ESPN Faces Backlash for ‘Embarrassing’ Shedeur Sanders Decision

After an incredible senior year in Colorado that saw him, among other things, secure the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite being a potential first-round prospect at one point, no team in the league was willing to use their picks in the first four rounds on the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.

The Browns eventually scooped Sanders up as the 144th overall pick. However, it is clear that Sanders has not done enough to prove to head coach Kevin Stefanski that he is ready to make his debut.

Former ESPN analyst Trey Wingo recently made an appearance on 92.3 The Fan’s “The Ken Carman Show.” Wingo, who formerly hosted “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live” and “Golic and Wingo” on ESPN, came on the show to discuss the Browns and their current standing in the NFL. This ultimately led the veteran sportscaster to touch on the Sanders situation.

Wingo said he immediately regretted bringing up the subject of Sanders. The show’s co-host, Anthony Lima, praised Wingo for playing the role of “media ombudsman with your old place” before asking Wingo to share his thoughts on ESPN “having daily debates about the fourth-string quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.”

Wingo did not hold back.

"It was embarrassing,” he said. “They did it because they knew his name would resonate, create some sort of frothing at the mouth when it was based on nothing.

"There's nothing to suggest that A, he's going to be terrible, or B, he's going to be great. We don't have any data. So it's all just guesswork. It's all just opinions, and opinions are like noses and buttholes. Everybody has them."

For what it’s worth, Sanders is no longer fourth in the pecking order in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson remains out with a long-term injury, and Joe Flacco has already been shipped off to the Cincinnati Bengals. Dillon Gabriel has been promoted to the de facto QB1, leaving Sanders as his primary backup or the QB2.

The Browns, currently 2-6, will return to action on Sunday, Nov. 9, when they face the 1-7 New York Jets in a road game at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff for that Week 10 matchup is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.