Shedeur Sanders received a firm message from his famous father as he navigates the early challenges of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns.
After a standout run at Colorado that made him a prominent draft prospect, Sanders slid all the way to the fifth round, where the Browns scooped him up at pick No. 144. He now finds himself in Cleveland’s crowded quarterback room, starting the year as a backup and likely the No. 4 option behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.
Deion Sanders shared the advice he’s given both Shedeur and his brother Shilo.
“My deal with my kids is that they don’t have to be THE best but they have to give THEIR BEST,” Sanders told Bleacher Report. “They’ve always been very mature, and they’re very understanding of the times and what they’re up against. I’m truly excited to see them overcome all the adversity and for them to shine.”
Granted, that quote from “Coach Prime” came before a rough weekend for the brothers. Shilo was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after getting ejected for throwing a punch in the team’s final preseason game.
Shedeur is expected to hang on to his roster spot with the Browns but he’s entering the regular season on a low note. He completed just 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards and was sacked five times in the team’s preseason finale.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Confident Amid Roster Cuts
The Browns have said they plan to carry four quarterbacks, though whether that’s a negotiating tactic or reality is still unclear. Cleveland released veteran Tyler Huntley on Sunday, who had been brought in to provide depth while other passers battled injuries.
Sanders has remained confident he’ll be on the roster when the cuts are finalized.
“Obviously,” Sanders said when asked if he belongs with the team. “I think, overall as a player, I’ve put in the work. I feel like everything I do, I try to do it to my best and that’s all I can ask for. Everybody feels like they should be on the team. If you ask anybody on the team, would they feel like they belong — they belong in their own eyes. I feel like I do, but I’m my own player. I think about myself in a high regard, of course. It’s not my decision.”
Browns Focused on Shedeur Sanders’ Development
Sanders is a polarizing figure in Cleveland. His disappointing ending to the preseason and the Browns’ decision to bench him late for a potential game-winning drive only amplified the noise.
With two minutes left and the Browns down 17-16, Sanders looked like he’d get a shot at redemption. However, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski decided to insert Huntley, despite Sanders’ plea to finish out the game.
“It wasn’t my decision. Of course, that’s every quarterback’s dream and that’s what every quarterback thrives for, those moments, so it wasn’t me,” Sanders said. “In the heat of the battle, you want to be that alpha. You want to be that dog. You want to be out there in that final two-minute drive. So of course, small things, of course frustrate. But that’s what happens when you want to be a player to be able to change a franchise.”
There’s been chatter online about the Browns trying to “sabotage” Sanders in an effort to quiet the calls for him to start. Stefanski said that’s not the case.
“Obviously I don’t concern myself with outside type of things, but I’m committed to his development, just like all of our rookies,” Stefanski said on Sunday. “So, we’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better, and that’s what we’ll stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.”
Sanders and the Browns open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Raheim Sanders Press Conference | “I’m Ready For Whatever.”
