Todd Monken says fan disapproval will not influence Deshaun Watson starting status

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken confirmed on Tuesday that fan backlash regarding the choice of Deshaun Watson as the team's starting quarterback has not influenced his decision-making process. Watson faced audible booing during a preseason appearance last month and remained on the sideline during the team's preseason finale. Monken stated that his personnel decisions prioritize team success for the upcoming season, noting that he holds confidence in Watson's ability to execute the offense and generate explosive plays. According to Monken, the primary objective for his offense is to create these plays while maintaining ball security, which he described as a central chess match against opposing defenses. The coach emphasized that his commitment to Watson as the starting quarterback remains firm, as the decision is based strictly on internal evaluations of what provides the best competitive advantage for the team.

• 7:53 PMYahoo Sports — Todd Monken "absolutely not" bothered by fan backlash to Deshaun Watson being named QB1