Browns' Todd Monken downplays potential Shedeur Sanders playbook controversy

During the broadcast of this past Sunday's game involving the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints, a CBS report shared how first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken revealed that second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders suggested that the club run plays that aren't in Cleveland's playbook during the Browns' opening drive of the contest. 

This sparked some strong takes on Cleveland sports-talk radio regarding whether or not Sanders could ever show he can be a potential long-term answer for an NFL franchise. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Monken laughed off any concerns related to the CBS story.

Todd Monken: "It’s hilarious" people were upset about Shedeur Sanders report

"It’s hilarious that it’s gone this far," Monken said about the potential controversy, per Chris Renke of WKYC and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "'Shedeur, what do you like?' 'I like this, this and this.' 'Yeah, I know. But how about we talk about, ya know, what we run? You know what I'm saying?' It was fun. It was him and I together. It might have been in the hallway. It wasn't a sit-down. It was a normal day-to-day [conversation]."

Sanders started against the Saints after first-choice QB1 Deshaun Watson entered the concussion protocol following the Browns' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1. In what became a 23-22 overtime loss in New Orleans, Sanders completed 19-of-31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.

Nevertheless, Monken seemingly always planned to go back to Watson for when 5-4 Cleveland hosts the 3-5 Houston Texans this coming Sunday. It sounds like Sanders' grasp of and feelings about the playbook had nothing to do with that decision. 

Todd Monken got "a big kick out of" latest Shedeur Sanders story

"I get a big kick out of it because it was really just a normal day-to-day of what a quarterback likes," Monken added about the CBS segment causing a stir among certain Cleveland media personalities. "It should be important what a quarterback likes, what he doesn't like. And there's some things we do that players don't like, and they'd rather do something else. That's normal. ...I didn't see it as any big deal. It really isn't a big deal."

Also on Wednesday, Monken said he has "no intention of Deshaun not being our starter" moving forward. Of course, history shows such an "intention" could change if Watson fails to impress against the Texans.