RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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‘Spit the Pacifier Out’ — Ex-NFL HC and GM React to Browns HC Todd Monken Starting Deshaun Watson Over Shedeur Sanders
Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Deshaun Watson was ever going to be a great option for the Cleveland Browns. Over the last four seasons, the three-time Pro Bowler has been awful for the team, while the second-generation star had a disastrous end to last season.
However, purposefully going after his own team’s fan base should have been the death sentence for Watson’s chances of becoming the starter. But the Browns did the unthinkable by naming him QB1, and that decision has not gone down well in the NFL world.
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With no real alternatives and an eye on the 2027 NFL Draft, the Browns were willing to be patient for a year with their quarterback slot. As a result, the competition boiled down to Watson and Sanders.
Through two preseason games, both players had underwhelming showings under their belt. But the former Houston Texans star’s situation seemed that much worse given the circumstances surrounding the second preseason game.
Facing the Buffalo Bills at home, he was booed by the fans constantly. The atmosphere clearly got to him, and he fired back at the Browns faithful in the postgame press conference. Somehow, the organization still chose to name him as the starter at the risk of alienating their fan base.
On the latest episode of the “Inside Football” podcast , former head coach Marvin Lewis and general manager of the Klutch Sports Group, Steve Keim, explained why a major part of the fault lies with the new head coach, Todd Monken.
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“To me, it’s ripped the band-aid off,” Keim confessed. Spending over two decades with the Arizona Cardinals before eventually becoming their general manager, he had a deep understanding of everything going on behind the scenes for a team.
Still, his opinion remained unchanged. “This guy’s had his opportunities. Number two, we’re in a position as an organization where we’re not going to extend this guy. And in football, a lot of times, coaches can be pacifier guys, like the baby pacifier.”
Explaining his definition, Keim added, “Meaning that you trust and respect a player. It’s comforting; they understand your system. They’ve been in the system a long time. They understand NFL defenses. You don’t have to coach them as hard.”
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As a result, he believed he’d figured out the logic for Monken to name Watson the starter even after the drama. “This situation is lining up for me like that. This situation is very comfortable for Todd Monken, but not what’s best for the Cleveland Browns organization.”
Even Lewis believed the decision and the repercussions lay with Monken. “Once you step in the coach’s chair, you gotta spit that pacifier out,” he remarked. However, he did cut the new head coach some slack.
“In Todd’s case, he is kind of serving as the offensive coordinator. So this is what he feels about it. Secondly, he’s been in the division. He’s evaluated Shedeur. He’s watched Shedeur play every game last year.”
During his time as the starter, Sanders finished as the second-to-last player in PFN’s QB Impact Metrics . As a result, it might make sense for the Browns to move forward with Watson instead.
However, the last time he was on the field, in 2024, he finished dead last in PFN’s QB Impact Score, so we’ll just have to wait and see if he’s going to be demonstrably better than Sanders in the role.
Add in the drama surrounding the fans, and it remains a puzzling move still.
The only saving grace for the Browns might be that their first two games are on the road. A strong start could temper the fan base to some extent, or a disastrous opening slate could make them turn to Sanders anyway.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
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