The Browns’ quarterback drama has taken another twist. On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith reported a growing divide within Cleveland’s building, one centered squarely on rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders as he heads toward his first NFL start in Week 12. With the team sitting at 2–8, the timing and tension couldn’t be more on brand for Cleveland.
On ESPN’s First Take, Steven A. Smith discussed the rift between Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry regarding Shedeur Sanders. “From my understanding, you’ve got an offensive coordinator and a head coach that aren’t necessarily sold on Shedeur Sanders. You’ve got a general manager who has a lot of faith in him and wants him to succeed.” He further added, “Where Kevin Stefanski loses me, you’re a two-time Coach of the Year. We know you can coach. We know you know what you’re doing. So how does a quarterback go out there in a game like that and look so ill-prepared? Something’s not right!”
On ESPN’s First Take, Steven A. Smith discussed the rift between Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry regarding Shedeur Sanders.
"From my understanding, you’ve got an offensive coordinator and a head coach that aren’t necessarily sold on Shedeur Sanders. You’ve got a general… pic.twitter.com/X6Vfef2iSN
— The Dawgs – A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) November 19, 2025
Stephen A. Smith Says Coaches Aren’t Sold on Shedeur Sanders
NFL, Stephen A. Smith
Dec 21, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Stephen A. Smith , American sports television personality, walks on the field before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back. He said Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees aren’t fully sold on Shedeur Sanders, even while GM Andrew Berry believes in him enough to push him up the depth chart. And the evidence, according to Smith, showed up the moment Sanders stepped into the Ravens game on November 16.
Shedeur’s debut wasn’t just rough; it looked disconnected. In the matchup against the Ravens, Sanders received zero snaps with the starters before being thrown into action after Dillon Gabriel’s injury. That lack of preparation explained why he finished 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception, generating no second-half points in a 23–16 loss. Smith pointed directly at that performance as proof that something inside the building isn’t aligned.
He argued that a two-time Coach of the Year shouldn’t allow a rookie to look that unprepared unless there’s hesitation or distrust behind the scenes. And that’s where his claim lands hardest: the coaching staff isn’t convinced, the GM is pushing the opposite direction, and the result was Sanders entering a divisional game without proper reps.
Meanwhile, Deion Sanders added another angle during his Nov. 18 media availability.According to Yahoo, Coach Prime admitted he “knows some stuff behind the curtain” regarding how his son has been handled and said a “lesser man would have crumbled” under the circumstances Shedeur has faced. He also acknowledged the chaos his son has been navigating from a brutal debut to media pressure to internal politics all while the two look to buy a house together, joking that Shedeur wants the master bedroom but needs to“put more in.”
Now the rookie heads into a likely Week 12 start against the Raiders with Gabriel still in concussion protocol. And instead of simply preparing for his first full NFL game, Sanders is walking into a moment shaped by injuries, internal conflict, and a debut that highlighted exactly why Stephen A.’s report hit so hard.