Aug 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken is seen against the New England Patriots during the second half at Huntington Bank Field
‘Things Are Going To End Bad for Todd Monken’ — Asante Samuel Predicts Uncertain Future for Browns HC Amid Deshaun Watson Struggles 1
The Cleveland Browns’ decision to choose Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders is already drawing criticism after their 34–10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
However, most of his production came after the game was already out of reach, while Cleveland’s offense allowed five sacks.
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken watches during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesJun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken watches during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken watches during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Asante Samuel Predicts Bad Ending for Todd Monken
During a recent episode of “Say What Needs To Be Said,” former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel questioned Todd Monken’s handling of the quarterback situation.
“Things are going to end bad for Todd Monken. There’s no way around it. Now that we realize Todd Monken is just a puppet for a head coach, the owner Jimmy Haslam is setting Todd Monken up to be fired and bringing a new regime to Cleveland.”
He also predicted that Watson would not perform well enough to remain the starter throughout the season. Samuel believes Monken will face even greater scrutiny if Sanders eventually takes over and plays well.
“Bad management and not-so-good owners have always been a problem for the Cleveland Browns for years. It’s more than fair to say that Deshaun Watson is not going to perform well enough to remain the starting quarterback the entire season. Whenever Shedeur Sanders takes over and he plays well, that is going to be a bad look for Todd Monken. He’s going to end up looking like the coach who set up his team for failure. Your head coach shouldn’t be fighting all of these battles about which players should be on the football field every week.”
Asante Suggest Todd Monken’s Problems Start After He Benches Deshaun Watson For Shedeur Sanders pic.twitter.com/RmhVFW2Pts
— Say What Needs To Be Said (@saywhatneedsto) September 18, 2026
Samuel believes Cleveland’s uncertainty at quarterback could ultimately damage Monken’s future with the organization moving forward.
Cleveland’s problems extend beyond the quarterback position, as the defense also struggled to slow down Jacksonville’s offense. However, Monken will face the most pressure because he chose Watson after evaluating the quarterbacks throughout training camp and the preseason.
The head coach publicly defended Watson’s performance and indicated that he would remain the starter. If Cleveland continues losing, calls for Sanders will become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The rookie quarterback represents hope for frustrated Browns fans, while another poor performance from Watson could force Monken to reconsider his decision sooner than he originally expected. The situation remains unsettled in Cleveland now.
The Browns now face an important stretch that could determine the direction of their season. Monken must balance his commitment to Watson with the growing demand to give Sanders an opportunity. His next decision could shape Cleveland’s offense, locker room and his own long-term future as head coach in Cleveland.
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