No rookie had a more turbulent start to his NFL career this year than Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The controversy surrounding his name began during the pre-draft process, with the narrative of his fall to the fifth round and the backlash over his reported behavior in team interviews.
And just when it seemed like the drama had cooled down, Sanders was fined for a traffic violation, caught driving 101 mph, 41 miles over the speed limit. Amid the criticism, Skip Bayless, one of Sanders’ most vocal supporters, offered some honest advice to the young quarterback during his show.
Shedeur Sanders’ Off-Field Issues Could Take Away His Opportunity With Browns, NFL
Since the draft process began, it became clear that Sanders had a target on his back unlike any other rookie. As a result of the early fame he inherited from his father, Deion Sanders, the pressure on the young quarterback set a different standard for evaluating his success and value in the NFL, a fact highlighted by his unexpected slide in the draft.
Reports of arrogance during team meetings and claims that he was unprepared in many interviews raised concerns about his professionalism. After not being selected in the first four rounds, it was expected that the experience would humble him. Although his early training sessions were promising, another off-field issue quickly brought negative attention back to him.
The speeding ticket issued to Sanders for driving well over the speed limit might seem minor at first. Still, it reflects a level of irresponsibility that franchises won’t tolerate, especially from a quarterback, who is expected to be the team’s leader. Bayless, one of Sanders’ biggest fans, acknowledged this and offered the rookie some sincere advice to possibly change his approach in the NFL.
“Shedeur, you gotta be driven, man. This is it. This is your shot. It’s gonna come and it’ll go. I believe in you with all my heart and soul. You’re a tough young man. You took so much punishment over the last two years, so much punishment,” Bayless said.
“You showed me real mental and physical toughness. You have big-time ability and command of that position. Deadly accurate, plenty of arm, clutch. You got the whole package, Shedeur. Think. Make some, at least, mental signs. You just can’t, you can’t do that, or you’re gonna wind up back home with your dad. You’re better than that.”
The reality for Sanders is now the same as it is for every quarterback in the NFL: Teams don’t want their quarterbacks making headlines for off-the-field issues. While no franchise wants any player to become a problem, there’s even less tolerance when it comes to quarterbacks, who serve as the face of the team on and off the field.
Sanders is currently in the middle of a battle for the starting quarterback job, and reports indicate he’s at the bottom of the depth chart, behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel. At this point, Sanders may not be fighting for the starting role, but rather for a spot on the final roster. Stacking off-field concerns could give the franchise one more reason to reconsider keeping him in 2025.