Todd Monken’s first major call in Cleveland has already stirred up plenty of second-guessing, and not just from Browns fans.
The Browns’ quarterback competition was one of the least convincing in recent NFL memory, and it ended the way many expected it would: Deshaun Watson got the job. Predictable, yes.
Popular, no. And because of that, Monken’s first controversial decision as Browns offensive coordinator immediately became a talking point.
Even people who would normally benefit from Cleveland’s discomfort are looking at it with unease. Baltimore Ravens writer Connor Burke of Ebony Bird said the move raises a real question about Monken’s early run in Cleveland.
“As Monken continues to make his mark in Cleveland, this is the first big question mark about his tenure," wrote Burke. "Browns fans want success, and given the trend of Watson’s career, this doesn’t feel like a great direction to take your team in Year 1. And judging by the reaction, plenty of people are wondering if Monken got this one right."
The process only made the reaction louder. Monken could have cut through the suspense early and made it clear Watson was going to take the first-team reps from the start. Instead, the whole thing dragged on long enough to feel like a dead-end exercise, with fans left watching a competition that never really seemed like one.
The timing didn’t help either. The announcement came on Monday, Aug. 24, after Watson had already called out the fan base and said he didn’t know whether he could handle all the negativity from fans.
For most quarterbacks, that kind of press conference would have created real consequences. In this case, it was followed by the reward of being named the starter.
Watson’s edge in the battle was obvious from the beginning, so the decision was never exactly a shock. Maybe it proves to be the right one and gets forgotten quickly. Monken made the case plainly enough: play well if you don’t want to be booed at home.
He also signed a five-year contract, so the chatter about him being a one-and-done doesn’t line up with reality.
Still, it says something about the mood around the Browns when a divisional rival is openly worried about where this all might lead.
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