Browns HC Todd Monken describes 'ideal' prospect: 'Smart, tough' and 'watches The Voice with their wife'

wcc

May 2, 2026 - 16:37

0 0

Browns HC Todd Monken describes 'ideal' prospect: 'Smart, tough' and 'watches The Voice with their wife' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Todd Monken has made it very clear, in direct and uncompromising terms, that he “despises” losing mentality as he takes over as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Monken is not in the mood for sugar-coating this coming season. Before the draft, General Manager Andrew Berry worked to eliminate anxiety by preparing for every scenario with sophistication.

On Friday, appearing on 92.3 The Fan, Monken stated bluntly that he hates “crappy football.” The draft focused on “Orange Dots” to ensure that the old losing mentality doesn’t creep back into the locker room. Monken explained:

“If you’re looking at football character and then work ethic character and then off-the-field issues, there’s almost like talent, how they work, and then off the field, there’s like three pieces to this. What would you love? Obviously, everybody’s looking for big, fast, physical, smart, tough, works his rear end off, got a great family, already married, got two kids, goes home at night, watches The Voice with their wife,” he said. “But that doesn’t always work.

“What you’d love is great football character, along with the work ethic that allows them to develop faster, the self-awareness of where they’re at as a player, where they want to get to, able to set goals, has a coach-me-coach mentality that embraces coaching correction, fighting everything that gets in the way of winning football, individually or collectively as a team. The more guys you get on the team that feel that way and work in that direction, to me, the better off you’re going to be.”

Drafting undersized but athletic center Parker Brailsford shows Monken trusts the tape, not media narratives about size.

Recently, the QB1 battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders has ignited media buzz, while external distractions like Shilo Sanders’ sexist comment have added noise. Monken’s stance is clear:

“I’m not Patrick from SpongeBob… I don’t live under a rock.” He knows the internet isn’t real, and his job is to give players tests, not grade them based on media opinions.

“I’m going to let all of the students take the test. I’m not going to walk in the classroom, and before they even take a test, I’m going to observe the students and give them a grade based on what? How they look, how they dress, nationality, male, female. My job is to let it play out.”

MORE: How Denzel Boston can become Browns' WR1 over Jerry Jeudy and KC Concepcion

Todd Monken recalled the failed 2019 season

Getty

Monken recalled the failed 2019 season under Freddie Kitchens, when talent was present, but execution was lacking:

“We had talent. We were at a position where, with the right group, we could have ascended. I really believe that it was close.”

This echoes the tough-minded approach of 1990s coaches like Bill Parcells, who famously said, “You are what your record says you are.” Monken’s logic is the same, there are no shortcuts to changing the narrative except winning. Just as great coaches decades ago stopped losing talk at the locker room door, Monken wants to restore that mental toughness.

“As much as I love winning and I hate losing, I despise crappy football. And I just think that it’s such a bad look for coaching - it just is.”

Monken asserted that scrutiny exists because fans care and because players and coaches are paid for it. But if anyone fears the noise, they don’t belong in Cleveland.

“If that’s going to be what defines you, then you’re going to struggle to be either the head coach, be an offensive coordinator, or be our quarterback,” Monken added.

More Cleveland Browns News: