The Cleveland Browns quarterback battle is heating up, and head coach Todd Monken is doing his best to keep the focus on the field. Following a report that Deshaun Watson has the inside track to be named the starter, Monken made it clear Friday that he's "not there yet" when it comes to naming QB1.

The drama began during the Browns' voluntary minicamp, where both Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders split first-team reps. Monken downplayed the significance at the time, refusing to call it a two-man race. But just days after the NFL Draft, a report from Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot suggested Watson has the edge and that Monken hopes to name his starter by the end of mandatory minicamp in June.

When asked about the report and the ensuing social media backlash — including a viral post from Shedeur's brother, Shilo, criticizing the veteran reporter — Monken didn't mince words. "That's a man making a comment on social media. That's someone reporting something they believe. That's their opinion. Not my opinion," Monken said on Cleveland's 92.3 The Fan. "I didn't say that. Our daily inner workings with the QBs and the players is going to mean more than what is said outside of there."

The first-year head coach acknowledged that noise comes with the territory, especially in a market like Cleveland and with a position battle this high-profile. But he emphasized that neither Watson, Sanders, nor the coaching staff can afford to let outside chatter affect their preparation. For now, the competition remains open — and Monken is sticking to his process, even as the speculation swirls.