Cleveland Browns Quarterback Takes Unique Approach to Media

The Cleveland Browns' quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, grabbed headlines on Wednesday by choosing to mime his responses to the media. This decision reportedly stems from recent comments made by former NFL head coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who criticized Sanders on the show 'Get Up.'

During the segment, Ryan expressed his disappointment with Sanders, stating, "This kid talks and he runs his mouth. Like he said, 'I can be a starting quarterback' with his arms crossed like this. Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that. If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You've got the talent to be the quarterback, you should be. You should be embarrassed that you're not the quarterback now." These pointed remarks seemingly prompted Sanders' silent admission to the media.

Quarterback Changes in Cleveland

It was a busy day for the Browns as they officially benched veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, opting to start third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, currently sits at No. 3 on the depth chart. The Browns have faced significant offensive struggles this season, averaging only 279.8 yards and 14.0 points per game through the first four weeks.

Prior to the criticism from Ryan, Sanders had expressed confidence in his abilities, claiming to perform better than several current starting quarterbacks in the league. He told ESPN Cleveland, "If you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I'm capable of doing better than that." Despite his preseason performances, which included 138 yards and two touchdowns in one game, Sanders has been a part of the Browns' scout team, sharing the field with Gabriel and practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe.

While Gabriel will lead the team for the time being, there remains the possibility for Sanders to receive playing time later in the season as he continues to develop alongside his teammates.