CLEVELAND, Ohio — When the Browns started Shedeur Sanders during Friday’s preseason game, Sanders’ fans were picking flower petals. You know the old routine.
They love me; they love me not. The Browns sit Sanders; they’re holding him back. They play him; they don’t give him enough help (most of Cleveland’s starters rested Friday).
Wait. That’s not how you play.
Too bad. Sanders’ supporters, who have followed the star passer from Colorado to Cleveland, throw both rules and petals out the window when it comes to their prized rookie.
Even if the Browns love Sanders — and they say many nice things about him — they haven’t proven it to his “Legendary” fan club. And its overzealous online presence is making Cleveland’s quarterback competition look messier than it is.
The pro-Sanders arguments hinge on the premise that he was, indeed, a first-round talent, never mind his actual draft position or that some scouting reports painted him as a Day 2 pick. In his fan base’s hive mind, Sanders’ fall to the fifth round was based more on “haters” or front-office hubris than shaky combine interviews or questions concerning arm strength and high sack totals. And from this perspective, the Browns do look funny right now.
Who would draft a Day 3 prospect (Dillon Gabriel) in the third round over a franchise talent? And who would make said first-round talent watch drills from the back of every practice line? What are the dysfunctional Browns doing?
The simple answer: Sanders ranks fourth on Cleveland’s initial quarterback depth chart because he’s competing with two veterans (Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett) with more Week 1 readiness and one fellow rookie (Dillon Gabriel) who was drafted over 50 spots ahead of him.
But Sanders looked good on Friday!
Yes, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards (six yards per attempt) and two touchdown passes ... in a Week 1 preseason game. He led three touchdown drives, two of which started in Carolina territory and all of which came against the Panthers’ backup units. And let’s be clear: What we’re doing here is contextualizing Sanders’ performance, not hating on it.
Honestly, I like Sanders’ game. I think his persona is misunderstood. I believe he will start for the Browns at some point this season.
But right now, he’s still ranks fourth on the depth chart and second in his own rookie class. Say what you want about Gabriel — I think Sanders throws a better ball, too — but Gabriel arrived in Cleveland with a better understanding of this offense’s complicated concepts. At this (very early) stage of rookie development, coaches value schematic knowledge and ball placement on similar planes.
And by the way, Gabriel should be ahead of Sanders in this regard. The former Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF starter played more college games than any other player in history. He’s 14 months older than the Colorado star. This. Is. No. Knock. Against. Sanders.
Yawn. Sanders stans lack the appetite for nuance. They want to see him flexing his wrist after touchdowns, and they want to see it now. Actually, they deserve to see it. Sanders has already earned his chance in their minds.
And no matter how his situation unfolds, they will frame it in a matter that flatters him and flames Cleveland.
Sanders plays and succeeds? Fans were right all along. The Browns should’ve played him sooner.
Sanders plays and fails? The Browns are dumb. They shouldn’t have rushed him into a bad situation.
Sanders sits, Browns succeed? Selfish. Cleveland is robbing Sanders of the spotlight he deserves.
Sanders sits, Browns fail? Malpractice. Cleveland could save its season by placing Sanders under center.
The saga is only four months old, and it’s already exhausting.
Of course, the Browns invited this commotion onto their own front lawn. By picking Sanders in the fifth round of April’s draft, Cleveland extracted value from the 144th pick. But it also injected first-round rookie scrutiny into a quarterback room with no such pedigree. And Cleveland’s quarterback track record doesn’t inspire confidence that it will choose the right starter.
This I can say with certainty, however: Until Cleveland names Sanders their starter, his fans will clamor every for every rep he doesn’t get. They’ll say he deserves Flacco’s, or Pickett’s or Gabriel’s job. And nobody will be able to convince them otherwise.
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