Todd Monken, the Browns head coach, just dropped a line so wild it had everyone doing a double-take. Fresh off a 23-19 Week 2 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monken went to bat for Deshaun Watson, but his defense included calling the 31-year-old quarterback a “very young player.” Seriously, did Monken just say that out loud?
When a Win Can’t Hide a Head-Scratcher
Let’s give credit where it’s due: the Browns did snatch their first win of the season. Deshaun Watson actually looked pretty solid in that victory over the Bucs. He went 23-for-30, slinging for 238 yards and two touchdowns, all with no interceptions. He took only two sacks and even added 22 yards on seven rushing attempts. This was reportedly one of his better outings since landing with the Browns, which is a good thing, right? But then Monken stepped to the mic on Monday, fielding questions about a potential quarterback switch. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com shared Monken’s exact words, and that’s when things got bizarre. Monken said, “I see him as a young player. I know people don’t want to see it that way, and I haven’t been here, but I see him as still a very young player that is going to continue to grow.” The man called a 31-year-old quarterback “very young.” What in the Emerald City is going on down there?
The ‘Very Young Player’ Math Just Ain’t Mathing
Thirty-one years old in the NFL is hardly a fresh-faced rookie, right? In professional sports, especially in a league as brutal as the NFL, that age is absolutely not considered “young.” You rarely hear anyone described as “very young” at 31. This isn’t just a weird claim; it straight up makes no sense. Watson has been in the NFL since the 2017 season, which means he’s been around for ten years! Players with a decade under their belt cannot be called young. Sure, his game count is lower than some. Watson has only played in 75 regular-season games, largely because he missed the entire 2021 and 2025 seasons, and only played 19 games between 2022 and 2024 with the Browns. But even if you only go by total playing time, 75 games is roughly equivalent to four-and-a-half full 17-game NFL seasons. That is a substantial amount of time on the field. Monken might be trying to emphasize that Watson still has room to grow in his career, and hey, we all want to see players develop. But there’s no way to twist the facts to consider him a “very young player.” None.
Look, maybe Watson can turn things around in his career. A turnaround is definitely still on the table for him. But let’s be real: even if he figures it all out, he’s never going to be a “young player” again. The clock just doesn’t work that way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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