After the Cleveland Browns made the decision to appoint Todd Monken as their new head coach, there has been a wave of skepticism surrounding his abilities. However, broadcaster Ross Tucker is standing up for Monken and addressing the negative opinions circulating about him.

Tucker recently appeared on the Ultimate Cleveland Talk Show and shared two main reasons why he believes Monken was the right choice for the Browns. He started by highlighting that Monken is an “incredible person” who is straightforward and honest. Tucker explained that during his time working with Monken, whether in production meetings or on the field before games, Monken always spoke his mind.

“He’s very much a straight shooter,” said Tucker. “Will he always be like that? I don’t know. But he tells you exact. I mean, I say something like, ‘Mark Andrews not getting the ball.’ And he’s like ‘yeah.’ He’s not happy and he shouldn’t be. ‘I wouldn’t be happy if I was a star and not getting the ball.'”

More importantly, Monken has a proven and lengthy successful track record. His career spans both college and professional football, and Tucker emphasized how impactful Monken has been with every team he has been associated with.

Contrary to what some may believe, Monken was actually a head coach before joining the Browns, but at the collegiate level. Tucker pointed out that Monken was the head coach at Southern Mississippi, where the team initially had a 0-12 record. However, a few years later, he was named Conference USA Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Eagles to a 9-5 record and winning the Conference USA West Division title.

The team also participated in the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2015, which was Monken’s last year with them. During his two-year tenure, he coached Nick Mullens, who is now a backup quarterback in the NFL.

To further support his argument, Tucker mentioned that between 2020 and 2022, Monken significantly improved Georgia’s offense as the offensive coordinator. This led to the team winning the national title in 2021 and 2022. Tucker highlighted how Monken transformed the offense, making it one of the most dominant units in college football.

He also pointed out that Monken helped unlock the potential of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. “You guys know this. Lamar never played as well throwing the football as he did. 23 MVP. So I love Monken as a person and a coach,” Tucker said.

In 2023, when Monken joined the Baltimore Ravens as their offensive coordinator, the team’s offensive statistics saw a significant increase. Lamar Jackson won his second honor that year, and the Ravens finished with a 13-4-0 record, making a playoff appearance. They averaged 28.4 points per game and scored 55 touchdowns for 6542 yards.

Tucker concluded by expressing his appreciation for whoever was responsible for hiring Monken, whether it was franchise owner Jimmy Haslam or general manager Andrew Berry. While the Browns have sparked another controversy with this decision, the question remains: do you think Monken is being judged unfairly?