Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders chose to mime his responses to media questions on Wednesday, a decision reportedly influenced by comments made by former NFL head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan criticized Sanders for his vocal aspirations to be a starting quarterback, stating, “You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback now.” This remark was aired on ESPN’s Get Up earlier in the week. Following this, the Browns made a significant decision, benching veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was selected in the third round of the recent NFL Draft. Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the same draft, remains third on the team’s depth chart.
Prior to Ryan’s comments, Sanders expressed to ESPN Cleveland his belief that he could perform better than several current starting quarterbacks in the league. In the preseason, he had mixed performances, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in one game, but finishing just 3-of-6 for 14 yards in another, with five sacks incurred. Throughout October, Sanders has been practicing alongside Gabriel and Bailey Zappe on the scout team.
The Browns’ offensive struggles were evident, averaging only 279.8 yards and 14.0 points per game in the first four weeks of the season. Although Sanders could potentially see playing time later in the season, Gabriel will remain the starting quarterback for the time being.
- Why it matters:
- The performance and decisions made by Browns quarterbacks can significantly impact the team’s overall offensive strategy and success.
- Sanders’ development and responses to criticism may affect his future opportunities in the league.
- The latest:
- Sanders continues to practice with the scout team as Dillon Gabriel assumes starting duties for the Browns.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25255117-why-shedeur-sanders-mimed-media-reportedly-explained-after-viral-video-rex-ryan
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25255117-why-shedeur-sanders-mimed-media-reportedly-explained-after-viral-video-rex-ryan