Todd Monken explains ‘fun’ exchange with Shedeur Sanders over play selection; no plans to bench any O-linemen: Browns takeaways

BrownsCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders runs out of the pocket on a pass play in the second half. John Kuntz, cleveland.comBy Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.comBEREA, Ohio — Todd Monken explained Wednesday that the exchange between him and Shedeur Sanders over play selection for the Saints game was all in good fun. CBS Sports’ A.J. Ross relayed the story during the Saints broadcast that when Monken asked Sanders for some plays he’d like included in the opening script, he suggested some that weren’t in their playbook. But Monken and Sanders have engaged in good-natured banter since the day they met on Monken’s first day in the office in January, and last week’s script encounter was more of the same. How the Texans’ passing attack poses a serious test for the Browns’ defense: Film reviewHow did Shedeur Sanders and the Browns’ passing game find success vs. the Saints? Film reviewBrowns QB comparison: How Sanders’ start stacks up to Watson’s performance this season“It’s hilarious that it’s gone this far,” Monken said of the anecdote blowing up on social media and talk radio. “‘Shedeur, what do you like?’‘Well, I like this, this and this.’ ‘Yeah, I know, but how about we talk about, like, you know, what we run?’ You know what I’m saying?’”Monken, who often pulls back the curtain to provide insight into the team, stressed that “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…where it’s the same way with coaches. Coaches have ideas as we’re game planning. Players have ideas, right?”He said he was amused that a typical discussion of what a quarterback likes to run became such a hot topic. “It should be important what a quarterback likes and what he doesn’t like,” he said. “There’s some things we do that players don’t like, and they’d rather do something else. That’s normal. It really isn’t a big deal.”Monken has no plans to shake up the o-lineMonken has no plans to bench any of the Browns offensive linemen despite numerous penalties this season, from false starts to holding calls to illegal formations. The Browns have been penalized a league-high 82 times, and have the worst penalty-differential in the league at minus-26. The total includes 17 false starts and 12 holding calls, as well as a handful of illegal formations. But Monken will keep the five starters intact while working to correct the issues. “Our starters are the starters,” he said. “We addressed it again today, who the biggest culprits are. And they’re our guys. They’re like our kids. We’re not going to just change out our kids. We’re not going to change out our players. They’re our best players. And we have a very diligent team. We have a lot of guys that love playing football, but the stats are what they are. We’ve got to look in the mirror and say, ‘at some point, this is it.’ I mean, that we just can’t continue down this road.”Deshaun Watson never heard from Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker, who caused the concussion and then made fun of himWatson never got an apology or a check-in from Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker, who delivered the concussive helmet-to-helmet hit on the third play of the game and then made fun of Watson after the game, saying he was “crying” and needed his “binky.”Brisker was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and then fined $17,911 by the NFL. “No, I didn’t hear anything,” Watson said. “I didn’t even know he said that. I mean, of course, Pittsburgh, rivalry game talking, it is what it is. I got back up and got back in the game, so it is what it is.”Ronnie Hickman in the concussion protocol Hickman reported concussion symptoms after the Saints game and is in the protocol. He sat out Wednesday’s practice and will have to be cleared by Saturday to face the Texans.Denzel Boston sits out Wednesday Rookie receiver Denzel Boston sat out Wednesday with a toe injury but Monken said he expects him back on Thursday. In other injury news: Defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who sat out the Saints game with his elbow injury and an illness, was back at practice Wednesday as limited with his elbow injury and said he’ll play Sunday. Center Elgton Jenkins sat out Wednesday with a knee injury.Fullback Michael Burton was idle with a calf injury.Cornerback Denzel Ward was limited with a quad injury.Mary Kay Cabot has more than 30 years experience covering the Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, and became only the second female in Pro Football Hall of Fame history to win the Bill Nunn...