Being the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders comes with its perks, but also constant scrutiny. Shedeur Sanders learned that the hard way during the NFL Draft, when reports of unprofessional behavior contributed to his slide to the fifth round.
Just as he was beginning to resemble the quarterback many expected him to be, another off-field issue emerged to cloud his image. Sanders was cited twice for speeding in June. While the offenses are minor, some see them as part of a pattern of unnecessary distractions, including at least one senior NFL analyst.
Mike Florio Says Shedeur Sanders’ Speeding Undermines Post-Draft Progress
Sanders was once in contention to go No. 1 overall before witnessing the most dramatic fall in history. The Browns ended his freefall at No. 144, and the quarterback has since been doing everything right in the offseason programs to remain in conversation for the starting job. That’s until the speeding tickets jeopardized his chances.
Florio believes Sanders should have been the last rookie to do such a thing when the off-field issues had already jeopardized his career.
“I don’t know anything about the circumstances for Shedeur Sanders 101 mph violation in a 60 mph zone but I will say this, of all the incoming rookies in the NFL he’s the last one that should be doing anything that would suggest to anyone he didn’t learn his lesson from his freefall to pick number 144 in the draft,” Florio said on the latest episode of Pro Football Talk.
“If you’re going to sell the idea that he’s all in, he’s fully committed, he’s doing everything necessary to be the best possible version of himself as he can be because he’s learned, then driving 101 miles per hour and getting caught doing it, that that cuts against the vibe that we thought Sanders was currently expressing to the world,” he added.
According to Strongsville, Ohio, police records, an officer stopped Sanders on I-71 North around 12:24 a.m. on June 17. A report states that Sanders was driving 101 mph, 41 miles over the posted speed limit. Sanders was also cited by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on June 5 for speeding.
OSHP reports Sanders was cited for going 91 mph on June 5 in Brunswick Hills, when the posted speed limit was 65. Getting cited twice in two weeks is concerning.
While Sanders has admitted to his mistake, it will make people watch him more carefully and be quicker to judge if he makes mistakes during the training camp.
However, Florio noted that the incident would be a forgotten footnote if Sanders excels whenever he starts for the Browns. If he doesn’t, it will be one of the things the quarterback will regret when looking back at his rookie year.