around if things unravel.
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Freiermuth said his mother was the one caught in the middle of it, and the memory has been enough to change her routine when the Steelers head to Cleveland. Even so, he made clear there are no lingering hard feelings, just a reminder of how quickly a night in the AFC North can turn personal and why certain road games still carry an edge no scoreboard can erase. [Read more 🡒]
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That kind of early efficiency can change a depth chart quickly, especially for a team trying to sort out its safety mix and steady itself against the run. Cleveland has reason to consider expanding McNeil-Warrens role if the current personnel at the position keeps leaving openings, and the next stretch could show whether the rookie is merely earning more trust or forcing a tougher conversation about who should be playing more. [Read more 🡒]