Channeling the long-time Cleveland sports media great Terry Pluto, I have found myself talking over whether Week 9 presents an opportunity for QB Shedeur Sandersto take QB Deshaun Watson’s job as the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback. Sanders is set to lead the Browns offense against the New Orleans Saints, but Watson has not been ruled out for the game as he progresses through concussion protocol.
First things first, can Sanders lead Cleveland to a victory in New Orleans? That seems like the bare minimum for the second-year quarterback to have a shot at taking over as the team’s full-time starting quarterback. Then… well… welcome into my mind as I think about the future:
Me 1: “Of course anything is possible in the NFL; it’s not like Watson was handed the job at the start of training camp, Todd Monken made the decision much later than expected.”
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Me 2: “Sure, but losing your job because of a one-week concussion is almost unheard of. Often, even missing weeks due to an injury isn’t enough for a quarterback to lose their starting position, unless they were already playing bad enough that a chance was likely anyway, like Kyler Murray this week with the Vikings.”
Me 1: “But can we assume Monken cares about NFL norms in any way?”
Me 2: “That’s fine, but what about the rest of the roster? Do they want players thinking that something outside of their control or strictly performance-based can upend their spot with the team? Does Monken have a strong enough feel for how the young locker room would be impacted by such a decision?”
Me 1: “Great question, self, but what if the roster was already wondering when Sanders would take over already? We have no idea what is going on inside of the locker room.”
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Me 2: “Of course we don’t. We also know that the Saints defense isn’t very good, so there is a strong chance that Sanders could have a huge game in Week 9, but that Watson would have done the same or better had he been healthy.”
Me 1: “Are you ignoring the more Brownsian outcome, that Sanders either struggles or gets dinged up and Watson, cleared Saturday (possibly) of concussion protocol, comes on in relief?”
Me 2: “Not really; that outcome sort of closes the book on Sanders for this season, barring a major Watson injury. If that happens, it’s also possible that Dillon Gabriel is given the next shot at starting. So, that “Browns is the Browns” option just ends this conversation (which psychologically might be best for me/us and the fanbase, but for the team????).”
Me 1: “Do you think readers are following along?”
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Me 2: “No clue, Jared is a strange creature.”
Me 1: “So what is the benefit for the team if Monken turns to Sanders if the Browns win on Sunday and the quarterback has a great game?”
Me 2: “From Jimmy Haslam, to Andrew Berry, and down to Monken, the entire Cleveland organization has made it clear that the only thing that matters is winning and producing on the field. If Sanders and Watson really were that close during the QB competition, and Sanders has a huge game in Week 9, making him the starter reinforces that principle.”
Me 1: “Sure, but how in the world would one game versus a bad defense be enough to overcome Watson winning the competition to start the year, having multiple 4th-quarter comebacks, and two or three good games this season?”
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Me 2: “See, that is why we keep talking to ourselves about this. It isn’t that simple. Most believed that Watson would fail early in the season and Sanders would take over. Instead, through Week 7, the veteran looked like he was improving as the season went on.”
Me 1: “So… are we ignoring Week 8 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers?”
Me 2: “Exactly, which would be very different if his poor performance came in the Week 4 matchup in the AFC North. Instead, the last game Watson played was not good; he could miss Week 9 due to a concussion, and his job is being discussed by a somewhat sane person pretending to be two different people in this article.”
Me 1: “Have we come to a conclusion?”
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Me 2: “Not really. Maybe our readers will be able to fill in some of their thoughts into the conversation. There may be two things both me’s will agree on, and probably most Browns fans:
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Browns HC Todd Monken will do whatever he wants and be unapologetic about his decisions
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All that matters is winning football games; if the team is winning, the QB will be supported, whoever it is
Do you think there is any chance for Sanders to take over as the Browns starting QB after Week 9, or does Watson get it back no matter what when he’s cleared?
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