Hall of Fame cornerback and current Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders recently appeared at the Cleveland Browns’ training camp. Some thought that was a bad look because Deion’s son, Shedeur Sanders, is currently competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job.
Of course, not everyone agrees that Deion should have stayed far away from the team’s training camp, even those closely associated with Watson.
Deshaun Watson’s QB Coach Downplays Deion Sanders’ Camp Appearance
Is it really a big deal that a father showed up to his son’s training camp? Especially when that dad also happens to be a legend of the game?
Not according to Watson’s QB coach, Quincy Avery, who thinks any criticism toward the Sanders family and the Browns is overblown in this case.
“Dog practice is over,” Avery said. “Man’s can’t talk ball with his son?”
Dog practice is over. Man’s can’t talk ball with his son? https://t.co/DFqpVIAsdh
— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) July 31, 2026
First-year Browns head coach Todd Monken has made it abundantly clear that all QBs on Cleveland’s roster are getting a fresh start; that includes the former Pro Bowler in Watson and the 2025 fifth-round pick in Sanders.
Cleveland likely just wants the best man to separate itself from the competition and likely couldn’t care less how that gets accomplished. Clearly, Watson’s own QB coach doesn’t think this is an issue, so why should anyone else?
For Watson, any noise could possibly serve as additional motivation. Sanders’ presence in the QB conversation would only further fuel Watson’s drive to prove himself to the Browns.
Watson has faced far more criticism in his career than anything he’ll endure this summer competing with Sanders. Eventually, all that outside noise has to get tuned out in the heat of the battle.
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As an athlete who’s played seven NFL seasons and has been at the center of controversy, Watson understands backlash more than anyone. Now he just has another reason to bond with the Sanders family, giving the Browns’ QB room something else to laugh about.
By all appearances, Watson and Sanders have maintained a friendly competition all along. It’s not about defeating the other; it’s about helping the Browns become the best team possible.
If that’s Sanders, then so be it, but just like Watson would, he’ll have to earn it out on the field.
