Shedeur Sanders’ recent comments about his role have put the wrong kind of spotlight on the Cleveland Browns.
Sanders is currently the No. 3 quarterback in Cleveland, sitting behind 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart. He caused a stir with recent comments about his role to ESPN Cleveland.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said. “I don’t think playing or not playing is in my hands. Based on the situation, if things happen, if things pan out where I play, then I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to play. I’m ready to play right now.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Needs to Know ‘Time & Place’
Former NFLers Harry Douglas and Bart Scott both called out Sanders for the comments, which took over the headlines after the Browns’ first win. Cleveland upset the Green Bay Packers 13-10 in Week 3.
“There’s a time and place for everything. And that’s not the right timing for Shedeur Sanders. It’s OK to feel like that internally, to feel like he’s better than guys starting right now. You don’t need to say it out loud,” Douglas said. “Keep it about the Cleveland Browns and what they’ve been able to do this season.”
“That’s not your line,” Scott added. “You have to get better in silence. And you have to realize that sometimes reporters are just sitting around and they’ll put a camera in your face, you think they’re your friend and feel good because you’re not the starting quarterback and getting attention. Then you just say stuff, not realizing it blows up to stuff like this. … Don’t poke the bear.”
Browns Respond to Comments From Shedeur Sanders
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski remained diplomatic when discussing Sanders’ comments.
“He’s doing a good job,” Stefanski said. “I hope all of our guys feel like they’re ready, and they’re working very hard at it. We do a lot of work with our players, rookies, vets, all our guys, spending every available minute that we have with them, getting them ready physically, mentally, whether it’s in the weight room, the meeting room, out on the field. So, all of our guys are working very hard.”
There’s not an expectation that Sanders will see the field this season unless things go very sideways in Cleveland. The Browns are committed to rolling with Flacco for now and have liked what they’ve seen from Gabriel.
“For all the football conspiracy theorists out there trying to decode the real reason the Cleveland Browns drafted Shedeur Sanders, here’s the truth: There is no big secret. The pick wasn’t some master plan from ownership,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported in Week 1. “It was GM Andrew Berry’s call, rooted in his belief that Cleveland’s coaching staff could bring out the best in Sanders and help him grow into an NFL quarterback. It will be a process, and the Browns want to keep developing him.
“Don’t plan on seeing the fifth-round pick on the field this season unless things get really weird. Cleveland believes in Joe Flacco’s experience and Dillon Gabriel’s development as the backup.”
In the meantime, Sanders will continue to serve as the emergency quarterback on game days. He suits up but is officially inactive, only able to enter if both Flacco and Gabriel are injured.
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