Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Makes Dillon Gabriel Demand After Debut Loss
Shedeur Sanders was not pleased with the treatment Dillon Gabriel received from Cleveland Browns fans on Sunday and called for a change.
Gabriel started Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. He was booed multiple times after incompletions, and the home crowd at Huntington Bank Field even chanted Sanders’ name.
The crowd got what they wished for in the second half. Gabriel was held out with a concussion and Sanders stepped in for his first NFL action. When Sanders took the field for the first time, the stadium erupted.
After the game, Sanders said he is embracing the fans’ enthusiasm but also wants them to lay off Gabriel when he’s in the game.
“Well first let me say this. Dillon’s out there playing and all that, I appreciate the fans. I appreciate everybody, but I’m a good person overall, so I don’t really like him not feeling comfortable, confident when he gets out there,” Sanders said, referencing the boos. “So it puts everything in a tough spot and it’s not helping the team. So that could be taken as, ‘OK, I’m being a distraction even though I ain’t doing nothing,’ You know? I’m not doing nothing.
“But I’m thankful for the supporters, thankful for the fans, thankful for everybody out there that believes. And yeah, when I got out there, I definitely felt them, and I’m truly thankful for it. I’m thankful, seeing all them ’12′ jerseys out there, and it was a great feeling for that.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Upset With Performance
Sanders did not fare well in his debut. He completed just four passes for 47 yards and an interception. He took accountability for his poor play in his postgame press conference.
“Losing isn’t something I’m comfortable with at all. I got to take this one. I got to decompress. I got to understand this really happened on my watch. I don’t like the feeling,” Sanders said. “And I know offensively, if I’m able to get out there and have an opportunity, I know that I’ll be able to take everything to a different level. Like I said, I still have the same confidence. I’m still me. I’ll never go anywhere. … I’m excited for it. I just got to take this one and build on it.”
Sanders had a chance to tie the game and be the hero late. But his deep shot to Gage Larvadain was dropped in the end zone.
“I don’t think there’s a doubt in my mind that that final drive was going to go down there and score. Things happen and we didn’t,” Sanders said. “But I was just excited because I knew what I was going to be able to do out there.”
Dillon Gabriel Will Be Browns’ Starter if Healthy
Gabriel is in concussion protocol. But if he’s healthy, Gabriel will return to his starting role, per head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“Yes,” Stefanski said of Gabriel remaining the starter. “There’s obviously a lot that goes into that protocol. So, we’ll see.”
The Browns face the two-win Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. There’s a chance that Sanders will get a full week of prep and draw the first start of his NFL career. If things go that way, Stefanski is confident the fifth-round rookie will be ready.
“He will improve every day, like he has. He’ll improve every single day. He’ll put the work in like he’s doing,” Stefanski said. “There’s plays I know that he wants back, but he’ll keep working. We have a ton of faith in our players and that includes our starters, our backups, our young guys, our vets. We trust our guys.”
The Browns have opened as three-point underdogs for the Week 12 matchup against the Raiders.
Drew Brees could play a unique role in the Saints beating the rival Falcons in Week 12 without even taking a snap for New Orleans
The New Orleans Saints are well rested after their bye week, but there is plenty of work left to be done this season. Kellen Moore's team won their last game, led by Tyler Shough. Now, they will try to fend off an Atlanta Falcons team that is struggling and may be without their starting quarterback in Week 12.
For a game filled with plenty of emotion, that piece of the puzzle may only get turned up even further. Drew Brees has made his return to announcing NFL games, and it sounds like he may call this Saints-Falcons battle this weekend.
Drew Brees set to call Saints-Falcons matchup for FOX in Week 12
The former Saints QB is an option to be on call for the rivalry matchup after returning to the booth during the Saints' bye week. Brees was met with mixed reviews during his Week 11 performance for the New York Giants-Green Bay Packers game, but he deserves plenty of time to find his football and improve as a broadcaster. Would be a great opportunity for both Brees and Saints fans.
According to Crescent City Sports, Brees will reportedly be in the booth for New Orleans' Nov. 23 game against the Falcons in the Caesars Superdome. That will be finalized and confirmed on Wednesday when the FOX broadcast map is released online. Brees is set to announce alongside Adam Amin, his expected duo for the foreseeable future. Kristina Pink will handle the sideline reporting duties for FOX in those games with them.
With New Orleans as their quarterback, Brees went 16-9 against Atlanta. There were plenty of high-scoring matchups in the series with him as the Saints starter.
Overall in his career, Brees was 19-10 versus the Falcons. Brees totaled a passer rating of 97.1 with 8,695 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions in those matchups.
Now, he will look to bring the Saints a bit of good luck as he continues this new era of his football career. He is surely excited to get another chance in the booth after his first attempt was cut far too short. Make sure to check out the broadcast during this game and give him a listen for a bit of nostalgia.
