Todd Monken created quite a stir at the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix this week.
Nope, not because of his plans for the Cleveland Browns' upcoming quarterback competition. Rather, the first-year head coach had everyone wondering just where he was when the traditional head coaches picture was snapped.
Monken was missing in action for his first opportunity in the Annual League Meeting group photo because he was getting a fresh cut for said photo.
It was hardly the glamourous first impression the Browns' newest HC was hoping to make. Not to mention, after beginning his NFL coaching career back in 2007, he finally had his moment to join the head coaching brethren with the official photo. Much to his dismay, he'll have to wait at least another year.
"There's major disappointment, that's why I went and got a haircut, for God's sake," Monken told Andrew Siciliano this week on The Best Podcast Available. "I wouldn't have got a haircut if it wasn't that damn important. I went and got the hair cut and then missed it."
"That's a good looking haircut," Siciliano said.
"Fantastic haircut," Monken replied. "Unfortunately led me to miss the head coaches picture, but it does look pretty good."
Per Monken, the itinerary originally had the photo scheduled for noon, but was moved up, leading to his confusion.
"They moved the picture up," Monken said. "I guess that's the price of missing a meeting, where most of everybody was in the meeting but me. But I did get a nice haircut out of it."
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was also missing from the photo, something Monken appreciated so as he wasn't the only one missing in action.
"I was ready to go. I was like, 'Don't we have to go to the picture?'" he said. "They were like, 'No, we took it 20 minutes ago.'"
Monken still has hope that he'll be added to the pic via photoshop, AI or some form of technology.
"It is 20-26," he said. "They outta be able to someway put me in the picture."
Nonetheless, Monken is still happy to be where he is, finally in the head coaching ranks.
"Pretty surreal after all the years of working to get this point, and then be a part of that fraternity is awesome," he said.
With the league meeting having concluded, next up is the rookie head coach's first offseason program, which commences on April 7. If he needs another fresh cut or not, Monken will be on time and good to go.
"We'll be ready come April 7th," he said.