It took just four games for the Cleveland Browns to decide they'd seen enough of Joe Flacco.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Wednesday that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel would start Cleveland's Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London, sending Flacco to the bench as the team's new backup.
And while most will say Gabriel earned his opportunity to start by how he performed during training camp and the preseason, there's another camp who believe fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders is being overlooked.
It's clear based off Flacco's numbers this season-815 yards passing, two touchdowns, six interceptions, 58.1 completion percentage, 60.3 passer rating, 1-3 record-that change was needed.
But according to former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who played for the Browns in 2016, passing for 886 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in five games, the players actually prefer Sanders over Gabriel.
"The Cleveland Browns need to start Shedeur Sanders because although the Coach doesn't want him, the locker room does," Griffin III wrote on X.
More Football:Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes Hit With Hefty Fine by Big 12
Griffin III further elaborated on his "Outta Pocket with RGIII" podcast, stating Sanders inspires confidence in a team that hangs its head every time it steps on the field and needs a spark that Gabriel can't provide.
"I'm telling you guys, Shedeur Sanders is who they need to go to," Griffin III said. "He is the quarterback that they need to start because he's the one that's going to provide a spark, a belief - the locker room believes in Shedeur Sanders.
"… There's a reason the media is following Shedeur Sanders like he's Cardi B, because he is a superstar. I know [the Browns] like Dillon Gabriel more…but what their team needs right now is Shedeur Sanders."
More Football:Ex-Pro Bowl QB Linked to Bengals as Potential Joe Burrow Replacement
Griffin III also pointed out star defensive end Myles Garrett's comments from the preseason, in which he stated the team needed Sanders to stay healthy and advised him to slide when he takes off on runs.
"Why would your $137 million defensive end say we need the third-string quarterback? Griffin III asked. "Because they believed in him, and right now the Cleveland Browns need belief."
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.