Todd Monken is in his first training camp as an NFL head coach, and he’s already bringing the spicy interactions at press conferences.
The former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator met with the media on Monday and took issue with the phrasing of a question from Browns reporter Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald regarding the Cleveland quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
“You mentioned that Deshaun is better,” Schudel said as part of a question he was trying to ask.
“Hold on. What was that?” Monken interjected. “I said Deshaun’s better?”
“Were you saying that he’s gotten better since camp? Or that he’s better than Shedeur?” Schudel continued.
“Oh, I don’t think I threw in there that he’s better than Shedeur,” Monken explained. “I’m not sure I went that far. But I appreciate you trying to trap me in that sh*t.”
– Jeff Schudel: Did you say Deshaun is better than Shedeur, or did you say Deshaun has gotten better?
– Todd Monken: “Oh I don’t think I said he’s better than Shedeur. I’m not sure I went that far, but I appreciate you trying to trap me in that shit.”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/aFmdtVvJmh
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) August 10, 2026
The confusion for Schudel likely developed from the following comments by Monken minutes earlier in the press conference:
“But I’ve been impressed with both players and the way they’ve handled the back and forth of the reps. And we’re trying as best we can to balance the reps so we give them both the opportunity to showcase their skillset. It’s never gonna be perfect, and they’ve handled that great. Shedeur today was great. Sure, maybe Saturday, he would’ve preferred to be the ones. I’d be pissed if he wasn’t. Like, all of our guys should want to be with the ones.
“But they’ve been great. And I think they’ve improved [dramatically]… But even the last week or so, Deshaun has played better. He has played better. He’s looked better. He’s made better decisions. And I think some of that grows, like all of us, as they have success. Their confidence grows with the success they have every day.”
Watson got the first-team reps on Saturday, and Sanders worked with the starters on Monday. Monken announced that Watson and Sanders will each start a preseason game.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
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