Best of NFL News Part 1: Deshaun Watson QB1, Nick Chubb RETIRES, Fernando Mendoza struggles

**Shannon Sharpe** (0:00)
Hey guys, it's your favorite Unc here. Go ahead and click that subscribe button below so you don't miss a single episode of Nightcap. That button right here. Come for the sports, stay for the stories.
We got Jalen Johnson, the Bears' outstanding cornerback. He'll be joining us a little bit later, but first, the news of the day. Deshaun Watson has been named the starter for week one versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here's Todd Munkin and the decision and how he arrived at that decision.

**Joe "King Iso" Johnson** (0:35)
Deshaun is going to start against Jacksonville.
Took in the full body of work over the course of off season to training camp, to the games, the joint practice, and ultimately felt like to start the season on the road. Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points. And that's really what it's about. And felt that way going in the last game, but wasn't sure. And after we talked as a staff and after we re-looked at everything, we're going to go that direction.

**Shannon Sharpe** (1:11)
Munkin said Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points. Well, here's the stat line versus the Bills, 5 of 12, 36 yards, zero points, one of the sections.
Given Ochocinco, you felt this way the entire off season. You said that if they don't release Deshaun by June 1st, Deshaun Watson is going to start because that's too much money involved. Guys that make that kind of money don't sit the bench, at least to start the season. And so you've always felt this way. I felt they should have released him in the off season. And then once I realized, like, hold on, this thing is going to cost them somewhere between $185 and $100 million in dead cap space immediately. I said, no, he ain't going nowhere. But he starts the season.
Todd Munkin said he believes Deshaun gives them the best opportunity to score points on the road and win ball games. Their first two games, if I'm not mistaken, they started the road. Ochocinco, you're not going to be surprised by this decision, but what do you think really went to the decision? He said he and the staff, I don't believe he and the staff had any say in this. I think it came above his pay grade and they made a decision. And he says, okay, me and my staff made this decision.

**Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson** (2:16)
Listen, I told you, obviously the coach, I'm not saying he's a puppet. I'm not saying that, but I knew all along, for one other Joe, that Deshaun was going to start, simply because of the money that's owed to him this season. That's it. So understanding that Todd Munkin is in a tough position, he can't answer the question like he really wants to answer. You know, saying that based on his performance, and we feel he gives us our best chance to win. But if you look at the numbers, that's not the person that gives you the best chance to win.
You know, the call is coming from upstairs. Now, I understood that call will come up stairs based on the person that writes that check. You won't have the person that's making the most money as the starting quarterback for our team. And I said it as soon as before the season started. When they went to training camp, I said, it's Deshaun Watson's job to lose. It's his job to lose. So they're gonna allow him to start. And they had two games on the road.
I'm hoping, I'm not sure what's gonna happen with those two games, hoping he looks to par. But if he doesn't, that first home game, the third game of the season, if it's not going well, at that point, a change will be made. Mark my words, I haven't been wrong yet. Since basketball season, I haven't been wrong yet. Oh, man, here we go. Listen to me, Joe, stay with me. Joe, I know you're frustrated because you ain't been right yet, but I'm telling you, hey, I'm not trying to be rude or nothing. If the third game does not go the way it should, a change will be made going into week four. I'm telling you right now ahead of time.

**Shannon Sharpe** (3:41)
So you think a change will become as soon as week three? Don't even give them a chance to...
Don't give... You saying they ain't gonna... Okay, the only way Deshaun can get through this, Ochocinco, is if he come out there two and And guess what? Guess what? Game three, they still gon boo him. Yes. They still gon boo him.