Colin Cowherd has always been consistent regarding how he feels quarterbacks should carry themselves as figureheads of NFL organizations. So, as you would expect, Cowherd didn’t love Shedeur Sanders confronting ESPN Cleveland host Tony Grossi after his first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Sanders proved a majority of his doubters wrong last Friday night against the Panthers, looking poised and in control in the three quarters of action he received in the game. The overwhelming consensus from most media members coming out of the game was that Sanders at least deserves another opportunity to continue to show that he deserves not only a spot on the team’s 53-man roster, but perhaps even as the team’s starter to begin the 2025 season.
However, for as much talent as Sanders showed on the field, some, including Cowherd, seemingly believe that his postgame interaction with Tony Grossi shows that there may still be some maturity concerns that perhaps could limit how high Sanders will be able to climb up the Browns quarterback depth chart.
“There is a video, and it’s not hostile, of Shedeur Sanders, making a point after his first preseason game, of finding a very popular local guy. Tony Grossi. He’s a talk show host, very popular guy,” said Cowherd. “I don’t listen to a lot of Cleveland radio, but I know who he is. Very, very popular. And again, it’s not ugly. And I do think Shedeur is a good kid. I question his judgment and maturity. But they kind of laugh in the end. It’s fine. But this thing is like, Shedeur, what are you doing? Get out of there. I don’t want you watching Tony Grossi TikTok clips.
“Don’t look for sympathy and support from local radio guy. Watch film.”@colincowherd talks about Shedeur Sanders confronting a reporter after his preseason debut pic.twitter.com/JANWU0DE2Y
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 11, 2025
Cowherd would go on to explain how he believes that Sanders has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. But due to the fact that he doesn’t exactly have the physical tools of someone like Josh Allen, he has to be extraordinary with his decision making and preparation, which Cowherd isn’t sold on yet.
“I think his traits, the arm, the size, the mobility, they are all to be a mid-tier NFL quarterback. Dak Prescott level. I think he throws a better ball than Dak. But he’s not great at them. He’s not Cam (Newton), he’s not Big Ben, he’s not Josh Allen, he’s not (Patrick) Mahomes, he’s not (Matthew) Stafford. So he’s gonna have to be better in the other 30 to 40 percent of quarterback play, which is maturity, focus, IQ, film study, pre-snap excellence.
“By the way, Tom Brady’s traits, doesn’t move at all, doesn’t have a huge arm. Tom is the best ever at the other stuff. Dak Prescott is a C+ throwing the ball in the pocket downfield guy. Dan Mullen, his college coach said that. But Dak is A+++ leadership, IQ, at the podium, film study, pre-snap. Dak is great. If you are not outstanding at the trait stuff. And I like Shedeur, but he is not. I do think his accuracy is an excellent trait. I’ll even argue with Greg Cosell, I think he throws a beautiful, catchable ball. He’s an easy thrower. He’s not Deion, but he moves well. Shedeur had a good game.
“I’m tired of Cleveland fans saying, ‘Colin, you are making a lot of this little stuff.’ Yeah, that’s what you said about Johnny Manziel, and Baker Mayfield, and Deshaun Watson’s court stuff in Houston. How about you sit this one out Browns fans. You are 0/3 on it’s a no big deal. The speeding tickets, his own GM called him dumb. This right here. Shedeur, you are a good kid. Get out of there. Don’t look for sympathy and support from a local radio guy, watch film. And again, it’s not the end of the world. He is a good kid. But the judgement thing is going to have to be exceptional.”
Some of what Cowherd had to say here is fair. Sanders isn’t the most gifted athlete at the quarterback position. So he will indeed need to make up for that by making smart decisions under center.
However, there is certainly an argument that Cowherd is blowing this interaction with Grossi out of proportion. Grossi himself said on Monday that he was the one who approached Sanders, not the other way around. And it was largely a brief interaction that never got all that heated.
Ultimately, whether Cowherd thinks so or not, Sanders’ play on the field was the lasting moment to come from Friday night, not the interaction between he and Grossi after the game. And based on the limited number of snaps Sanders has seen thus far, he could very well carve out a nice career for himself, whether that be in Cleveland or elsewhere.