NFL insider Albert Breer has had his say on Shedeur Sanders’ latest run-in with the law. The Cleveland Browns quarterback was recently caught traveling 101mph, 41mph over the speed limit, in the second such incident involving the player in less than two weeks.
In an article for Sports Illustrated, Breer labelled Sanders’ actions “a dumb mistake,” and suggested it’s the player’s situation that makes it a bigger issue.
Albert Breer Shares Balanced Stance on Shedeur Sanders’ Speeding Controversy
If Sanders was out to prove his doubters wrong, he has, so far, failed miserably. The quarterback faced accusations of being brash and arrogant pre-draft; accusations that were aggressively shot down by those who believed in him. The player’s actions in recent weeks, though, have been those of the spoilt, rich kid his doubters thought he was, not the dedicated, disciplined leader he claimed to be.
Young men make mistakes, though, and there is plenty of time for Sanders to recover from his early slip-ups. In Breer’s article, the insider suggested that the quarterback’s conduct was nothing outlandish, but that he should have known better.
“Shedeur Sanders driving 101 miles per hour, in a vacuum, is just a young kid making a dumb mistake. No one needs to get indignant over it. But given the searing spotlight on him, and all the other stuff that normally doesn’t come with a fifth-round pick, and the prior speeding offense that was uncovered, it’s safe to say the incident wasn’t what the Browns were looking for.”
Sanders has brought a huge amount of media attention with him to Cleveland, something teams were no doubt wary of when choosing to pass on the player in late April.
Sanders’ “Culture” Claims Starting to Look Hollow
Sanders began life with his new team as the default fourth-string quarterback on the roster. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett were brought in to potentially lead the team, while Dillon Gabriel was drafted two rounds ahead of his new teammate. Despite reports of some impressive camp displays, the former Colorado prospect’s real battle was always going to be to prove his ability as a leader.
In his pre-draft interview at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Sanders made a bold statement regarding his character. With a confident grin on his face, he declared that he would change the culture of whichever team drafted him. Getting caught speeding twice in two weeks, less than two months after the draft, is an embarrassing way to start for the rookie.
The rookie appeared at teammate David Njoku’s charity softball game not long after his second speeding incident. The quarterback stated to a camera that he is a young man who would learn his lesson, but was smiling a laughing throughout. It’s unclear what the Browns organization feels about the situation involving Sanders, but he’ll need to show some maturity soon if he is to stay in Cleveland.