Todd Monken Doesn't Care if Not Every Browns Player Wants Deshaun Watson to Start

While speaking to Cleveland Browns reporters on Monday (9/14), Todd Monken said he doesn't care if not every Browns player wants Deshaun Watson to start.

"They don't have a choice," Monken said. "This isn't a debate. I don't ask them to make the play calls. Their job is to play. ... I don't blame anyone for having their opinion, but ultimately, it's up to us to support whoever we put out there."

The Monken era got off to a rough start, as the Browns lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 by a final score of 34-10. 

As expected, Watson played poorly against the Jaguars. The former Houston Texans star went 16/22 through the air. He threw one touchdown and one interception and was sacked five times. 

Pundits and Browns fans blamed Watson for Cleveland's Week 1 loss, but Monken said that's "unfair."

"It wasn't all him," Monken said. "It really wasn't all him. That's unfair. Certainly could have called it better, certainly could have played better around him. Certainly there's plays I'm sure he wished he had back. There are certain things operationally that weren't clean enough. Us getting in and out of the huddle, getting our subs in, being up against it and saying that you're on the road or the heat or all that, that's just a bunch of excuses."

The Browns trailed the Jaguars 24-0 at halftime, tying their worst halftime shutout in the past 35 years.

Through two quarters, Cleveland had only five first downs on six drives and was 0-for-4 on third down.

"I think we just got to find a rhythm overall," Watson said. "Of course everyone's going to look at the quarterback in the situation. ... We got to put points on the board, and that's what you got to do in this league. Playing the quarterback position, you're the leader in that role. And we didn't do that today. We only got 10. We left a lot out there. So obviously I take that responsibility full throttle, and we got to look at the tape and see how we can be better and try to attack Tampa Bay next week to be able to get points on the board to be able to get wins."

Monken named Watson his starting QB over Shedeur Sanders.

It was the wrong move since Watson missed all of last season and is despised by Browns fans. 

Almost every single Cleveland fan wanted Sanders to start because Watson has been horrendous since being traded to the Browns. He also dealt with off-the-field issues, as more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions.

The Browns face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.

Monken will start Watson again. 

"We'll analyze everything that we do," Monken said. "It's not just him. We're putting this on Deshaun, which is unfair. And whatever there is externally doesn't matter to me. That doesn't affect me. That has nothing to do with my decision-making. My decision-making is what's best for the Browns now and moving forward. That doesn't mean that I don't understand the frustration. I've said that since I've been here. Same with me. I didn't take this job to lose."

The Browns' home opener is in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers.

Watson will be booed by the home fans again if he's starting.