If there is one thing that can be said about Todd Monken, it is that he does not waver in his beliefs. The Cleveland Browns head coach is highly confident in his approach, and nothing is going to convince him otherwise.
In making his controversial quarterback decision of Deshaun Watson, Monken has made it perfectly clear that an overwhelmingly negative reaction from fans and the media had nothing to do with it. However, some people have questioned whether it was his call alone and how that would impact his future.
Analyst Lance Reisland is clearing the air about Monken’s QB decision and wondering aloud if the coach has been set up for failure by the organization.
“I will say this about Todd Monken moving forward. I love what he does. Obviously, the quarterback position has swayed people. The only way for me that a coach is set up for failure is if he doesn’t get to make coaching decisions. If the football guy doesn’t make the football decisions. The Cleveland quarterback topic is a hot topic throughout the country. If it was Todd Monken’s decision, then he has not been set up for failure. If it wasn’t his decision, then, yes, he has been,” Reisland said.
"I will say this about Todd Monken moving forward…obviously, the QB position has swayed people. The only way for me that a coach is set up for failure (is) if he doesn't get to make coaching decisions."
🚨 @LanceReisland to @Spencito_ on the situation facing #Browns head coach… pic.twitter.com/AkxzyCT3S4
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 7, 2026
There is that Watson was given the starting QB job because owner Jimmy Haslam wants to get at least some return on his failed $230 million investment in Watson before it’s too late. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Monken believes Sanders would have been the better choice, and that he named Watson just to appease the higher-ups.
Reisland makes a dubious point that he does not think the decision has swayed people negatively against Monken. But he is correct in saying that the Browns have not played a regular-season game yet, and there is an opportunity to get the fan base back on his side with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 on Sunday.
On the other hand, it is fair to argue that it would be in the best interests of the Browns to lose as many games as possible this season in order to better position themselves for a higher pick in the QB-heavy 2027 NFL Draft. So, if Watson does give them the best chance to win, which is far from certain, the Browns as an organization may not want him to play, especially if it leads to booing at every home game.
But as one of the oldest first-time NFL head coaches in history, Monken has waited too long to use this opportunity to set the stage for what might be somebody else’s future, so it’s only fair that he charts his destiny on his own.
NEXT: Former NFL Scout Has Browns QB Trending Toward Bust Status
