In the last two seasons, the Cleveland Browns won 8 games, prompting an eventual coaching change. Now, they have a new head coach in Todd Monken, and getting a positive foothold in the AFC remains a priority. Pittsburgh Steelers legend James Harrison shared his thoughts on the unexpected direction the Browns are taking for their future.
James Harrison Chides Browns Over Team Favoring Deshaun Watson
Watson has not played a game since 2024, and last season, Shedeur Sanders finished as the starter for Cleveland. Harrison, who won two Super Bowls with the Steelers, took a subtle dig at the Browns for seemingly picking Watson over Sanders. On his “Deebo and Joe” podcast with former Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year did not hold back.
“This right here is some Cleveland stuff, this is more like what I’m used to seeing from Cleveland,” Harrison said. “So, after one day, y’all went from having him [Sanders] as the starter, one day, mini camp, we’re running around, ain’t in nothing but some shorts. And the next day, you now come back out, and you have Watson coming out with the starters and taking most of the reps. That sounds like some Cleveland stuff to me.”
Basically, the coaching staff sent Sanders out to practice with the first string on the first day of camp, something Harrison appears to feel is commonplace. However, what happened next did not sit well with the former edge rusher.
Watson ran with the first string on the second day, which elicited that response from Harrison. The 30-year-old quarterback has not played in any NFL games, preseason or regular season, in almost two years, and is also coming off a rehab from back-to-back Achilles tendon tears.
Harrison cites veteran NFL reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who wrote that Watson has the early lead in the competition to determine who will play quarterback.
“That’s what you do, you give your opinion,” Harrison said about Cabot’s reporting. “But, as a team, you flipped it so that she could say it’s an inside track. Yeah. That sounds like Cleveland to me.”
In essence, Harrison blames the Browns for the switch, one that allowed Cabot to publish the story. Sanders’ tenure with the Browns has been marked by obstacles, including competition from other quarterbacks and challenges in adapting to the team’s offensive system.
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Last year, he was the second quarterback drafted by the team. Cleveland selected Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel before him. Plus, the team signed veteran Joe Flacco and traded for Kenny Pickett. As the quarterback room numbers dwindled, Sanders found the field. He played in eight games, starting sevem, winning three, and threw for 1,400 yards with 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
According to PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact Metric, Cleveland fielded the No. 32 offense in the league. Moreover, Watson and Gabriel may not be the only competition Sanders faces.
The team drafted Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green this spring. Furthermore, Green’s style of play, much like Watson’s (pre-injury), appears to be one that the team’s head coach prefers. Monken arrived in Cleveland after serving as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore.
He crafted offenses for Lamar Jackson, a more mobile quarterback who likes to move the pocket. In contrast, Sanders made his name primarily as a drop-back passer. Who will earn the Browns’ starting job?
