Even though Week 15 of the regular season is about to start, decisions made by Kevin Stefanski on Shedeur Sanders’ participation in the final minutes of the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Tennessee Titans still resonate.
The quarterback had a generally positive performance in Week 14, completing 26 of 37 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns. After a dip in performance in the third quarter, the QB recovered and had a chance to secure a tie with a two-point conversion. Stefanski made a different play with running back Quinshon Judkins receiving a direct snap. The attempt failed, confirming the defeat.
Cam Newton Claims Kevin Stefanski Is Hindering Shedeur Sanders’ Development
During the ‘4th&1‘ podcast, Cam Newton spoke his mind. He accused Stefanski of sabotaging the rookie QB with decisions that make no sense. The former NFL MVP joined many Browns fans and demanded that the franchise make a firm decision to fire the head coach.
“But how the Cleveland Browns have handled this issue have made matters worse week in and week out. Now all of a sudden you find some type of positivity that we can garner from this season because now instead of saying, ‘Hey, do we have our quarterback?'”
Newton added, “We could potentially start to say, ‘All right, how can we evaluate our quarterback?’ Instead of bringing the media into our issues, even the more you decide to make the most egregious decision of the year.”
“And I don’t get it. You put the ball in a running back’s hand in a most got to have it situation and I get it. If it was the first week, nah. We done seen that happen. If it’s the second week, it’s like, all right, cool. Maybe he not ready still. But you got three weeks or you have had three weeks to implement two-point conversion plays, but also got to have it moments in the game.”
Newton didn’t hold back. “Why would you take a quarterback out? So many head scratches… is it a fireable offense? Hell yeah. I’m doubling down on that,” he said, arguing that if Sanders had failed to meet expectations, the consequences for the rookie would’ve been far harsher.
Sanders and the Browns now try to regroup at 3-10 with Chicago up next. Stefanski accepted the blame postgame, and Sanders handled it professionally, but that hasn’t stopped criticism, with some questioning whether the coach put his job on the line.
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And that’s the Sanders effect. Few quarterbacks on a 3-10 team can generate this kind of firestorm. The rookie continues to flash real upside, and Cleveland will have big decisions to make this offseason. For the record, the rookie also missed his own two-point try earlier, a reminder that the chaos didn’t rest solely on Stefanski’s call.
Stefanski to Remain with Browns Through End of Regular Season
It should be noted that the latest news indicates the Browns (which ranks 32nd in the PFSN Offense Impact metric, earning an F grade) are not considering firing Stefanski at this time.
They will likely keep him as head coach until the end of the regular season. Sanders is also expected to remain the starting quarterback, giving him ample time to improve his game.
With no chance of qualifying for the playoffs, the Browns return to the field Sunday to face the Chicago Bears in Week 15. The regular season still includes games against the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
