Quarterback Deshaun Watson should thank Todd Monken — profusely.

That’s because the Browns head coach has decided to start Watson in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Monken said earlier this week that, in the quarterback competition between Watson and Shadeur Sanders,  he would start one quarterback against the Bears and the other against the Buffalo Bills the following Saturday at Huntington Bank Field. The quarterback who doesn’t start will play in the second half.

Had Watson gotten his start at home, then he would have had to listen to the boos and catcalls from all the fans who want no part of him
playing for their team. He will get some of that in the second half against the Bills, but it won’t be nearly as much. The second half of preseason games don’t draw a whole lot of attention, and a number of fans leave early.

But Monken and the Browns  won’t be able to hide Watson forever if, as expected, he wins the starting job for the regular season. The Browns begin with two straight road games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before staging their home opener on Sept. 27against the Carolina Panthers. The Browns better have a plan for that.

Sanders won’t have to worry about any of that. His situation is just the opposite, as he is the people’s choice. The fans love him.

Steve King