Shedeur Sanders is learning far more than just mastering Kevin Stefanski’s system. With the Cleveland Browns’ starting job on the line, the young quarterback is proving that knowing what to say-and when to say it-is just as crucial as throwing a perfect spiral. In doing so, he’s giving a lesson in maturity to none other than his father.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has been a constant presence in his son’s career for nearly a decade. As analyst Andrea Kremer recently put it, “He’s the only coach Shedeur has ever had at any level.” However, Kremer and many others argue that it’s time for Sanders to let his son fly solo.
And that’s exactly what the former Colorado Buffaloes star is doing-not only making waves in Browns’ training camp but also handling the press like a seasoned pro.
Shedeur and his relationship with the media
Deion’s recent health challenges are well known. Coach Prime himself commented on his condition in a social media video, saying, “What I’m dealing with right now is on a whole other level. I’ve lost 14 pounds. I’m coming back, but I needed this.” However, he didn’t reveal any specifics.
Hoping to get more details, reporters at a recent post-practice press conference in Cleveland asked Shedeur about his father’s health. “I don’t know what’s going on,” the younger Sanders declared. “I’m not here to talk about pops. I’m here for the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.”
The response was met with mixed reactions, but many reporters and analysts applauded Shedeur’s composure. Some even argue that perhaps Coach Prime should follow his son’s example and take a step back from his career. But, as Kremer pointed out, “Deion will be Deion.”
The battle for Cleveland’s QB1 is fierce
It’s not just Shedeur-virtually any quarterback would feel the heat in a room where four players are fighting for the starting job. In addition to Sanders, the competition includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Given that Shedeur was a fifth-round selection, some might peg him as the underdog.
However, in yet another display of maturity, the young Browns quarterback offered a different perspective: “Life is just based on how you see things. You can see it as, ‘I’m not getting reps,’ in a negative way, or you can see it as, ‘OK, when it’s time to get out there, let’s be proactive.’“
At the end of the day, as Shedeur summed up perfectly, “Nobody cares how many reps you got before you get in the game. Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that’s the main thing.”
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