Todd Monken, head coach of the Cleveland Browns, responded to comments made by former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin regarding the Browns' Week 1 loss. During a postgame press conference following the Browns' victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monken expressed his displeasure with Tomlin's remarks, stating, "Browns are gonna Browns. F–k that!" He emphasized that the players took Tomlin's comments to heart.
Tomlin, now an NBC broadcaster, had referenced a phrase by former Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, stating, "the Browns is the Browns," while discussing Cleveland's earlier loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns rebounded in Week 2, securing a 23-19 win against the Buccaneers.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson confirmed that the team was affected by Tomlin's comments, saying, "Monk said what he said. That’s how we all feel."
Tomlin appeared unfazed by the backlash during the "Sunday Night Football" broadcast, humorously noting, "Hey, I’m glad that I can still motivate, although I’m not coaching anymore." He further commented on the Browns' performance, acknowledging their defensive efforts, stating, "Cleveland’s defense showed up today. They had three sacks, five quarterback hits and they just did a really good job of playing with spirit, and I respect that."