Todd Monken sold himself to team owner Jimmy Haslam and Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

Now comes the hard part for Monken — convincing a weary, skeptical fan base that he is the right choice to be the head coach of a franchise that has won only one playoff game in 27 years. A franchise that has had just three winning seasons — 2002, 2020 and 2023 — since 1999. A franchise that hasn’t boasted back-to-back winning seasons since it strung four together from 1986-89.

There is no question Monken, 59, has a brilliant offensive mind. He proved it as offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia when he helped the Bulldogs win the CFP national championship in 2021 and 2022. He spent the last three seasons as OC and calling plays for the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson passed for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdown passes in 2024.

The head coach of an NFL team has to command the respect of all 53 players, plus his coaching staff and front office personnel. Maybe Monken can lead the entire building at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard. But he is going to have a difficult time getting defensive players on his side.

Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was a finalist for the job. Haslam and Berry decided Monken would be better. Schwartz is steaming mad because he was snubbed, according to reports — angry enough to want to leave the Browns despite being under contract for 2026.

Jim Schwartz directs a drill June 6. (Ron Schwane – The Associated Press)

Berry and Haslam had a long time to think about the ramifications of their decision before they announced it on Jan. 28. Browns players on offense know Schwartz is a demanding but fair taskmaster. They would have had no problem following Schwartz as their leader. They saw for three years how Schwartz got the best from his players on defense.

“I don’t know what’s going to be in the future,” Myles Garrett said the Friday before the season ended. “Would I like to play under Jim? Would I like to keep the team and for us to improve? Absolutely. But these are things that are handled by people who sign my checks, so they make bigger decisions than I can account for.

“So I’m going to allow them to do what they do — give my opinions if they ask for it. And I got to rock with whoever they have here. But I love Jim, and I love playing for him.”

Warming up to Monken could be difficult because he does not exude fire the way Schwartz does.

Schwartz has already been linked to the defensive coordinator job with the 49ers. He might take defensive assistants with him. Linebackers coach Jason Tarver and defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire would be sorely missed.

The Rams have requested an interview with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone. The Browns need a new offensive coordinator because Tommy Rees left to be the Falcons’ OC under Kevin Stefanski.

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No one would describe being an assistant coach for the Browns as a springboard to job elevations in the NFL. Assembling a quality coaching staff could be difficult for Monken, although he has already taken a positive first step by hiring George Warhop as offensive line coach. Warhop coached the offensive line for the Ravens for the last two years.

Monken’s track record on offense makes him a better candidate than Schwartz to get more from quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who in 2026 will get a fresh start in his second NFL season. The Browns still haven’t given up on Deshaun Watson. Watson, acquired in the disastrous trade with the Texans 46 months ago, hasn’t played well since 2020, when he was in Houston.

Monken is taking over a team that went 8-26 the last two seasons and an offense in total disrepair. The Browns are more than one offseason away from being contenders.

The 19th full-time head coach in Browns history, the 11th since 1999, might not be introduced to Cleveland at a news conference in Berea until early next week. I just hope Monken doesn’t make a reference to the “rich Browns legacy.” The Browns team that had a legacy moved to Baltimore 33 years ago.

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks said Thursday that it plans to open hundreds of new stores across the U.S. and add seating capacity at thousands of existing locations, doubling down on a strategy of emphasizing the company’s cafes as community hubs even as consumer demand for drive-thru coffee grows.

The company unveiled its plans during a presentation in New York for investors. After announcing in September that it would close hundreds of less profitable stores, Starbucks said it now expects to open up to 175 new U.S. coffee shops this year and around 400 in 2028.

Its plans include smaller-format stores that are 20% cheaper to build but still offer comfortable seating, drive-thru service and mobile order pickup capacity.

Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said Starbucks ultimately sees an opportunity to build at least 5,000 new cafes across the U.S., with the smaller store format presenting much of that opportunity. There are thousands of sites where no Starbucks operates within a mile of a competitor, he said. Starbucks is particularly eyeing the central, southern and northeastern U.S. for store development.

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In some ways, Starbucks is running counter to a growing U.S. trend of drive-thru-only coffee shops like Dutch Bros and 7 Brew. In September, the National Coffee Association, an industry trade group, found that 59% of U.S. coffee drinkers who bought coffee outside their home in the past week had used a drive-thru, which was an all-time high.

But Niccol said Thursday that over the last month, more than 60% of Starbucks’ customers came into a store to order their coffee, and he thinks it’s important for those stores to feel vibrant and inviting.

“Our cafes are our point of differentiation,” Niccol said. “We want people to be in our coffeehouses.”

Starbucks said it plans to add 25,000 additional seats to its U.S. cafes by the end of its fiscal year this fall. That’s part of an ongoing upgrade process that is intended to make existing stores warmer and more welcoming.

The improvements, which cost around $150,000 and are done overnight while stores are closed, have been completed at 200 locations and are expected to spread to 1,000 by fall. Starbucks expects to finish the retrofitting work in 2028. The company has around 10,000 company-operated stores in the U.S.

Niccol said Starbucks is seeing customers dwell longer in stores that are revamped.

Niccol, who joined Starbucks in 2024 to revive its flagging sales, said the company’s turnaround is taking hold. Starbucks has been adding staff and equipment to stores to improve service times and give employees more time to connect with customers.

Among Starbucks’ priorities in the coming year is improving its afternoon business, which is weaker than its performance in the morning. In the spring, the company plans to introduce customizable energy drinks made with a proprietary green coffee extract. It’s also planning more snackable foods that are high in protein and fiber, like flatbreads, cottage cheese and protein popcorn.

The company is also installing equipment designed to speed up service. A next-generation espresso machine will cut in half the 70 seconds it now takes to pull espresso shots and double capacity to eight shots at a time, the company said. The machines will begin rolling out to U.S. stores in 2027.

Starbucks also expects changes to its loyalty program to boost sales. A three-tiered program set to start March 10 in the U.S. and Canada will have various benefits for Green, Gold and Reserve members. Starbucks has 35.5 million active loyalty members in the U.S. alone.

Green members will still earn one star per dollar spent, and stars can be redeemed for food and beverages. But they will earn a $2 credit faster than before and get free drink modifications once per month, the company said.

Members who spend more will earn more perks. Reserve status members, who must earn 2,500 stars in 12 months, gain access to exclusive merchandise and events, including all-expense paid trips to coffee-focused destinations like Milan and Costa Rica.

Earlier this week, Starbucks reported stronger-than-expected sales in its fiscal first quarter. The company said its same-store sales were up 4% globally and in the U.S. in the October-December period, which marked its best U.S. performance in two years. It expects global and U.S. same-store sales to rise 3% in its 2026 fiscal year.

On Thursday, the company shared guidance for its 2028 fiscal year. It continues to expect U.S. and global same-store sales to rise 3% or more, and it expects revenue to grow by 5%. Starbucks also forecast earnings per share of $3.35 to $4. That compares to adjusted earnings per share of $2.13 in its 2025 fiscal year.

Starbucks shares fell 1% in midday trading Thursday.

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and STEVE KARNOWSKI

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at an event in Minneapolis, according to court papers made public Thursday.

The man arrested for Tuesday’s attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Authorities determined that the substance was water and apple cider vinegar, according to an affidavit. After Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with the liquid, he appeared to say, “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart,” the affidavit says. Authorities also say that Kazmierczak told a close associate several years ago that “somebody should kill” Omar, court documents say.

It was unclear if Kazmierczak had an attorney who could comment on the allegations. A message was left with the federal defender’s office in Minnesota.

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, where two people have been fatally shot by federal agents during the White House’s aggressive immigration crackdown.

Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has long been a fixture of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should “go back” to her country. He recently described her as “garbage” and said she should be investigated. During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — “not like Ilhan Omar.”

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

“Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as “angry and liars.” Trump “wants the US is stronger and more prosperous,” he wrote. “Stop other countries from stealing from us.”

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, “When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers’ families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?”

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters before dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 “concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex” in 2025.

___

Richer reported from Washington

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar.

The Loons employ and embrace the most-diverse roster among Minnesota’s professional sports teams.

For instance, at Wednesday’s practice in Blaine, the majority of the 25 players on the field were legal immigrants to the U.S. As that training session started at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the players jogged together as a collective group, but they really represented a melting pot.

The eclectic team includes a talented trio from Argentina and a trio of tough defenders composed of players from Panama, Germany and Colombia. Also in the mix: the club’s grizzled captain from New Zealand; a promising young attacker hailing from Sierra Leone; a gregarious glue guy from South Africa; and a rising star midfielder born in Australia and representing his heritage on the Greece national team.

And the list goes on.

But the federal government’s current immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota has hurt MNUFC’s ability this winter to add more international players to its roster, and had a chilling effect on returning players who are wondering if they can live safely in the U.S.

Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) gives fans the thumbs up after the loon beat the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The Loons beat Seattle 3-3 (7-6) in a shootout to advance the semi-final round. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

‘People are scared’

Gifted playmaker Joaquin Pereyra moved to Minnesota from Argentina in the summer of 2024 in order to create a better life for him and his wife. Seventeen months later, he described the “tension” and “fear” he sees in his adopted home.

“People are scared. We are, too,” the 25-year-old midfielder told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday, which was translated from Spanish via club employees. “Fewer and fewer people want to be out on the streets because of what might happen to them.”

In order to move from South America, Pereyra followed the well-established customs protocol for foreign players coming to MLS. He initially receiving a P-1A Athlete visa and an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) in order to practice and play in matches. Similar to many players, he has since earned a Green Card, making him a permanent U.S. resident.

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Given the current political conditions, Pereyra said he carries his Argentine passport and U.S. green card on his person when in public.

“Whether I’m walking around the neighborhood, at the supermarket, anywhere,” Pereyra said. “… Obviously, that doesn’t guarantee me anything because we’ve seen on the news that people who have had their Green Card and passport in their car, or whatever, are still taken away or treated badly.”

Minnesota United leadership has held meetings with players on how to navigate potential interaction with immigration enforcement actions, but those safeguards can only go so far. The fear Pereyra described undercuts a primary reason foreign players came to the U.S. in the first place.

“In South America, I can tell you from experience, life is sometimes very difficult. There is a lot of poverty,” Pereyra said. “And for those of us from Latin America, coming here is a huge step up in terms of quality of life. So, the fact that they want to do what they’re doing, and in the way they’re doing it, is something I obviously don’t agree with at all.”

Pereyra enjoyed a strong season for the Loons in 2025, finishing second on team with 14 goal contributions (six goals and eight assists) in 33 regular-season games. He was a primary reason MNUFC advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for a second straight season. He wants to get back to focusing on his job.

“All I hope is that, as I said, this will finally end,” Pereyra said. “The mistreatment of people cannot exist anywhere in the world. I understand that it’s a position of authority that they take advantage of, but I think it’s a lack of respect for all people. Even the people of Minnesota, who were born here and are also having a hard time because I see that many people who are from here are protesting for the same reasons. Let’s hope this calms down for the good of everyone.”

Michael Boxall is the Loons’ longest-tenured player, joining the club in 2017, and he’s since becoming the club’s captain. The New Zealand native has not felt the need to carry his immigration paperwork in pubic, but his young children have asked questions on the topic.

“It’s just a failure of leadership at so many levels,” Boxall said. “Obviously federally, we’ve got a bunch of people here who aren’t capable of doing what they are meant to do. … They have been sent to what is now a high-stress environment and (are) not capable of doing their job properly.

“No one should be dead for just expressing their thoughts or peaceful protesting,” he continued. “There are instances with (Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey) as well, (who) seems to incite violence. … There is a lot of edginess all around, I think it leads to people ending up in circumstances (where) a lot of people are getting injured, which is awful to see.

“Being an immigrant myself, and coming from a country where there are a lot of immigrants, I know they bring a lot of value to a country. So, I just hope that things can be resolved in a way that there are no more lives lost, no more families hurt and separated needlessly.”

Foreign players saying no

The MLS primary transfer window officially opened last week, setting up a key period for clubs to improve their roster through March 26. The MLS season starts Feb. 21.

But the current immigration enforcement actions — which has led directly to the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti — has hurt MNUFC’s ability to bring in new players, sources told the Pioneer Press this week.

The Loons were negotiating transfer deals with Slovenian midfielder Tomi Horvat and Dutch defender Cherrion Valerius, but both players cited concerns about life in Minnesota for them and their families as why they declined contracts with MNUFC.

Horvat has since signed with English club Bristol City, and Valerius will remain with Netherland club NAC Breda.

The Loons also have been linked to Killian Phillips, a midfielder with Scotland club St. Mirren. The San Diego-born player of Irish descent is also mentioned as a target of San Diego FC and Portland Timbers. It’s unclear what the current environment in Minnesota does to his desire to possibly join the Loons.

MNUFC wanted to add approximately three or four new players this winter, but has completed only one new signing so far. The addition of Colombian attacking midfielder Mauricio Gonzalez was done weeks ago — before recent flashpoints with the immigration raids in Minnesota. Gonzalez, 21, still needs to receive his work visa before being eligible to play for the Loons, and it’s unclear how long that process might take now.

The current landscape in Minnesota has the Loons’ front office considering whether it makes more sense to table the remaining items on their wish list for new players. Perhaps the club will wait until the summer transfer window in hopes that the situation improves.

Seattle Sounders defender Travian Sousa (3) traps the ball between his knees against Minnesota United midfielder Joaquín Pereyra (26) in the first half of a MLS first round playoff match at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

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