Deion Sanders says he cried tears of joy when he heard Shedeur Sanders got his first reps with Browns
After weeks of waiting, Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders finally got his opportunity. Following an injury to fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, Sanders was pressed into action during the Browns' Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Sanders' father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, wasn't at the game to see his son get his first regular-season NFL snaps. Instead, Deion was at a coaching clinic Sunday.
But we do know how Deion reacted upon hearing Shedeur was entering the game. While doing a Q&A at the clinic Sunday, Deion revealed he was crying tears of joy when he was informed Shedeur was finally getting snaps.
Deion said his son Deion Jr. called to inform the coach that Shedeur was coming into the game. Deion said he was in tears on the phone, according to TMZ.
"I was in tears. [Deion Jr.] called me screaming," Sanders said. "'Man, I'm crying right now. Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone.'"
Shedeur's first taste of a regular-season NFL game didn't go so well. The rookie completed just 4-of-16 passes for 47 yards and no touchdowns. He threw an interception and fumbled in the contest, which the Browns ended up losing 23-16.
Cleveland actually had a 16-10 lead when Shedeur entered the game. But the team couldn't hold it the rest of the way. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points to pick up the win.
Shedeur and the Browns had a shot to tie things up with just over two minutes to play, but could not convert a fourth down with 1:02 left, essentially ending the game.
Despite Shedeur's struggles, he said after the game that he was confident the Browns were going to tie things up at the end.
Sheduer didn't shy away from his numbers after the loss, telling reporters, "I don't think I played good at all."
After sustaining a concussion in Week 11, Gabriel's status is unknown moving forward. That could lead to Shedeur receiving more playing time, and maybe even starting against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.
Following his rough debut, Shedeur will have plenty to work on leading up to Sunday's game. Having a full week to prepare as the team's starter would likely benefit Shedeur ... and potentially ensure Deion is in attendance the next time his son takes the field.
Adam Peters calls in a familiar face to help repair a mistake at a position the Commanders can't seem to get right
The Washington Commanders have had plenty of issues on their roster dating back to last season, and a majority of them have led to the 3-8 record heading into the bye week.
The team headed back home with their sixth straight loss after falling to the Miami Dolphins thanks to critical mistakes at the end of the game. One issue with the team has been staring them in the face since training camp, and their negligence in the position came back to haunt them on Sunday.
Head coach Dan Quinn wasted no time making a change by releasing Matt Gay on Monday as the bye week kicks off, and general manager Adam Peters called in someone he knows to help fill the roster spot.
Commanders sign kicker Jake Moody to replace Matt Gay
The Commanders refused to bring in any kicking competition before the season, even after watching Gay struggle in training camp and the preseason, and it never got any better during the season. Gay finished his time in Washington kicking at 68.4%, and missed two field goals against the Dolphins, including what would've been the game-winner. Now the Commanders needed a new kicker, and they had a quick response to fill in.
Peters called in Jake Moody and signed him off of the Chicago Bears' practice squad and onto their active roster.
Moody was a third-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, which was Peters' last season there before coming to Washington as the general manager. He struggled with the 49ers before they released him this season, but he actually looked much better with the Bears, and went 8-9 in field goals, including a game-winner over the Commanders.
The Commanders need Jake Moody to be the answer
The Commanders have been through a kicking carousel since Peters and Quinn took over, and for whatever reason, they haven't been able to figure out the kicking position, no matter who they tried. Moody is still only 25 years old until next week, so banking on a younger guy would be the best-case scenario, but that's still a big ask for a player who has had a roller coaster of a career.
Sometimes players need a change of scenery, though, especially kickers, and now Moody has six games after the bye week to audition as the kicker for next season. The Commanders shouldn't draft one since they don't have many picks anyway, so Moody is the right move to make, or they'll bring in another free agent after the season if he doesn't work out either.
