When the Cleveland Browns opted to hire former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their head coaching position, the feelings were mixed. Monken wasn't exactly a hot commodity in this hiring cycle — the Browns were his only interview — though that hasn't automatically made a hire a disaster historically.
It was in his introductory press conference, though, that Browns fans got their first glimpse into who Monken is.
Through tears, a couple of expletives, and some bristly comments toward former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, one thing was obvious. The new Browns head coach would be bringing an entirely different attitude to the organization, a welcome change from the underwhelming Kevin Stefanski era. The man is who he is, for better or for worse.
Monken's comments at the annual NFL owners' meetings provided him an outlet to make another brutally honest admission. He didn't disappoint, as told by ESPN's Peter Schrager:
"Browns HC Todd Monken notes that Shedeur Sanders has been in the building a bunch the last few months, working out; Dillon Gabriel, as far as he's aware, has not."
Todd Monken’s latest comments hint at a clear gap between Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders
The Browns' quarterback position has been discussed ad nauseam in the offseason, and little has been settled to this point. In fact, the only players under contract at the position — Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel — were all present in 2025, although Watson was unable to play due to injury. The messaging from the organization has been that this trio, as well as a potential rookie addition, will compete for the starting role.
It's a safe bet that if the Browns don't add a rookie, the competition would actually come down to Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Of late, Jimmy Haslam has been seemingly trying to will a Watson resurgence into reality, though that seems like an extreme pipe dream at this point.
The revelation from Monken further reinforces the obvious: Gabriel is a distant third, and he has seemingly whiffed on the opportunity to make a good first impression on his new head coach. For all the Shedeur Sanders truthers out there, this report should be music to their ears. With the talk of Sanders' immaturity and questionable work ethic in the background, he is responding emphatically.
Shedeur Sanders is answering his critics in the best way he can (with actions)
Despite the voluntary nature of different parts of the NFL calendar, the best NFL QBs are the ones who do more. It's part of the reason why they're the most highly compensated players in the sport. They transcend the significance of every teammate, blurring the lines between a leadership figure and a player.
While no one is handing Shedeur Sanders a Super Bowl ring for spending offseason time at the facility, it goes without saying that it speaks to a level of growth and a true desire to put his best foot forward in the upcoming quarterback competition. If nothing else, Monken's mention of fellow 2025 draft pick Dillon Gabriel in an unflattering light speaks volumes.
Most head coaches would leave what Monken said about Gabriel unsaid. There is usually little to be gained from publicly admonishing or putting players down to the media. The old adage "praise them in public, coach them in private" exists for a reason in leadership roles in all walks of life. While Monken will need to be careful when toeing the line in the future, he can be given some slack at this early juncture.
The Browns desperately need a jolt, a swift kick in the behind to change the culture in Cleveland. Monken is going to bring that every day, and fans can only hope it leads to change on the field.