BEREA, Ohio — While the NFL world celebrated Shedeur Sanders winning his starting debut against the Raiders — he even got an ‘I TOLD YOU SO!’ shoutout from President Donald Trump — Sanders didn’t get a game ball from Kevin Stefanski after the game.
So why not?
For starters, it wasn’t unprecedented. Stefanski also didn’t give one to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel after he won his first start against the Dolphins on Oct. 19.
What’s more, after the 24-10 victory over the Raiders, Stefanski gave out only one game ball — to Myles Garrett for getting three of the Browns’ 10 sacks on Geno Smith, which gave him a total of 18 to break his own club record of 16.0 in a season.
“I’ve got one ball in my hand,” Stefanski said. “Myles Garrett … he’s gotta get a cold every week. He had a cold this week. He wasn’t feeling himself. Three sacks, which gives him 18 through 11 games. He breaks his own record ...”
He did cite the other outstanding performances in the game, including receiver Gage Larvadain’s 44-yard punt return, punter Corey Bojorquez pinning the Raiders deep, tight end Harold Fannin Jr.’s handful of big plays, and receiver Isaiah Bond’s outstanding 52-yard catch. He didn’t forget his new starting quarterback, saying, “and then another rookie making his first start. Nice job, Shedeur. Well done.”
But he awarded only the one game ball to Garrett, possibly because he wanted the single-season sack record to stand out.
“I mean every game you go into it, you try and just highlight guys, and Myles (Garrett) got a game ball,” Stefanski said Wednesday when asked why Sanders didn’t get one. “I thought (Garrett’s) was probably pretty worthy, but you’re just constantly trying to recognize your guys. We spent time this morning as well pointing out all of our guys and the jobs they did.
“Pointed out Gage having a big punt return, which was huge for our team. Your D-line doesn’t get 10 sacks unless the coverage is really good. Obviously a rookie starting his first game on the road, getting a win is huge. So you acknowledge all that with your team.”
After the Browns’ 31-6 victory over the Dolphins, he didn’t give one to Gabriel either, instead tossing one to Joel Bitonio for setting the Browns record for most starts since they returned in 1999, and rookie running back Quinshon Judkins for scoring three TDs. He also gave one to the entire defense, including coordinator Jim Schwartz, for the dominant performance.
During his mic-stand interview in the locker room on Wednesday, Sanders was asked about all of the internet speculation that Stefanski has been sabotaging him.
“So you just want to start trouble, huh?” he said to the reporter.
The reporter said, ‘“no, I just want to ask you what your relationship with him is.”
Sanders answered, “Yeah, well what people do outside the building isn’t really in my control. It’s not in my power. It’s not like I can go out there and tell them to do whatever. That’s not nothing I can control or nothing I could do. But, overall, I’m just happy to be here. Coach Stefanski, he’s been coaching since I got here and we’ve been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on.”
Pressed on what his relationship is like with him behind the scenes, Sanders said, “Definitely like a coach. He tells me what I need to do on and off the field. We’ve definitely grown. Our relationship and everything has grown. I’m just thankful to be here.”
Stefanski acknowledged last week that he spends one-on-one time in his office with Sanders, going over his practice tape from the day before, especially the “Hungry Dawg” sessions where he runs the Browns offense.
The Browns have also altered their practice schedule this season to get Sanders the extra work he needed in practice so he could be ready for his opportunity. He didn’t get any first-team reps until the week leading up to his first start against the Raiders, but the Browns had him working on a separate field during practice and in the Hungry Dawg periods afterwards to make sure he got plenty of snaps.
He didn’t get a game ball on Sunday, but maybe he’ll earn one this week against the 49ers if he becomes the first Browns quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win his first two starts.
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