Shedeur Sanders gets honest about narrative that Kevin Stefanski is 'sabotaging' him
Shedeur Sanders has finally been given an opportunity with the Cleveland Browns, and many are convinced that he was buried on the depth chart for so long because Kevin Stefanski has it out for the former Colorado star. Sanders was asked about that narrative as he prepares to make his second career NFL start.
Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald asked Sanders on Wednesday about the talk that Stefanski has been “sabotaging” Sanders since the Browns drafted the quarterback. Sanders initially accused Schudel of trying to start trouble, but he then answered the question — sort of.
“So you just want to start trouble, huh? What people do outside the building really isn’t in my control. It’s not in my power, so I don’t … you act like I can go out there and tell them to do whatever,” Sanders said. “That’s nothing I can control or nothing I can do. Overall, I’m just happy to be here. Coach Stefanski’s been coaching since I got here, and he’s been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on.”
Schudel then followed up by asking what the relationship between Sanders and Stefanski has been like.
“Definitely like a coach. He tells me what I need to do on and off the field,” Sanders said. “We’ve definitely grown. Our relationship and everything has grown, so I’m just thankful to be here.”
You can hear the exchange at the 1:38 mark:
Shedeur Sanders' NFL career has been far from smooth sailing
The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round this year. Sanders then experienced a stunning slide down the board, so Cleveland decided to take him in the fifth round. A lot of people think Stefanski wanted the team to draft Gabriel but that drafting Sanders two rounds later was largely a front-office decision.
Stefanski then made some questionable moves with Sanders when Sanders was enjoying success during the preseason. It took an injury to Gabriel for Sanders to finally get a chance to play.
Sanders went just 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception after he took over for Gabriel in Cleveland’s 23-16 Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He finished 11-of-20 for 209 yards, a touchdown and an interception while leading the Browns to a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
The Browns are 3-8 and almost certainly going to miss the playoffs again. There has been talk of Stefanski being on the hot seat, and that could potentially impact how Sanders’ future in Cleveland is handled.
Deion Sanders Reflects on Watching Shedeur’s First NFL Win in "Dad Mode"
Deion Sanders is proud of his son, Shedeur Sanders, following his first NFL win as a starting quarterback.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 26, Deion told reporters that Sunday’s Nov. 23, was the first time he’s seen his son play without him being his coach.
“I’ve never seen him play without me coaching him, so that was strange,” the former NFL and MLB star admitted. “But it was good, and it was healthy, because I was just in straight dad mode. I wasn’t in coach mode and I loved that I was able to see him gain the first victory.”
The Cleveland Browns game faced the Las Vegas Raiders, with the Shedeur-led team coming up victorious with a 24-10 score.
“The check down was right there, when you get that right, it’s over,” Deion told Shedeur per Well Off Media. “You played good. You gotta just look at the film and evaluate yourself on what went wrong. You did good, though. I’m proud of you. You’re holding it down for the family.”
Shedeur later shared with CBS Sports during a postgame interview what it meant for him to have his father’s support.
“Dad’s always going to be there,” Shedeur noted in the post-game conversation with the outlet. “Even if everything goes wrong, he’s always going to be there. I’m just thankful that I have both my parents in my life and I have my whole family. That’s what life is about: family.”
Following the game, Shedeur also spoke on those who doubted him. Shedeur started the season as a third-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. After Flacco sustained multiple injuries such as a shoulder injury (AC joint sprain) and a finger injury to his throwing hand, Gabriel became the starting quarterback with Shedeur as a backup. After Gabriel suffered a concussion during the Browns’ Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, it was time for Shedeur to step up in the QB1 position.
“Being a backup and everything, sometimes you have to compromise your personality and change the way you do things, to never step on anybody’s toes,” Shedeur said after his first NFL win. “The fact that I got an opportunity, and I was able to show the organization, show everybody who I really am, it’s truly exciting.
“A lot of people wanted to see me fail, and it ain’t going to happen,” he added. “It ain’t going to happen.”
While Gabriel is cleared to play, Shedeur will be starting Sunday’s home game Nov. 30, against the San Francisco 49ers.
