The Cleveland Browns were loud leading up to Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Specifically, veteran defensive end Jared Verse had a lot to say about Pittsburgh, and how he wasn’t worried about the rival Steelers entering the Week 8 matchup.
Unfortunately, Verse and the Browns were quiet during the actual game.
That’s why fans believe Cleveland’s head coach Todd Monken was speaking directly to his locker room with a specific statement that he made this week. Talking to the media, Monken emphasized that the Browns have to be about their play and not their words.
"You are how you play, not how you talk," Monken said. "That was the message all week. It’ll continue to be our message each week. Speak with your play. I’ll leave it at that."
Knowing how direct Monken is, he probably delivered a more brash version of this message to the team, emphasizing the need for them to show up on game day and make their biggest statements then.
Todd Monken is demanding that Browns speak with their play
That’s the exact sentiment that every Browns fan had as the game unfolded on Sunday. Verse, who was the most vocal as far as trash talk, received the brunt of this frustration. The defensive end had just one tackle in the game, and was on the vulnerable side of an illegal but embarrassing play where he was slammed by a Steelers lineman.
The entire game made Cleveland look like a team that was all talk, as Pittsburgh was not only better on Sunday, but far more physical, making the Browns eat their words.
Knowing how Todd Monken goes about his business, he likely doesn’t have a problem with the trash talk part of things. In fact, Monken is a bit of a trash talker himself.
What frustrated the head coach is that his team wasn’t prepared to back up its talk, and delivering on what you have to say is the most important part of the equation.
The Browns failed to do that on Sunday, and they have to live with that and adjust. Trash talking is a part of the game that makes things even more fun.
But if you are going to do it, you better be prepared to stand on your words.
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