Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made a notable debut in the team’s first preseason game, but his post-game comments were perhaps even more revealing.
“I can only control what I can control.”
In a sideline interview with NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, the young signal-caller offered a refreshingly honest and humble self-critique. This was a stark contrast to the pre-draft narrative that often painted him as, among other things, brash and arrogant.
Sanders’ final stat line was solid, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 19 rushing yards on four carries before being retired in the third quarter for backup Snoop Huntley. Despite the positive numbers and a team victory, Sanders gave himself a “C+” grade for his performance. When asked to elaborate, he explained, “That’s passing because we got the win,” but quickly added that he felt he didn’t “take Pops’ (Deion Sanders) advice” when it came to fully capitalizing on the opportunity.
“On the team’s behalf, I think I ran the offense pretty well,” Sanders continued. “I feel like I got to my decisions and there’s some things I could’ve done better, and different processes where I could speed my feet up. You know, I’m grateful for the opportunity and thankful that we won, but there’s still time to go to work.”
This introspective analysis is a significant departure from the perception many had of Sanders during the draft process, where he was often labeled as entitled and full of himself. Instead, the Browns and their fans are seeing an outgoing, yet grounded, young man who is eager to improve. His performance, coupled with this attitude, could put him in the conversation for the starting job sooner than many anticipated.
When asked about what his performance should mean for his reps in practice, potentially with the first-team offense, Sanders remained focused on what he could control. “I’m not really concerned with that at all, you know, I can only control what I can control,” he said.
He also spoke about the outpouring of support he received online from his father, LeBron James, and others. Sanders says he channels that external motivation into a larger purpose, stating, “I’m playing for those who don’t have a voice. I’m playing for people locked up; they send me messages saying, ‘Bro, we’re rooting for you.’ The external motivation I have is crazy, and I channel that. Regardless of how I’m feeling, regardless of how I feel, I know there’s a lot of people counting on me to succeed.”
This display of humility and maturity, combined with his on-field success, is a powerful statement from the rookie. It seems the Browns may have found not just a talented quarterback, but a leader who is ready to put in the work and prove his critics wrong.
