The Cleveland Browns quarterback room was always going to be competitive, but no one expected the quiet power shift that’s unfolding right now inside the locker room.
A seemingly innocent moment, a photo shoot between Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel, has stirred up more than just team spirit. It’s ignited whispers among insiders: where was Shedeur Sanders?
Browns locker room turns cold
The viral photo, born during OTAs, captured the essence of camaraderie. Gabriel approached Flacco with a simple idea: “Let’s recreate this photo.” Many expected the veteran to pass. After all, Flacco had recently made it clear to Shedeur that he doesn’t do public displays-not even dancing. But Flacco surprised everyone. He agreed. Smiled. Posed. And said afterwards, “That’s unreal.”
Left out of frame, literally and symbolically ,was Shedeur Sanders, the flashy, confident prospect whose star power has made headlines but not always friends. While Gabriel and Flacco laughed and bonded, Sanders was nowhere to be seen. And that’s what has people talking.
“It wasn’t just a photo. It was a message,” said one person close to the team. “Flacco chose his guy. And Shedeur wasn’t it.”
The Browns have four quarterbacks in competition, but this wasn’t about depth charts, it was about chemistry. And in NFL locker rooms, being left out of the vibe is sometimes worse than being listed QB2.
Sources say Sanders has struggled to connect with the veterans and some of the younger guys. While no one questions his arm talent or upside, leadership is earned, not assumed.
“He’s trying to be the guy,” another source shared. “But you can’t be the guy if you’re not with the guys.”
With September fast approaching, the Browns will have to make tough decisions. And while stats and scrimmage results matter, so do the unspoken dynamics of the locker room.
Shedeur Sanders still has time to turn the tide. But if he wants to be QB1, he might first need to win back the room.
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