Shedeur Sanders shines in debut as drama follows viral exchange
Drama Following Sanders Rookie Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
There was no doubt the NFL world was watching Friday as Shedeur Sanders was strong in his NFL debut. Sanders led Cleveland to a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers and looked impressive in the process.
While head coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff were happy with what they saw, the game wasn’t without some postgame drama. The buzz came from an interaction between Sanders and Cleveland sports radio host Tony Grossi, which quickly went viral.
“You always say negative stuff about me,” Sanders told Grossi after the game. “I didn’t do nothing to you. I’ve never seen you say anything positive about me.”
Shedeur Sanders addresses Cleveland-based sports journalist and Browns analyst Tony Grossi, who’s known for being critical and biased toward him.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) August 9, 2025
“You always say negative stuff about me. I didn’t do nothing to you. I’ve never seen you say anything positive about me.”
(🎥: Well… pic.twitter.com/SGpmmyXF74
Who is Tony Grossi?
Grossi is a longtime Cleveland sports radio and TV personality who works for ESPN Cleveland. He has also served as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. Born and raised in Ohio, Grossi has covered the Browns for decades.
The 1987 Ohio Sportswriter of the Year also won the 2007 Associated Press Sportswriter Award. In January 2012, Grossi called Browns owner Randy Lerner “pathetic” and “the world’s most irrelevant billionaire.” Soon after, he was removed from the Browns beat.
Grossi is also remembered for controversial comments in 2020 about Baker Mayfield, calling him a “[expletive] midget.”
What did Tony Grossi Say About Shedeur Sanders?
In June, Grossi had sharp criticism for Sanders, saying, “The media are doing Shedeur a disservice by inflating where he’s at right now. He’s a developmental quarterback, just like Dillon Gabriel — he’s not a franchise quarterback.”
“Overinflating expectations is just not good. He’s not close to being QB1.”
Shedeur Sanders' Debut Numbers
The former Colorado Buffaloes star split quarterback duties with Tyler Huntley. Sanders finished with 138 yards and two touchdown passes, completing 14 of 23 attempts.
Both touchdowns went to Kaden Davis in the second quarter. Davis ended the game with 23 yards on three receptions.
Sanders also ran the ball four times for 19 yards, including an impressive 10-yard scramble. He was sacked twice.
What’s next for Shedeur Sanders?
The Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 16, then finish the preseason at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. Cleveland opens the 2025 regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Related: ESPN Makes Shedeur Sanders Statement After NFL Preseason Debut
Related: Shedeur Sanders Apologizes to Deion Sanders After Browns-Panthers
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
