Shedeur Sanders is staying sharp ahead of training camp, with new video surfacing of the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback getting in a workout.
Sanders is training in Miami, using the rest of the offseason to build on what he learned during OTAs and minicamp. As is often the case with Sanders, the video sparked a wide range of reactions — some fans were impressed by his focus, while others remained skeptical of the fifth-round pick’s NFL potential.
But there were also some doubters, who don’t think Sanders will find success in Cleveland. One common point of criticism was Sanders’ habit of patting the ball before throws.
“If I was QB4 on a roster, I’d be grinding 24/7. That ball pat is going to be an issue for him,” a fan said.
“Don’t even dislike the guy. He’s not an NFL QB,” another added.
Sanders faces an uphill battle as he tries to climb the depth chart in Cleveland. He was once touted as an early first-round pick. However, Sanders tumbled to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with pick No. 144.
Sanders saw limited action during minicamp and didn’t take any reps with the first-team offense. Still, he’s not making excuses and remains focused on making the most of his opportunity.
“My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect,” Sanders said in minicamp. “I view things as I got time. I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room.
“So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding and whenever it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far in the future about all that. I’m looking [at] every day in practice. … I’m focused on the small things and over time the big things will happen.”
Part of the reason Sanders slid in the draft was due to lingering concerns about his character. A pair of speeding tickets in recent weeks has put the rookie quarterback back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, reigniting questions about his maturity and decision-making off the field.
“I’ve made some wrong choices, personally, I can own up to them. I’ve made some not great choices. I learn from it,” Sanders said in a short social media clip addressing the tickets.
If Sanders hopes to beat the odds and make a push for the starting job, he’ll need to move past the off-field drama and prove to the Browns that he’s ready to lead. That effort begins later this month when training camp opens.
