Shilo Sanders is making headlines, and not for the right reasons. What began as support for his brother, Shedeur Sanders, quickly turned into controversy after sexist remarks directed at Cleveland Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot.
Now, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho has weighed in, calling the comments out of bounds while offering some pointed advice to the younger Sanders.
Emmanuel Acho Says Shilo Sanders’ Comments Were “Out of Bounds,” Urges Him to Be Careful
Following the Browns’ minicamp, Cabot reported that veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson was viewed as the favorite to start in Week 1 over Sanders. That sentiment has been echoed around the league, with Cabot urging the team to name Watson QB1 early to allow the first-team offense to build chemistry.
Shilo did not take kindly to the report, posting a now-deleted comment: “Go make a sandwich, Mary.”
He later doubled down during a livestream, accusing Cabot of having a “negative agenda” against his brother.
“If you’re gonna be a reporter, be a reporter and report facts,” Shilo said. “Whenever you have your opinion, and your opinion is always something hateful to Shedeur, then it makes it seem like it’s something weird, it’s like some agenda that you have going on.”
He also accused Cabot of being emotional in her reporting. However, Acho pushed back on that idea, noting that she was simply relaying a widely held league perspective: that whichever quarterback starts should get meaningful first-team reps before the season.
“If you are getting into the TV game, getting into the podcast game, especially if you are yet to accomplish anything in the TV or podcast game, be mindful of who you make an enemy before you create allies,” Acho said in a recent segment of the “Speakeasy” show. “Using phrases that are misogynistic, saying someone to make you a sandwich, and implying she’s too emotional… just for what?”
Acho also emphasized Cabot’s credibility and standing in the industry before urging Shilo to tread carefully.
“Also, Shilo, Mary Kay is better at what she does than you are at what you do,” Acho added. “You’re still ascending, you got one of the greatest personalities in my mind on television for a young dude, you could be a star in this game. But just tread carefully.”
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Shilo previously signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but did not make the 53-man roster and was later released. He has not signed with another team since and appears to be exploring opportunities in digital media.
Acho believes he has the potential to succeed, but made it clear that tearing others down, especially with comments like these, is not the way forward.
