Spencer Fano's fiery clash with Jared Verse may have settled the Browns' left tackle battle

The Cleveland Browns have been taking things one day at a time with first-round rookie Spencer Fano. Head coach Todd Monken has loved the hard work and potential, but the Browns seemed comfortable with alternating first-team reps between Fano and Dawand Jones in training camp.

Like all rookies, Fano had plenty of things to clean up. However, you can't teach fight, competitiveness, and character. And even if he still has some catching up to do in other aspects, he's already aced his first test in that regard.

Addressing last week's viral scuffle between Fano and Jared Verse, Todd Monken had nothing but praise for his rookie left tackle. Far from lamenting the incident, the Browns' new head coach all but confirmed that Fano may have earned himself a starting spot right then and there.

“We were already leaning that way, and then Spencer on Saturday solidified it,” Monken said, repeating those last three words for effect. “Don’t you want to see a player, especially in the O-line, not back down? I mean, as your starting left tackle? All your hopes and dreams, right? The ability to move the football and protect.

Your left tackle, to not have him back down against a Pro Bowler? I mean, of course, that builds a little bit. It’s just one day … but that’s it. You want to see that, the competition part. You want to see a guy not back down, right? If they don’t stand up for themselves, then now you really are concerned.”

Todd Monken loved every second of Spencer Fano's practice battle with Jared Verse

Fano and Verse lit up Browns social media with a back-and-forth that went on throughout Saturday's practice. It was actually more of a takedown than a scuffle, and it was over in just a couple of seconds. However, that spoke volumes about Fano's competitive fire and how he wouldn't allow an intimidating pass rusher like Verse to rattle him.

Notably, Fano and Verse had actually been working closely after practice, with the Browns' new defensive end helping him polish his footwork and technique. They've also lined up against one another in almost every drill in training camp.

Of course, coaches would never condone players going at one another after the whistle, but this wasn't anything close to an actual fight. It was just two competitors getting into one another's faces in the heat of the moment after some physical practices.

Fano even got on Verse's face after Taylen Green drew him offsides later that day. You could tell that it was all in good spirits. If anything, that minor altercation may have only brought them closer together; iron sharpens iron, and Verse can definitely respect someone who won't let him get his way.

Monken had made a case for Jones to start the season at left tackle. He's reportedly in the best shape of his career, and he's looked the part so far in training camp. But now that a fire has been lit under the No. 9 overall pick, that ship may have sailed.

For years, the Cleveland Browns haven't pushed back. They've taken uppercuts to the chin on and off the field, even with the best defensive player in the world treating opposing quarterbacks like bowling pins.

That's not the case anymore.

The new-look Browns are oozing with young talent, but they're much more than that — they're Dawgs.

This team might lose some games, and who knows? Maybe Monken will be out-coached at times, as all rookie head coaches are.

What will never happen, though, is being outmuscled or outworked. The Browns are proving in training camp that they won't back down to anyone.

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