Noted talking head Skip Bayless is a believer in Shedeur Sanders‘ potential, but he didn’t hold back when addressing the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback’s recent off-field issues.
Sanders, once considered a surefire first-round pick, saw his draft stock plummet before being selected in the fifth round (No. 144 overall) by the Browns. He’s shown promise early in his NFL journey, impressing during offseason workouts and turning heads with his arm talent and poise.
However, a pair of speeding citations in recent weeks has shifted attention away from his on-field progress and raised questions about his decision-making.
Bayless urged Sanders to refocus and take full advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
“Shedeur, you’ve got to 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.”
Shedeur Sanders Called Out Over ‘Apology’
Sanders did address the speeding incidents in a short clip that circulated on social media.
“I’ve made some wrong choices, personally, I can own up to them. I’ve made some not great choices. I learn from it,” Sanders said in the clip.
Bayless wasn’t buying the apology from Sanders.
“At least, Shedeur could have issued an immediate statement, saying something like: ‘I take full responsibility, as a representative of the Cleveland Browns, and this will never, ever, happen again,” Bayless said. “Instead, I saw Shedeur respond, kind of, off the cuff… and when he was asked about the speeding tickets, his answer was a laughing answer about the tickets. He was laughing through it.”
The Browns have said they’re aware of Sanders’ troubles but have been assured he’s taking care of the tickets.
Shedeur Sanders Focused on Being ‘Best Teammate’ With Browns
Sanders is facing an uphill battle in a crowded quarterback competition in Cleveland. But the former Colorado star isn’t flinching. Instead of stressing about his place on the depth chart, Sanders is embracing the process and focusing on steady growth.
“My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect,” Sanders said. “I view things as I got time. I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room.
“So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding and whenever it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far in the future about all that. I’m looking [at] every day in practice. … I’m focused on the small things and over time the big things will happen.”
Sanders and the rest of the Browns’ rookies will report to training camp on July 18. The veterans will join on July 22.
