Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken sent a direct message to Deshaun Watson amid all of the backlash for being named the starter.
The Cleveland Browns' 2026 season hasn't even started yet, and there seems to be all sorts of outside noise.
Much of this comes from the team's decision to name veteran Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders. But new head coach Todd Monken believes that Watson gives Cleveland a better chance to win early on in the year.
The move has been met with all sorts of criticism, mainly from the Browns' fans. But Monken isn't going to back down from his choice; instead, firing a message of support to the veteran quarterback.
“We believe in you. I’ve got you. I have your back," Monken said.
Monken is in his first year with the Browns as the head coach, and he wants his players to understand that the coaches are behind him. While Watson has been a controversial figure over the last few years, the Browns are sticking with him to lead this team.
But Monken wants his players to block out all the noise from the outside, even if sometimes it can be easier said than done.
“You’re not deaf to the noise, right, obviously what you hear,” Monken said. “But you try to tune that out and try to focus on what you see every day and what the player brings every day.”
Watson's time with the Browns hasn't gone to plan, and he missed all of last season due to injury. But the quarterback is now healthy and ready to prove himself to the organization this year.
However, with Sanders sitting right behind him, the leash for Watson may be shorter than in previous years. Sanders became a fan favorite fairly quickly in Cleveland, and many fans believe he is the future of this organization at the quarterback position.
If Watson were to struggle early on, Monken would then be placed in a tough spot on what to do. While he wants to believe in Watson, having the support of the fanbase is something that can make or break a coach.
Being a new coach to the organization, Monken has to find a good balance between doing what he wants and making sure the fans aren't angry. This doesn't mean that he has to listen to the fans, but rather listen and react based on the play on the field.
Cleveland opens the year against the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving Watson a chance to make a statement against a playoff team from a year ago.
