CLEVELAND, Ohio — [Browns](https://www.cleveland.com/browns/) quarterback Shedeur Sanders took questions from reporters on Wednesday with regard to his Week 12 performance, preparing for the 49ers, Kevin Stefanski, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
**So, when you went back and kind of looked back at the game, what were the things that you took away from it, you said, you know, I really like what I did here and really feel like this is things I needed to really work on and progress on.**
“I was really thankful for being out there, of course. And it’s everything, you know, in the midst of a game that you could progress on. When it comes to, like, even footwork, when you hand the ball off, locating defenders, understand that the windows do close a little bit quicker, there’s a lot of things that you could go back in a game and look back and want to redo.”
**Shedeur, you were kind of joking after the game, like, you know, wait till I get a full off season… but now, another week as starting quarterback…**
“Yeah, that was just jokes, man. A lot of people took that out of context. But you gotta understand, the past six, seven months been hard. So, I wanna definitely be thankful that I am able to work out with those guys and knowing I do have a great defense and knowing I came this far. So, I was truly amazed. I was truly happy, of course, in that moment that the work has been paying off, but I’m not comfortable.”
**I say that all to say, like, what can we reasonably expect from you in your second start? What do you kind of expect from yourself in the second start?**
“I expect to do my job.”
**Shedeur, you did allude to after the game, kind of for the first time, just how hard these past six months really has been for you, which for the most part, you put on a happy face for us, and you had that smile and you had that great attitude and everything, but this was a lot harder on you, wasn’t it than you really let on. And why and how are you able to just not show it as much as you did?**
“Well, first and foremost, I got God. So, through that, he’s able to protect me through everything. But we’re in a good moment now, you know, and I don’t like looking back. I don’t like looking back at the past and how I was feeling in that moment or however it was, because I’m here now, so I don’t ever dwell on the past and things that happened before.”
**Shedeur, how have you been able to gel with some of these guys, the more reps you get, physical reps. I know you’ve been taking mental reps, and you’ve been doing that throughout the year. But to have these physical reps, does it feel like you’re getting a better connection with everybody?**
“Yeah, of course. Day by day, minute by minute, meeting by meeting. Of course, I’m getting a little bit more comfortable and like being in that role, being in that position, they’re getting more comfortable with me also. So, I’m excited, I’m happy for it. And I’m just thankful.”
**Shedeur with Harold (Fannin Jr.) and seeing the yards after the catch, he’s able to pick up like, what’s that like for you as a quarterback? And Dylan Sampson made the comment that Harold just never quits on a play. So, what’s that like to be out there with him?**
“Nah, it’s great to be out there with Harold. I know all the receiving corps, that’s the goal is to get YAC, yards after catch. So, I think he set an example. He set the bar high for us in this team.”
**Shedeur, no Cleveland Browns quarterback has ever won his first two starts. Does it surprise you and how do you feel?**
“I don’t really go off analytics and all that stuff. And it really doesn’t matter to me, honestly. I’m focused on what I could do and what I could control.”
**You could be the first.**
“I always wish the best, you know, and I do everything I can for this team and for everybody. But I got a great defense, got a great team, got great receivers. So, I’m just thankful.”
**Shedeur, to hit that early big play to Isaiah (Bond), the 52-yarder help you? And then did you notice the effect that it seemed to have on the rest of the team?**“Well, it’s about belief. The reason why I am so confident in the way I am is the guys around believe. So that’s what’s most important within having a team, within having an offense, within having to have a sport. You know, you gotta have guys that believe. And I’m fully confident in myself throughout everything, and I’m confident in my team and I’m sure they confident in me also.”
**I know you got a taste of it coming off the bench against the (Baltimore) Ravens, but what do you think the first start at home in front of that crowd is going to feel like?**
“I feel like it’ll be fun. I feel like it’ll be very fun. You got to understand right now I’m in grind mode, mentally understanding how to attack this defense that we’re going against. And they’re a great team. They got great coaches, everything. But that’s where I am mentally right now.”
**Hey Shedeur, not from you, but all your supporters out there say that Kevin Stefanski was sabotaging you.**
“So, you just want to start trouble, huh?”
**No, I want to ask you what your relationship with him is.**
“Yeah, well, what people do outside the building isn’t really in my control. It’s not in my power. So, I don’t…you act, like, I go out there and tell them to do whatever, you know, that’s nothing I can control or nothing I could do. But overall, I’m just happy to be here. Coach Stefanski been coaching since I got here, and he’s been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on.”
**But what is your relationship like with him when we don’t see you guys together?**
“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, so I’m just thankful to be here.”
**Shedeur, obviously you had a conversation with Kevin about remaining the starter earlier this week. Just what was that moment like for you? Because you talked about the work you put in those six months to get to the point to just start, but to know that you not only got that opportunity, but you did enough to keep the job. What was that like for you?**
“Well, I’d say I’m definitely not comfortable, though. So that’s first and foremost that I have another opportunity to go out there. But in life, you gotta understand how quickly things come or how long it comes. It could be taken at any point in time. So, I’m never comfortable in the situation I’m in. I always want to exceed expectations, and I always want to grow. You know, in each and every week, I will want to put a better product of myself, be a better version of myself for the team to be out there.”
**With Dylan Sampson, how have you seen him handle this year? He kind of got off to a slow start and then seems to be coming out, obviously made that huge play for you Sunday.**
“Dylan’s been the same all year, mentally, so you wouldn’t even know unless you look at the numbers. So he has good energy, good everything when he’s out there. So, yeah.”
**Shedeur, how do you feel about the fact you just brought this spark back to Cleveland? I know a lot of the young fans really look up to you and rally behind you. Now you have the whole city rallying behind you for the upcoming game this Sunday. Just how does that make you feel about all of that?**
“It is great, honestly, but like I said, I’m not comfortable. As quick as things come, it could leave at any point in time. So that don’t really catch my focus or that’s not really in my focus or my plans. You know, I’m thankful for everybody and whoever supports, but, you know, I’m focused on getting this team some wins.”
**Shedeur, it’s not often that the president of the United States shouts out an NFL player. So, for you to get a, ‘I told you so’ from the President of the United States, what did that mean to you this week?**
“Yeah, he definitely been a supporter, for a minute. So, I’m just thankful for him for even taking time out of his day to be able to speak out and support.”
**Shedeur, obviously unfortunate circumstances for why Dillon Gabriel lost the starting job last week with the concussion, but now that he’s back, just how has he sort of showed support for you already this week as you guys get ready for the game?**
“Yeah, definitely. He’s a hard worker. He’s the same guy. I feel like a lot of people in this locker room, he’s the same within every situation they’re in. You understand? He spent a lot of years in college, so he got experience in a lot of different areas and a lot of different people. So, he knows how to, like, bond and mesh with different people. So, since he been back, he been good. He been good. He’s been cool throughout everything.”
**Specifically with Ethan (Pocic), just, you know, quarterback, center, that’s such an important connection. Can you kind of describe how that’s grown over the last couple of weeks?**
“The connection definitely grown, I’ll say. I’m thankful to have him out there. He makes life easier for me. And he’s a smart person, smart player. So, that’s definitely a relief when he’s out there with me.”
**Shedeur, how’s it feel to be a part of – we’ve talked so much about this rookie class and now you’re contributing as part of it. Just how do you look at this entire group and you being part of it?**
“Yeah, I’m just thankful Andrew Berry made the choices he made and the coaching staff for getting us all here. I feel like it’s a great class. We all bond together. We’re all like family, so I’m just thankful that we’re all here together, and I know it’s going to be very exciting, and you have high expectations for us, we’re here to exceed those.”
**What do you see from San Francisco’s defense, when you watch them on tape and you’re getting ready for the game, not trying to ask you to give away the game plan but you know what do you see when you look at that 49ers defense?**
“They’re a well-coached team, honestly. They rush the passer very good, they’re great in coverage, have great disguises overall they know how to give pressure to the quarterback so they’re a great all-around defense. You know we know they’re going to have some different you know cooking for us but just going out there even having this opportunity, to go out there and study them and be able to go on the field is cool. It’s very cool so I’m just thankful for it.”
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