Podcast appearances and mentions of Todd Monken

Ken and Anthony debate whether starting Shedeur Sanders over Deshaun Watson would've actually changed the outlook for Week One, with Owen making the case that at least a Shador start would've been more exciting even if the win total stayed the same. The guys wrestle with trusting Todd Monken's read on the "little things" that don't show up on tape, and Ken admits he can't build a strong case for Shador beyond pure curiosity. Ken also locks in his season win total and explains why this year is about finding silver linings rather than actually competing.

Ken and Anthony dig into Mike Florio's surprising take that Todd Monken should've weighed Browns fans' hatred for Deshaun Watson when deciding on a starter, and explain why they think Monken actually did consider it by opening up a real competition instead of just handing Watson the job. The guys break down what that QB competition really signals about the state of the quarterback room, and admit they don't expect much from Watson even with a fresh start. Plus, a Fan 15th anniversary aside turns into some good-natured family ribbing about Ken's lifelong devotion to Dale Earnhardt.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot joins Ken and Anthony to defend Catherine Hickman after the internet piled on the assistant GM over her wardrobe, calling the criticism flat-out unfair given her résumé and workload. She also weighs in on whether Dillon Gabriel's convenient-timing IR stint was as coincidental as it looked, and sides firmly with Todd Monken's decision not to let fan sentiment sway the Browns' quarterback call. Cabot rounds things out with an inside look at how Monken has handled his first-year pressures, from the Myles Garrett trade to the Deshaun Watson fallout.

Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin talk about whether or not Todd Monken should've listened to the fans about the quarterback decision.

Every time Joe Burrow misses 10 games or more in a season, he plays 16 or more the following year. Last year he played 9. You do the math.  

Football season has arrived, but first we wrap up the PGA Tour year, react to another big NBA move, and say goodbye to one of the NFL's most respected running backs. TOUR Championship Recap We look back at the season-ending TOUR Championship from East Lake Golf Club and the crowning of the 2026 FedEx Cup champion. We break down the biggest moments from the final weekend, who delivered when the pressure was highest, and our biggest takeaways from the conclusion of the PGA Tour season.  Klay Thompson Heads to Miami Klay Thompson is taking his championship experience to South Beach after agreeing to join the Miami Heat following his stint with Dallas. We discuss what the 36-year-old still has left, how his shooting fits Miami's roster, and whether a change of scenery can help Thompson make another meaningful postseason run. Nick Chubb Retires One of the most beloved running backs of his generation is calling it a career. We reflect on Nick Chubb's eight NFL seasons, including seven memorable years in Cleveland before spending his final season with Houston. We discuss the devasting injury he battled back from, his place in Browns history, and the legacy he leaves behind after finishing with 7,349 career rushing yards and four Pro Bowl selections. Deshaun Watson Named Cleveland's Week 1 Starter The Browns' quarterback competition is officially over. Head coach Todd Monken has named Deshaun Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders for Cleveland's Week 1 matchup against Jacksonville. We react to the decision, discus what Watson showed to win the job, what it means for Sanders, and just how much pressure will be on Watson when the regular season begins. College Football Week 1 Games of the Week College football is back, and we preview five of the biggest games from opening weekend: Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta, Clemson vs. #11 LSU, #24 Louisville vs. #9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Wisconsin vs. #4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, and #19 SMU vs. Florida State. We break down the biggest storylines and matchups before making our picks for each game. Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements. 

In Hour 2 of the show, Jonas Knox & Brady Quinn go over Todd Monken's comments on DeShaun Watson's past performances prior to this year. Plus, the guys have some fun with Tony Romo's statement on wanting to return and blaming pain meds on his alcohol consumption, we have another edition of The Good The Bad & The Ugly, and more!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Todd Monken Show, Coach and rookie Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren join Nathan Zegura and Je'Rod Cherry to recap the preseason and look ahead to week one in Jacksonville.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/2 Hour 1: Mike Florio (@ProFootballTalk) and Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) discuss latest news in NFL including Browns HC Todd Monken defending his decision to make Deshaun Watson starting QB, Monken expressing his confidence in Watson, and Monken focusing on explosive plays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get Up Resumes with Paul Finebaum joining the crew to break down the comments made by Dabo Sweeney and the response from the SEC to Lane Kiffin and LSU. Then a couple of teams with QB controversies are in the news. Falcons QB, Tua Tagovailoa, might have exposed his own burner account while Browns HC, Todd Monken, admits he hasn't watched any of Watson's previous Browns starts. Next, Chris Fowler joins the show to break down the biggest story lines heading into the first full slate of College Football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ken and Anthony react to news that Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are purchasing a home in Bratenahl, joking about how often the couple will actually use it and reminiscing about Kelce's Cleveland Heights roots. They then pivot to Todd Monken's comments that fan opinion has zero bearing on his quarterback decision, with Ken and Anthony agreeing he's right to ignore the crowd and drawing a direct parallel to the Johnny Manziel-over-Brian Hoyer saga as a cautionary tale of letting fans dictate personnel calls.

Ken and Anthony dig deeper into the Todd Monken quarterback controversy, arguing that if he's lying about not watching Deshaun Watson's tape, it's a red flag for the whole hiring process, while noting the Browns' stockpile of first-round picks and cap space could make this a genuinely appealing landing spot for a future rookie quarterback. They play a clip of Monken insisting fan reaction never factors into his decisions, and debate whether that stubbornness will look admirable or tone-deaf if Watson struggles again in Jacksonville, with Ken suggesting Monken's approval rating has already taken a hit for choosing a QB much of the fanbase despises.

Ken and Anthony dig into Todd Monken's confusing claim that he hadn't really watched tape on a quarterback, trying to pin down whether he meant the preseason Bills game or Deshaun Watson's history with the Browns overall. Ken argues there's no way Monken took the job without evaluating Watson beforehand, and the two circle back to why Watson was even played in the meaningless Bills game if the staff wasn't putting stock in it, tying it to the QB's visible lack of confidence on the field.

Ken and Anthony revisit John Fanta's take that Todd Monken could be on thin ice if the Browns struggle and the quarterback competition looks mishandled, and Ken admits he doesn't want to believe it but sees the warning signs. They compare the situation to Bill Parcells and Dick Vermeil getting away with "colorful" comments as winners versus Freddie Kitchens getting run out after one bad year, and debate whether Monken's roster thinness excuses a rough season or whether his comments about not watching Deshaun Watson's tape are already costing him credibility.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima react to the Guardians' series-opening victory and debate whether the win should be credited to manager Stephen Vogt. They also analyze controversial comments from Todd Monken regarding his evaluation of Deshaun Watson and discuss the high stakes for the Browns' upcoming season. 02:51 - Guardians Positive Run Differential 06:01 - Debating Steven Vogt Wins 09:36 - Guardians Playoff Scenario Analysis 13:42 - Assessing Cleveland's Postseason Fervor 20:11 - Todd Monken's Watson Tape Comments 29:03 - Deshaun Watson's Confidence Issues 37:02 - Browns One-Year Audition Discussion

Ken and Lima discuss the controversy surrounding Todd Monken's comments on the Browns' quarterback situation and his disregard for fan input. They analyze the news of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift buying a home in Bratenahl while evaluating whether Guardians' rookie Travis Bazzana needs more time on the bench. 01:37 - Monken Film Study Controversy 05:08 - Browns Roster Outlook 09:35 - Kelce And Swift In Bratenahl 18:48 - Monken On Fan Opinions 23:43 - Trusting The Coaching Staff 28:44 - Guardians Victory Recap 33:14 - Romo And Kroenke Updates

Fresh off Emory Hunt's take, Ken and Anthony dig into the uncomfortable question hanging over the Browns' QB decision: is Deshaun Watson starting because he earned it, or because of his contract? The two get into why they're reluctant to call Shedeur Sanders a "gamer," why that word carries more baggage than people realize, and what it would actually mean if Todd Monken is deliberately starting the wrong guy. They also can't resist bringing Dillon Gabriel back into the conversation after his own preseason showing. It's a rare moment where Ken and Anthony don't fully agree with each other.

Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin discuss Todd Monken's approval rating among fans, and they grade the Browns preseason/training camp. Then, they react to sound bites and storylines from around the sports and entertainment world.

Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin discuss whether or not Todd Monken is already losing Browns fans due to the Deshaun Watson decision.

Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com joins Afternoon Drive on The Fan. She talks about Nick's four bold predictions for the Browns season, her expectations for Quinshon Judkins, the pressure facing Deshaun Watson ahead of Week 1, and more.

Nick and Jonathan react to their conversation with Ashley Bastock and talk about who is under the most pressure for the Browns in Week 1 in Jacksonville.

92.3 The Fan's own Daryl Ruiter joins Afternoon Drive. He talks about Todd Monken's status with Browns fans, the impact of the team's decision to start Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders' development, and more.

Nick and Jonathan are joined by Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com, and they discuss the pressure on Deshaun Watson ahead of Week 1 of the Browns season.

Jeff and Nick listen and react to Todd Monken's press conference ahead of Browns practice.

Hour 3 of Baskin and Phelps with Nick Pedone filling in for Andy Baskin.

The 33rd Team's Sam Monson joins Ken and Anthony to argue there's no upside to starting Deshaun Watson this season, calling him a broken quarterback whose scheme fit, injury history, and layoff away from football have made his limitations worse, not better. Monson makes the case for giving Shedeur Sanders the year instead, explaining he's neither a bust nor a savior but a talented, inconsistent young passer who needs reps to find where he lands, while Ken pushes back that Sanders' current struggle for the job isn't necessarily an indictment. The conversation closes with Monson praising Todd Monken's offensive talent around whoever plays quarterback, and weighing in on Arch Manning's shaky case for the top 2027 draft spot.

Jared and Matt wrap up the 2026 NFL and college football preview season by breaking down the AFC North, NFC North, and the SEC conference. Plus, it's time for the first Six-Pack of the year — six weekly college football picks against the spread.   We start in the AFC North, a division turned upside down this offseason. Three of the four teams enter with new head coaches — Jesse Minter in Baltimore after John Harbaugh's departure to the Giants, Mike McCarthy back home in Pittsburgh, and Todd Monken taking over in Cleveland after Kevin Stefanski left for Atlanta. On top of that, the Browns sent shockwaves through the league by trading superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Rams. We break down how the division shakes out amid all the change.   From there we shift to the NFC North, where the Bears look to defend their surprise division title after a wild, comeback-fueled 11-6 season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. The Lions enter as the betting favorites once again after a disappointing fall from grace, while the Packers deal with uncertainty up front as star pass rusher Micah Parsons starts the year on the PUP list. We break down all four teams in what's shaping up to be one of the league's most competitive divisions.   We close out the football previews with the SEC. Georgia enters as the back-to-back defending conference champion behind quarterback Gunner Stockton, while Texas, Alabama, and a Lane Kiffin-led LSU squad round out the league's top tier of national title contenders.   Then it's time for our first Six-Pack of the season:

Nick and Jonathan react to Todd Monken's comments about Deshaun Watson's ability to create explosive plays. Then, they're joined by John Fanta of NBC Sports, and they reveal a list of teams that will be worse than the Browns in 2026.

Nick and Jonathan react to Todd Monken's comments about fan input and watching previous film of Deshaun Watson. Then, they talk about the arcade games they're best at ahead of Thursday's FANniversary at Dave & Buster's in Westlake.

Nick and Jonathan react to Todd Monken's comments about fan input and watching previous film of Deshaun Watson.

John Fanta of NBC Sports joins Afternoon Drive on The Fan. He talks about his expectations for the Browns season, why he believes that Todd Monken could be one and done in Cleveland, and more.

Jeff and Nick break down all of the moves the Browns have made this off season, what they think it indicates they're working towards, and how it would define success for Todd Monken this season.

Jeff and Nick discuss the Browns' current roster make up, some potential moves that can be made ahead of week 1, and they listen in on Todd Monken's press conference from practice.

Hour 3 of Baskin and Phelps

Hour 1 of Baskin and Phelps

Ryan Talbot from the "SHOUT!" podcast joins Gene to discuss the makeup of the Bills' roster and practice squad, including what Greg Dortch can add and how they may use the practice squad to prop up their secondary.

Gene breaks down the Bills' roster construction with Ryan Talbot from the "SHOUT!" podcast, including questions about the secondary, how carrying four tight ends will impact the offense and what to make of the practice squad. Plus, The Sports Bar sends congratulations to Ernie Clement on his engagement.

Gene breaks down the Bills' roster choices with help from the "SHOUT!" podcast's Ryan Talbot. Plus, Stan Kroenke's acquisition of the Angels could change the course of that franchise, Bill Simmons has an odd way of bonding with his daughter's boyfriend and the Dolphins are bereft of talent.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima float a wrinkle on the quarterback drama, wondering if Todd Monken skips Shedeur Sanders altogether and instead swaps Deshaun Watson straight for Dillon Gabriel once his four-week IR stint ends, using Gabriel's familiarity with the offense as a bridge before Shedeur eventually takes over. They dig into the mechanics of Gabriel's 21-day practice window and needle each other over the suspicious timing of his back injury, joking that Watson could develop the same mysterious ailment. The guys also debate whether Watson's diminished scrambling ability makes his "bad back" excuse more believable than it first seemed.

Ken and Anthony game out the Browns' quarterback situation, floating a theory that Deshaun Watson starts as a bridge while Dillon Gabriel's mystery back injury conveniently keeps him out until Shedeur Sanders is ready to take over. A caller backs the theory, suggesting Watson rides out a "charade" before the team quietly moves on to Sanders for the rest of the season. The show closes on a heated debate over whether it's fair to question Todd Monken's offense and whether Cleveland has real odds against Jacksonville in the opener.

Ken and Lima analyze the Simulation Browns as they head into the season, debating whether Deshaun Watson can maintain his starting role. Daryl Ruiter joins to discuss the heartbreak of local receiver Luke Floriea being cut and the mysterious injury to backup quarterback Dylan Gabriel. They outline a four-week runway for Watson before potentially turning to Shedeur Sanders. 02:22 - Sim Browns Season Preview 06:07 - Todd Monken's Quarterback Philosophy 09:16 - Defensive Depth and Scheme 14:52 - Daryl Ruiter joins Lima 26:02 - Deshaun Watson's Final Tryout 30:04 - Roster Depth and Waivers 35:08 - Deshaun's Four Week Runway 38:35 - Dylan Gabriel Injury Theory

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima argue over whether Todd Monken would really pull the plug on Deshaun Watson just two weeks into the season, with Ken insisting Monken's inflexibility and gut-driven decision to start Watson week one means he sticks with him regardless of performance. Anthony pushes back that a disastrous 0-2 start with multiple picks would force Monken's hand, and the two debate whether it's easier to bench Watson for Shedeur Sanders than to go back to Watson afterward. They bring in Ryan Fitzpatrick's blunt take from Thursday night's broadcast and open the phone lines to see what fans think Monken owes his locker room.

Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin break down the Browns initial 53-man roster. Then, they react to Todd Monken's press conference, and they question why Luke Floriea didn't make the team.

Lance Reisland of Cleveland.com and 92.3 The Fan joins Afternoon Drive. He talks about how Todd Monken will use his receivers, why Luke Floriea didn't make the practice squad, what the Browns offense will look like with Deshaun Watson, and more.

Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram joined Jeff Phelps and Dan Menningen to talk about the latest on the Browns and why if Todd Monken will work here, it'll be because of Deshaun Watson being a threat on the run.

Daryl Ruiter joins Ken and Anthony to break down Dillon Gabriel's strong preseason showing, admitting there's a real chance the Browns keep only three quarterbacks and that Todd Monken's comments left the door open to moving on from one of them. The conversation also digs into why Shedeur Sanders was practically invisible in Amazon's glowing Deshaun Watson coverage, with Ruiter offering an inside explanation for why the broadcast leaned so hard into the "reclamation project" narrative.

Ken and Anthony make the case for keeping Luke Floriea, an undrafted local receiver who scored three preseason touchdowns and gets called by his first name by Todd Monken, even suggesting he's earned it over Taylen Green or Malachi Corley on a crowded roster. The conversation widens into the fallout from cutting 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman, with the guys revisiting the receivers Cleveland passed on and crediting this year's deep receiver draft haul to years of past whiffs.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima react to Todd Monken's optimistic comments regarding Deshaun Watson following a Browns preseason victory. They discuss the disconnect between the locker room's support for Watson and the persistent negativity from the fan base. The conversation also covers the latest roster bubble battles, including the emergence of local product Luke Floriea and the release of Cedric Tillman. 01:50 - Monken's Preseason Recap 05:08 - Watson Comeback Narrative 08:11 - Locker Room Perspective 14:15 - Wasted Opportunity Costs 20:52 - Baker Mayfield Comparison 25:34 - Roster Depth Discussion 31:35 - Luke Floriea Roster Push 36:40 - Cedric Tillman Cut Analysis

Ken and Anthony unpack the wave of glowing Deshaun Watson coverage on Prime, from a "what's your why" sideline interview to Todd Monken's genuine excitement about the comeback story, and wonder if the overwhelmingly negative fan reaction is out of step with how the locker room actually feels about him. They also debate whether Mike Vrabel's visible frustration in the Patriots' preseason finale points to a Super Bowl hangover in New England, before circling back to whether Monken's optimism about Watson is real belief or just a coach talking himself into his only option.

"I'm sorry, I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." How mad is Dan going to be when he gets back and finds out we talked about football and head injuries without him? Another highly concerning study has come out regarding the connection between football and CTE, and we discuss how it has, and will, change the way we watch football. Jessica Smetana is here to discuss the latest mess in college football and what's this world we've come to, as this weird situation between Lane Kiffin and Todd Monken takes another twist. Also, Zaslow reveals he had never had an Uncrustable until 6-8 months ago??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices