Add David Njoku to the list of Cleveland Browns who are excited to have Shedeur Sanders on the roster.
Njoku shared his enthusiasm about the rookie quarterback’s abilities while wearing a microphone at the team’s mandatory minicamp last week.
The veteran tight end is set to enter his ninth season with the Browns, who chose Njoku with the 29th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Njoku has caught a touchdown from eight different Browns quarterbacks over his previous eight NFL seasons — and that number stands to jump to at least nine unless 40-year-old Joe Flacco somehow is the only Cleveland QB to throw him a TD this season.
Yet, Njoku still clearly loves football and playing with the Browns, since he put his personality on full display while mic’d up at Browns minicamp.
Aside from sharing confidence in himself, Njoku shared his loyalty for Sanders, as long as it goes both ways.
“I’m with you,” Njoku told Sanders during practice when the quarterback asked for the veteran tight end to participate in a drill with him. “Just tell me you like me.”
Sanders and Njoku seemed to bond at minicamp, since the tight end taught the quarterback/controversial fifth-round pick from Colorado about his signature touchdown celebration.
“I slam it,” Njoku said of the football after touchdowns. “When you[‘re] playing on the Browns you know what I do on Madden?”
Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave also lauded Sanders while throwing shade at Njoku.
“His darn [pass] placement is outstanding,” Musgrave said. “If we can just get a tight end who can catch it at some point.”
But Njoku took it in stride and gave it right back to his offensive coach.
“Just throw it to me. I’ll take care of the rest,” Njoku said.
Njoku isn’t one to mince too many words, since he sarcastically asked “what’s quiet?” to one of his coaches after telling him he was wearing a microphone.
But it wasn’t just positive words for Sanders that came from one of the team’s longest-tenured players. Njoku said he loves quarterback Kenny Pickett’s name, showed his appreciation for Flacco and also expressed his enthusiasm for franchise EDGE rusher Myles Garrett.
“What a guy you are,” Njoku said to Garrett. “I love you, bro. Do you know how much I love you?”
Later when asked about what Njoku said to Garrett, the tight end said “that’s how we’ve been for years.”
For all of the jokes and playful jabs directed at his teammates and coaches, Njoku also clearly puts in the work. Those who watched could see his attention to detail while running routes, blocking and protecting the ball while running with it.
It is through that hard work that gives Njoku the confidence in himself while calling his shot.
“I’m gonna run this seam and catch it for a touchdown,” Njoku predicted before asking his position coach “and what did I do? Just that.”
Add David Njoku to the list of Cleveland Browns who are excited to have Shedeur Sanders on the roster. Njoku shared his enthusiasm about the rookie quarterback’s abilities while wearing a microphone at the team’s mandatory minicamp last week. The veteran tight end is ...
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