Todd Monken had something in the back of his mind all week.
Actually, it might have been in the front.
After the Browns were embarrassed in an opening loss to the Jaguars, former Steelers coach and new NBC analyst Mike Tomlin quoted JuJu Smith-Schuster, one of his former players, and said “the Browns are the Browns.”
Monken, the first-year Browns coach, stewed about the loss and his role in it all week. He believed the problems could be fixed and went to work to do just that. He never forgot Tomlin’s quip.
So Sunday, after the Browns outlasted the Buccaneers 23-19 in Tampa, Florida, Monken high-fived Browns fans in the rain-soaked stadium, then saved his best line for his news conference walk-off.
“‘Browns are gonna Browns.’ F*** that. The guys took that to heart,” he said, quickly leaving the podium.
If he were holding a mic, he would’ve dropped it.
Browns frustrate Baker Mayfield, keep him from win and revenge
Monken, 60, has gotten a quick introduction to everything that comes with being coach of the Browns. He may have talked to predecessor Kevin Stefanski about what to expect, but living it is a unique reality.
Monken inherited quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, who will likely never — or never again — be franchise cornerstones. Then he held a competition between Watson and Sanders for the starting job. Watson, the front-runner and eventual winner, wasn’t good during the preseason and ripped the home fans.
Then came the 34-10 loss to the Jaguars, questions about sticking with Watson and the expectation that if he stumbled again against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers he would be replaced for the home opener next Sunday by Sanders.
Many fans had turned against Monken due to the decision, the opener and some of his quotes. So much for a honeymoon.
He was ready to celebrate Sunday night.
“I got the greatest job in the world. I’m the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, for God’s sakes. How cool is that?” he said.
Monken has repeatedly said he waited his whole life for the opportunity to be an NFL head coach. It must’ve felt like he was forced to wait an eternity to finish that first win.
After Watson found wide-open tight end Blake Whiteheart for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:51 left, the Browns had their first lead of the season at 23-19. Mayfield led the Buccaneers to the Cleveland 28-yard line at the two-minute warning, as a thunderstorm rolled in and delayed the game for 2 hours and 12 minutes.
“We fueled, we hydrated, we played music. We kept their vibe up,” Monken said. “We said, ‘We are in the driver’s seat.’”
Mayfield’s last misfire on a frustrating day came on fourth down into the end zone with 18 seconds left. The Browns were winners and headed home 1-1. Watson got a huge hug from managing partner JW Johnson on the sideline.
Watson did more than enough to keep the starting job for at least another week. He went 24-for-30 for 238 yards, two touchdowns, two sacks and a 121.9 passer rating.
He didn’t want to discuss the potential reaction from fans next Sunday in the home opener vs. the Panthers and whether his performance vs. the Buccaneers earned him any goodwill.
“Honestly, I’m just happy with this win,” Watson said. “I’m focused on right now and enjoying this win with my teammates. And honestly, I’m ready to go see my family. So that’s all I’m focused on.”
His play didn’t erase all the sexual assault and misconduct accusations. Or the three first-round draft picks the Browns traded for him and the guaranteed $230 million contract that buried the Browns over the last four years. Or his overall poor play since arriving.
So CBS analyst Bill Cowher — another former Steelers coach — was off-base when he told Browns fans to applaud Watson.
But the great game did make Monken’s next QB decision an easy one, extending Watson’s chance to save his career. The Browns wanted to see if he had anything left in the tank and they’ll get a longer look.
If the opening loss and last month shook Monken, he didn’t show it. Or Sunday after a bad challenge that wasted a timeout and getting stopped after going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Cleveland 34-yard line in the first half.
Just as the Jaguars game was only one loss, this was just one win. But it showed he got the players to keep believing and could make necessary adjustments.
And that everyone had fight in them, which was obvious during practice Wednesday.
“We had a couple scuffles Wednesday,” Monken said before starting to whisper, “which is good. That’s awesome.
Because guys didn’t like it. They were p***** off. You got to be a little p***** off.”
That’s when he raised his voice and dropped the line that might have won back the fans.
At least until the next play call they don’t like.
