Before Shedeur Sanders ever stepped on the field as a Cleveland Browns rookie, he was already the subject of heavy media scrutiny.
In April, as critics began to circulate concerns about Shedeur‘s character leading up to the NFL Draft, his father, Deion Sanders, leapt to his defense with unwavering support.
“A young man that has never been in trouble, never involved in an off field incident, & quarterbacked two Universities to a resurgence has 0 behind the scenes qualities?” Deion posted, firmly rejecting any doubts about his son’s discipline and demeanor.
But now, just weeks later, Shedeur‘s driving record is doing the talking and it’s not speaking well of the young quarterback’s judgment.
According to reports from WKBN-TV in Cleveland, Shedeur Sanders was cited twice in the span of two weeks for excessive speeding. The first incident occurred on June 5, when he was pulled over by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Brunswick Hills for driving 91 mph in a 65 mph zone. That citation required a court appearance, but Shedeur failed to show up for his June 17 arraignment.
Then came a second, even more concerning episode. On Tuesday morning, just hours after missing his initial court date, Sanders was pulled over again, this time for reportedly driving 101 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Altogether, Sanders now faces more than $500 in fines and court costs, as well as the burden of having two dangerous traffic violations within a short span. For a player trying to prove himself at the NFL level, the back-to-back incidents are hardly a sign of maturity or responsibility.
Instead of staying quiet or issuing a public apology, Shedeur made an appearance Thursday night at teammate David Njoku‘s charity softball game in Eastlake, Ohio. There, he was caught on camera downplaying the situation in a laid-back exchange with another guest.
“I know I be vibin’, bruh,” Shedeur said with a laugh. “I’m just a little boy. I made some wrong choices, personally, and I gotta own up to ’em. I made some, you know, not great choices. I learn from ’em. I learn. I learn.”
While it was meant to sound lighthearted and introspective, the tone of his comments and his apparent lack of concern didn’t sit well with many fans and observers. Driving more than 100 mph isn’t a minor lapse in judgment; it’s a serious safety issue, especially given the cautionary tales already present in NFL history.
Deion Sanders, known for passionately supporting his sons, may want to revisit the way he frames criticism. With players like Rashee Rice, Henry Ruggs, and even Browns teammate Myles Garrett having all made headlines for reckless driving, the dangers of such behavior are well documented. Shedeur, who is 23 years old, can no longer be shielded as just a “kid learning the ropes.”
The man standing next to Shedeur in the video defended him, saying, “He’s just a regular kid. What’s wrong with y’all? He ain’t do nothing wrong.”
Read the full article here