CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! I hope you enjoyed last night's game, and wanted to offer some thoughts...
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Things are getting complicated for Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
It appeared that the Browns' depth chart at quarterback was pretty much set: Flacco as starter, Pickett behind him, and the two rookies (Gabriel and Sanders) behind Pickett based on their draft positions. The Browns had pretty consistently stuck to that pattern throughout training camp.
Then, injuries to both Pickett and Gabriel knocked the plans askew, allowing Sanders to start with the rest of the second-teamers against the Panthers in the Browns' preseason opener.
So, Sanders got his chance. And he took advantage.
The rookie looked calm and controlled last night, operating the Browns' offense effectively, getting into and out of huddles and distributing the ball. This is what Stefanski wanted to see. He got his wish.
The moment wasn't too big for the Browns' rookie QB as he went 14-of-23 for 138 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 106.8. Perhaps most importantly, he operated without sacks until protected by the third team, which helped address a concern about his ability to dispose of the ball quickly and display pocket awareness.
A couple of throws during the game displayed Sanders' terrific accuracy, notably the first touchdown to Kaden Davis, as the rookie quarterback captured the attention of both local and national television audiences.
There's no way to look at Sanders' debut as anything but promising.
The question, of course, becomes "what happens next?" Stefanski was badgered by reporters afterwards about whether reps will be split up differently and whether there will be changes to the depth chart. The Browns head coach was his usual evasive self, yet the questions kept coming. When the Browns return to practice on Monday, all eyes will be on which quarterback plays when, and with which team. It's guaranteed that whatever the coaches do will be criticized.
Shedeur Sanders
Cue the Nike commercial... (Photo: Getty)
The complaints about the Browns' approach at the quarterback position from Sanders' many fan advocates will only get louder now. The direction, based on comments to our post-game show on YouTube, appears to be that Sanders fans will go after anyone in the media whose praise is not effusive enough for their liking. Some will bend to this, some will not.
I suspect that Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will not adjust their depth chart and distribution of reps to their liking, either. Gabriel and Pickett will both be given chances against the NFL's top defense in next week's scrimmages and game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Their performances will be subjected to the same biases and scrutiny as Sanders'.
I'm fully aware that we'll see some over-the-top reactions from the usual attention-seeking suspects in the broadcast media (Skip Bayless has already spoken out). The TV commentators (Chris Rose and Joe Thomas) were positively giddy throughout the broadcast. There are even anonymous sources saying happy things.
Text from a high-ranking AFC North executive on #Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders: “It’s early, but wow. Actually shocked at how good he looks.” https://t.co/sb5xKB63sA
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 9, 2025
When the excess enthusiasm arrives, I will, in the back of my mind, remember that Sanders' performance was technically sound, but mainly came against backup players for the league's worst defense in 2024. So, I'm not going to crown Sanders the next Tom Brady just yet. I'm old enough to remember similar encouraging pre-season performances by such luminaries as Brady Quinn. Feel free to lambaste my hesitancy in the comments.
But I want to see more. Everyone wants to see more.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
OBR STUFF
VIDEOS
Browns Preseason Pregame Show Part One - (youtube.com)
The OBR Cleveland Browns Postgame Show - (youtube.com)
ARTICLES
Cleveland Browns Daily News Ticker 8/8 - Barry
Browns Joe Flacco Confident that He can Still Play at a High Level: "I Can Do It" - Fred
Browns Shedeur Sanders Gets First Chance to Make a Good Impression: What are the Realistic Expectations? - Fred
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 8/8: The Pre-Season Begins - Barry
Cleveland Browns Expected to Give Shedeur Sanders Big Workload Tonight - Jacob
Cleveland Browns Snap Counts vs Carolina Panthers & Quick Takeways - Jack
FORUM POSTS
Preseason games, potential cuts, and scouting (VIP)
draft picks to get Parsons (VIP)
Judkins-Legal (VIP)
LIVE: VIP Game Thread for Browns-Panthers 8825 (VIP)
Re-sign Jed Wills then trade
LiveWire Thread for 8/8 - Preseason Game 1
Fred previews tonight's game on WTAM
Invite a special guest to practice
Off The Leash with a guest appearance by Fred!
What do you want to see tonight in Preseason Game One?
What do you want to see tonight in Preseason Game One?
OT - Kudos to Chewy
GAME THREAD: Preseason week 1 vs. Panthers
RiP Jim Lovell
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
Jim Lovell, commander of NASA's Apollo 13 moon mission, dies at 97 - (space.com)
"Houston, we've had a problem" - Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell, who died yesterday at 97, got into space four times, most famously for his role in helping to salvage the Apollo 13 mission, which was later portrayed on movie screens around America. Their intended time on the moon was interrupted by an explosion in an oxygen tank, forcing the astronauts and Mission Control to scramble to return the astronauts safely. The resulting actions they took not only saved their lives but also taught NASA a lot about how to handle unexpected events.
What a life well-lived.
WRAPPING UP
*When not insufficiently effusive, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled. *
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