Many of the QB competitions around the league are for the backup job, but in Cleveland, the Browns still need to find their starter. With preseason and training camp underway, many fans want something new and exciting as their starter, and the player who fits that bill on the roster is Shedeur Sanders.
If the Browns are not competing in 2026, as some of the team’s decisions this offseason suggest, it makes sense to choose Sanders as the starter. Also, it seems Browns fans are over one of their former starters: Deshaun Watson.
Shedeur Sanders Says He Does Not “Respect” the Boos Deshaun Watson Received
It’s a heated position battle between Sanders, Watson, and other QBs on the roster, but it has really come down to only two players. Sanders has been doing well this offseason, and although he wasn’t incredible last season, the positive moments he had were a good sign. Then, for Watson, he used to be a really good QB in this league, but it’s been a long time since then.
The new coaching staff led by Todd Monken needed to see these players go out there and prove it, so when Watson went in today after Sanders, he was given his chance, and it wasn’t great. Throughout, Brown’s fans booed after Watson’s mistakes, including an interception. According to Browns reporter, Ashley Bastock, Sanders said that he doesn’t “like or respect” the boos against Watson.
After this statement, the NFL fans had their reactions:
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One fan expressed appreciation for what Sanders said and also pointed out that every player should follow what the young QB did. The fan wrote, “At the end of the day, I appreciate Sanders for sticking up for his teammates (which is what every player should do).”
At the end of the day, I appreciate Sanders for sticking up for his teammates (which is what every player should do) https://t.co/8QlLtPtlI8
— Curt (@curtiss_brown21) August 22, 2026
Another account praised Sanders for his comments, “As he should say!!! Good job nephew!!! Always a class act.”
One Browns fan simply said, “Very classy”.
Very classy https://t.co/97Sy94StKF
— Alex Y (@AlexH0128) August 22, 2026
A Browns fan joined the praise of Sanders, while also explaining that the fan base is against Watson, “Stand Up Young Man. Cleveland hates him though”.
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Another fan said a similar explanation, understanding where Sanders was coming from, but explaining that the fans booed for a reason, “He doesn’t have to like or respect it. But it isn’t undeserved.”
He doesn’t have to like or respect it. But it isn’t undeserved.
— Les Browns en 🇫🇷 (@BrownsFrance) August 22, 2026
One fan took an entirely different route, stating that if Sanders performs as Watson did, the fans will boo him instead: “They’ll be booing you too, Shedeur, if you’re as bad as Watson is.”
Booing and sports go hand in hand, but when it happens, there is usually a reason why. For a player, it’s probably horrible to hear, but Brown’s fans have been through it, and Watson has not fixed their issues since coming to Cleveland. The last time Watson was at QB was in 2024, and in those seven games, he finished 40th, the worst ranking, in PFN’s QB Impact Metric.
For Sanders, he said the exact correct thing, defending his teammate even though they are in a position battle.
