Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has become synonymous with controversy, and while he is often a lightning rod for attention, it’s not always his fault.
Sanders made his starting debut in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders and won, 24-10. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t give him a game ball, spurning tradition and fueling another round of social media discourse.
Kevin Stefanski Called Out for Shedeur Sanders Controversy
Among the critics was former All-Pro cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. Sanders kept the offense on track and upset an ill-fated Raiders team. While most aren’t keeping tabs on postgame handouts, many expected Sanders to be a recipient, allowing him to be celebrated by his teammates.
Instead, Stefanski passed on that chance, inviting more discourse.
“The president is talking about Shedeur Sanders,” Jones began. “And for some reason, we can’t even get … Sturs**t to say here is the game ball. You won your first NFL game. Fire his a**.”
Sanders completed 11 of his 20 attempts for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked once and didn’t figure into the ground game. While his 66-yard touchdown pass came almost entirely after the catch, he also had a drive spoiled by a rogue Jerry Jeudy fumble on an explosive play.
Among the 29 qualifiers in Week 12, Sanders’ performance ranked 15th by PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric. That’s a significant improvement from his relief appearance in Week 11, in which he ranked dead last.
Jones continued to comment on Stefanski’s presence.
“First of all, he’s not a players’ coach. He does not have the locker room. Obviously, he does not like this kid,” Jones said.
Stefanski has been suspected of playing favorites in the quarterback room, albeit without much evidence. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel began the year as the second-string quarterback (with Sanders behind him) and subsequently got the first crack at starting when Joe Flacco was traded.
Notably, Gabriel did not receive a game ball for his first win, which occurred back in Week 7.
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“They have lost the last 13 games on the road. And you don’t give him the game ball? I was gonna take the high road on this and say that he could have handled this a little better. …This guy is an a******. … He’s a d**k.”
Jones made his feelings clear on Stefanski, who is feeling the heat amid another lost season. Without a franchise quarterback, he can deflect some blame, but the Browns still have more questions than answers.
If it’s any consolation for Sanders, he was named the starting quarterback for Week 13, earning the green light despite Gabriel clearing concussion protocol. He’ll have another chance to find a win and a game ball against a talented San Francisco 49ers team.
