Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson may have accidentally revealed how one of the Cleveland Browns‘ top stars truly feels about rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
On a recent episode of Nightcap with co-host Shannon Sharpe, Johnson shared some inside information that appeared to come from Browns Pro Bowl cornerback and team captain Denzel Ward.
“I talked to Denzel Ward… (expletive), I shouldn’t say his name,” Johnson said. “But anyway, I talked to ‘some people,’ and (Shedeur) looked different. There’s a difference when that young bull is out there spinning that ball, you hear me?”
“Whether he’s going with the first team, second team, or third team. It don’t matter. I understand getting drafted in the fifth round. All that means nothing when it’s time to play football, and that whistle blows. He looks different than the rest of the competition. That’s what I heard.”
Having the respect and attention of a prominent veteran like Ward could be significant for Sanders as he looks to climb the depth chart. As a respected leader and captain, Ward’s opinion carries weight in the locker room, and his early endorsement — even inadvertently shared — suggests that Sanders is earning credibility with his teammates despite his late-round draft status.
Shedeur Sanders Making Headway in Browns QB Competition
Sanders is part of a four-man quarterback competition that also includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders has received limited reps and very few with the first team. However, he has made his mark during the offseason workouts.
“After a bit of a slow start in spring practices, Sanders has come on strong over the past two weeks with plenty of completions, touchdown passes and grasp of the scheme,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said on Saturday. “Granted, he’s still the fourth-team quarterback and has a long way to go. But he’s made significant strides during recent organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp, remaining alive in the competition.”
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has spoke glowingly of Sanders, noting the rookie’s work ethic.
“He’s doing a really, really nice job. I think he’s showing up early, he’s staying late. He continues to get better every single day, and that’s the fun part,” Stefanski said on “Cleveland Browns Daily.” “He’s a very, very hard worker; he has fun when he’s in the building. I’m enjoying watching him progress with every single meeting, with every single rep he’s doing a great job.”
Shedeur Sanders Not Making Excuses
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is making no excuses.
Sanders understands that he’s facing an uphill battle in his quest to become the starting quarterback in Cleveland. But the former Colorado star is making no excuses.
“So, there’s no excuses because when you get out there, nobody cares how many reps you got whenever you get in the game,” Sanders said at minicamp. “Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that’s the main thing when you get out there: You got to be able to produce.”
Sanders is no stranger to production. During his two seasons at Colorado, he helped turn the Buffaloes into a national storyline, throwing for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions.
