The Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders is arguably the biggest storyline of this offseason.
Watson is finally healthy and ready to take the field, while Sanders hopes to build on his rookie season under new head coach Todd Monken. However, Shilo Sanders recently lashed out at Browns’ reporter Mary Kay Cabot over her comments on the quarterback battle, and Monken was asked about it during his recent appearance on “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima.”
Todd Monken Reveals How Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson Can Stop the Narratives
Earlier this week, Cabot reported that Watson is leading the race to become the starting quarterback over Sanders. Shilo took issue with those comments and told her, “Go make a sandwich, Mary.”
After he was criticized for making a sexist remark, Shilo doubled down on his criticism of Cabot. “If you’re gonna be a reporter, be a reporter and report facts,” Shilo said. “Whenever you have your opinion, and your opinion is always something hateful to Shedeur, then it makes it seem like it’s something weird, it’s like some agenda that you have going on… When it comes to your opinion, you’ve been saying crazy things since he’s [Shedeur] been there.”
Lima asked Monken how he could ‘dissociate’ from distractions, such as Shilo’s issues with Cabot, during an important quarterback competition between Sanders and Watson. While the Browns’ head coach didn’t directly address Shilo’s comments, his answer addressed the broader issues that have or will surround the team this offseason.
“First off, I think it’s awesome,” Monken said. “I mean, it’s why we get paid so much. I mean, we get paid so much because fans care, and you talk about it. If it wasn’t talked about, I sure as hell wouldn’t get paid what I get paid. So that’s part of what we do.”
“But if that’s going to bother me or it’s going to bother Shedeur or Deshaun, they have no chance of being either the head coach here or the quarterback at the Cleveland Browns,” Monken continued. “I mean, for God’s sake, it’s the world we live in.”
“If that’s gonna bother me or it’s gonna bother Shedeur or Deshaun, they have no chance of being either the head coach here or the QB of the Cleveland Browns. It’s the world we live in.”
🚨 #Browns head coach Todd Monken w/ @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony on recent headlines… pic.twitter.com/XwFL7l8BiX
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) May 1, 2026
“And ultimately, what we do on the field is what matters most,” Monken added. “And there’s more to it than just saying, but it really is. You want to stop the narrative? Play well. Want to stop a narrative? Win.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
The Browns did pretty well in this year’s draft, setting the team up to have a chance at winning after finishing 5-12 last season. However, everything will ultimately depend on how the quarterback of the team plays.
Watson, due to his $230M contract and experience, is still expected to start in Week 1, and this might be his last chance to prove he can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL. His performance since being traded to the Browns hasn’t been impressive, but he is a three-time Pro Bowler and can play at an elite level.
As for Sanders, he is coming off an underwhelming rookie season in which he threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while completing just 56.6% of his throws. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 56.9, ranking fourth-worst in the league.
Due to the upgrades on their roster through the draft, Monken can bring the best out of both quarterbacks this year. But, ultimately, everything will depend on how the two quarterbacks handle the outside noise and compete while rooting for the team’s best interest.
