Shedeur Sanders is determined to forge his own path in the NFL, even if it means keeping his Hall of Famer father, Deion Sanders, away from the Cleveland Browns‘ training camp.
An ex-Minnesota Vikings player is a big fan of the approach.
The rookie quarterback has spent the last two years navigating the difficult task of stepping out of his father’s immense shadow, a challenge that began with the Colorado Buffaloes under Coach Prime‘s watchful eye.
With claims he played in a system designed exclusively for him, that his dad had too much influence and he could even be a nepo baby, the 23-year-old is looking to prove he deserves his show with the Browns.
A strong performance against the Carolina Panthers was a big step in crushing that narrative, yet Shedeur isn’t getting carried away and he remains focused on proving that his success is the result of his own effort.
As a result, he intentionally requested that his father stay away from Cleveland unlike many rookies who receive visits from family members during camp.
“I don’t want him to come and see me and get a couple of reps,” Shedeur said. “And he’s cheering like a good dad.
“You can’t be proud of me right now. I gotta get to where I’m going.”
That’s earned the admiration of the former NFL tight end, MyCole Pruitt, who expressed understanding and support for Shedeur‘s stance on his MustBe2Sides podcast.
“Shedeur is doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing: He’s taking the high road,” said Pruitt.
“When it comes to a point where you know that a media frenzy is finna come around your father coming out to practice, and you’re not even at the point that you want to be.
“So, you’re telling your own dad not to come. You’re supposed to be proud of this moment…
“This is what we’ve been talking about since you were a little kid and I first handed you the football, but the story surrounding this environment is not a good spot for you to come right now, Dad, so go ahead and wait.”
In light of this separation in Cleveland, Deion has reacted by jetting from Colorado to Florida instead to visit his other son, Shilo, who is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization.
Shilo got his shot in practice with the team and Coach Prime ensured he was there to watch the safety, proving that he has his eyes out for both of his sons and not just the Browns’ quarterback.
Will Shedeur Sanders start vs Jalen Hurts’ Philadelphia Eagles?
While Shedeur may have temporarily missed a moment with his father, his recent performance suggests that he may soon earn the opportunity to share the field with him during a regular-season game.
Shedeur‘s on-field achievements are already turning heads. The 2025 fifth-round pick led the Browns to a 30-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, throwing two touchdowns, and adding 19 rushing yards.
His impressive showing places him in position to potentially start against the Eagles if Dillon Gabriel‘s hamstring injury limits his availability, something Cleveland‘s head coach, Kevin Stefanski, confirmed.
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