Shedeur Sanders continues to learn the ropes in the NFL, with a towering high against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14 before the Chicago Bears last weekend laid him to the lowest point in his career as a starter.
But Sanders has quality mentors in his life, namely his father and old coach at the University of Colorado, Deion Sanders. The younger Sanders has also reached out to veterans for advice, including former Browns starter Jameis Winston, who went 2-5 in 12 appearances for Cleveland last year and threw for 2,121 yards, 13 TDs and 12 INTs.
“I talked to Jameis, like, a couple weeks ago, and then he went crazy. He threw for some crazy yards,” Sanders told reporters Wednesday, December 17. “But he was like, ‘Nah, bro. Like, the most important thing is the wins.’”
Sanders said hearing that from Winston helped him examine his personal performance in a different way. Sanders threw for 364 yards and accounted for four total TDs against the Titans, but his time lost. He threw three interceptions and the offense produced zero touchdowns in Chicago last Sunday and the ultimate result was the same — a loss.
“I always knew, of course, winning — that’s the final goal. That’s what everybody’s in this league to do. So, you just gotta focus on that,” Sanders continued. “And the more plays you stack, the more completions you rack up, the better chance you have at winning. So, have I been playing winning football lately? Nah, I don’t think so. But it’s something I have self-evaluated and applied to my game.”
Shedeur Sanders Avoided Details on How He Knows Jameis Winston, Specific Nature of Their Relationship
GettyFormer Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston.
Members of the media followed up with inquiries about how Sanders and Winston crossed paths. Winston is nearly 32 years old — while Sanders is 23 — and entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 years before the Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round.
Winston was gone, now a member of the New York Giants, before Sanders arrived in Cleveland, so they have never been teammates.
“I just know him,” Sanders responded.
A reporter then pressed the rookie on his connection with Winston and how/on what they relate.
“We both people. Jameis not here right now, so I don’t think it’s respectful, you know, to speak on his behalf in a locker room full of other great teammates and other quarterbacks that’s here, you know, that’s helped give me wisdom also,” Sanders said. “But that’s just a person. That’s just a thing that triggered me to just speak his name because that was a conversation we had at one point.”
Shedeur Sanders Unfazed by Challenge Bills Present in Week 16
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns have committed to Sanders as the starter for the remainder of the season, which includes three more games — one on the road against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16.
Cleveland is a 10.5-point underdog against the Bills Sunday, but Sanders said he is prepared for the challenge.
“I’m ready for it. So, whatever it takes to win, I’m excited for it,” Sanders said. “Having those challenges, going against the Bears, going against all these great teams, like, I’m excited for it. I never ducked challenges, and I’m thankful for it because I’m able to see. I’m able to see everything.”
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