Shedeur Sanders had a strong relationship with new Bengals QB Joe Flacco.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders shares emotional response to Joe Flacco’s ‘crazy’ Bengals trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns flipped their quarterback room again this week, sending Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. And backup Shedeur Sanders didn’t hear it from social media. He heard it from straight from Flacco himself.
“He told me,” Sanders said, describing how he learned about the move. “And I’m like, ‘Dang, that happened quick. That was crazy.’” (via FOX 8 Cleveland)
Sanders said he saw Flacco at the facility after the trade went down. The timing surprised him more than the decision. His takeaway wasn’t drama. It was what he picked up from a veteran who has seen everything.
“He was definitely somebody I leaned on for wisdom,” Sanders said. “I feel like he helped me a lot during his time here in Cleveland. Everybody has their own destiny and their own plans they have in life. I’m just happy for him.”
That’s the throughline from Sanders: respect and gratitude. He credited Flacco for giving him guidance during a short stint together and kept the focus on what comes next for both of them. For Sanders, that’s stepping into the No. 2 role. For Flacco, that’s a fresh opportunity in Cincinnati.
Cleveland’s depth chart now runs through two rookies. Sanders now sits behind Dillon Gabriel, who started in London last week against the Minnesota Vikings.
But according to Bomani Jones on his "The Right Time" podcast, it's do or die time for Sanders if he can't eventually start over Gabriel.
"Dillon Gabriel looks like he’s playing with his big brother’s friends. He doesn’t seem like he should be out there playing football. But I’m going to say this, though. If Shedeur Sanders can’t get himself on the field for the team Dillon Gabriel plays for, maybe he should go do a podcast. This young man here is not going to play a whole lot of NFL football," Jones said.
Category: Football
