Following Deshaun Watson's anti-Browns fans rant after Saturday's preseason game, it seemed as if Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken would do the right thing. He subtly called Watson out when he said the quarterback and offense needed to play good football if they don't want to be booed at home, and Watson's meltdown at the podium made it almost impossible to fathom that he would play — let alone start — in Week 1 of the regular season.
Monken's quick U-turn was disappointing. He changed his tone on Watson's rant during a Sunday Zoom call with reporters, and then left fans feeling betrayed by confirming Watson has been named QB1 for the season opener at Jacksonville.
For a man who had preached accountability, execution, and tough love, this didn't seem on brand. It may have destroyed all the credibility and hype he had built from the moment the Browns brought him in.
Starting Deshaun Watson was the one move Browns fans never wanted Todd Monken to make
Monken has been a breath of fresh air in Cleveland. No PR-trained non-answers. Not a single politically-correct response. He has told it as it is, called out his players and himself, and even managed to avoid falling for some traps set by the media.
Monken struck people as a football maniac arriving in town to build a winning culture for a change, someone who would reward the best player, regardless of his salary or whatever owner Jimmy Haslam may say. He represented a beacon of hope.
Now, all hope is lost.
Monken had an easy decision in front of him. It was a can't-lose situation. Watson essentially talked his way out of Cleveland. If things went south with Shedeur Sanders as the starter, Monken would still get the benefit of the doubt because the fans love the young quarterback.
It will be hard to trust his judgment going forward. Granted, he's watched both quarterbacks up close, dating back to spring workouts. But there's nothing about the tape, numbers, or even the demeanor that would make someone think Deshaun Watson is the right guy for this job.
Regardless of whatever this might say about Sanders, starting Watson after what he's done and said is just a slap in Browns fans' faces. And even if the decision didn't come soley from Monken, he's the one who'll have to do all the explaining and deal with the fallout.
For too long, Haslam's whims have outweighed all logic. Head coaches have been nothing but front men, and the hard-nosed, no-nonsense Monken seemed poised to break those chains once and for all.
Now, there's simply no way to save face. Either this was a football decision, and fans will have every right to second-guess every move and play call. Or Monken allowed Haslam to make the call for him, and fans will know he has no real power.
Either way, he'll have a tough time coming back from this.
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