Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken finally made the unpopular decision that almost everyone close to the situation knew was going to happen all offseason. He named Deshaun Watson the team’s starting quarterback despite all his interceptions in training camp, his subpar performance in preseason, and his tone-deaf comments after last week’s preseason game where he turned on his own fan base.
Many believed that Watson’s comments would be the final nail in the coffin to push Monken to name Shedeur Sanders the starter, but the team is going forward with Watson anyway. Monken has also stressed that this isn’t a week-to-week situation, so Watson is firmly entrenched as the starter unless he woefully underperforms and starts costing the team games.
Former QB Robert Griffin III isn’t alone in his belief that this decision came from above Monken’s head. He recently posted that many in the organization believed Sanders would have been the right move.
“Sources tell me Deshaun Watson WAS NOT Todd Monken’s choice as the starter and many in the building thought Shedeur Sanders was the right move for the team on and off the field after Watson attacked the fans. Browns want Deshaun to play for his pay. The fans deserve better,” said Griffin.
Sources tell me Deshaun Watson WAS NOT Todd Monken’s choice as the starter and many in the building thought Shedeur Sanders was the right move for the team on and off the field after Watson attacked the fans.
Browns want Deshaun to play for his pay.
The fans deserve better. pic.twitter.com/8gsBY8MTDU
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 26, 2026
Owner Jimmy Haslam reversed course earlier in the offseason when he publicly put his support behind Watson being the quarterback, which was a massive tone shift from his previous sentiment when he infamously called the Watson trade a swing and a miss. He was on board with the Watson trade from the beginning, so it’s entirely possible that this decision has come from the top and is financially motivated.
The Browns have to eat a ton of dead cap space if they cut Watson, so perhaps they are just crazy enough to believe that maybe he can play well enough to convince another team to trade for him just like they did with Joe Flacco last season. Also, it’s rather morbid, but the Browns also have a big insurance policy on Watson and can recoup a lot of money if he gets injured again, which he has done quite a bit since coming to Cleveland.
Not everyone agrees with this assessment by RGIII, but it’s tough to see how this decision didn’t come from above Monken’s head. When you listen to him speak about his quarterbacks, he has sounded much more encouraged by Sanders’ play than Watson’s, and now that he is finally getting his first shot as a head coach in his 60s. It’s hard to believe he’d hitch his wagon to a QB that is turning the fan base against the team.
Hopefully, Monken isn’t being scapegoated here, but what’s done is done. The time for speculation is over, and at least everyone finally knows who the starter is so we can all move forward accordingly.
NEXT: Joe Thomas Has Honest Admission About Todd Monken's QB Decision
