Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski had a decision to make inside the locker room following their 24-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Stefanski had to select between rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and defensive end Myles Garrett to hand the 'Game Ball,' given to that individual who made the most noteworthy contribution in the win.
On one hand, there was Sanders, who made his maiden NFL start and registered a win, becoming the first Browns quarterback since 1995 to lead the team to a win in his first game. Sanders went 11 of 20 for 209 yards, including one touchdown and one interception.
On the other hand, there was Myles Garrett, who recorded three sacks in the game. The Browns, in total, recorded 10 sacks. He also registered a season-high 18 sacks this year.
Stefanski gave the 'Game Ball' to Garrett, which landed him in trouble with former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco.
Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco blast Kevin Stefanski for snubbing Shedeur Sanders
In their latest Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco sang in one tune while calling out Kevin Stefanski for overlooking Shedeur Sanders to hand the 'Game Ball.'
Sharpe and Ocho both acknowledged that Sanders was neither the owner's nor the head coach's priority, but still, the rookie should have gotten that 'Game Ball.'
"I just, I don't get it, Ocho," Sharpe said. "Sometimes you gotta coach your team, sometimes you gotta fool them. Sometimes you gotta lie to your team, yeah. Even if you don't want to do it, even if you want Dylan Gabriel, you want to commit to him, I get all that. I get the semantics, I get the scheme of it. ‘Oh, I don't want them to know who we're starting. I want them to prepare for both,’ knowing damn well Dylan Gabriel ain't gonna see that field anytime soon. I get all of that, right?
"But this notion that this thing is even close… this notion that this was just a ho-hum performance? The guy got no snaps with the players he was out there with today until Wednesday of last week, and he does that, on the road, in a hostile environment. And all you got for him… is that?"
Shannon Sharpe and Ochocinco go off on the Browns’ coach for not giving Shedeur Sanders the game ball
(Via: Nightcap) pic.twitter.com/zNcHoXkppf
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) November 24, 2025
Meanwhile, Stefanski has not commented whether he'll continue to start Shedeur Sanders even over healthy Dillon Gabriel, who is currently in concussion.
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