Shedeur Sanders makes a statement by embracing Cleveland

The Slide

The 4+ round slide was must-see TV starting with the first pick of the second round. Prior to Round 1, there was a growing belief that Shedeur had 3 reasonable landing spots in the first 50 picks. The first range we now know was never on the table, was Cleveland at 2, NY Giants at 3, or Pittsburgh at 21.

Even before the draft, the widely accepted truth was that if Shedeur does not go to CLE, NYG, or PIT, he is absolutely falling to the 2nd round where QB needy teams could snatch him up at a value more in line with where talent evaluators saw his game film. CLE, JAX, LVR, NYG, NO, IND, and SEA all passed on him multiple times. By the end of the 3rd round, the word “collusion” was beginning to make its rounds through various fan circles. Rich Eisen even asked, “is it possible this kid doesn’t get drafted?”

Before Day 3 Joel Klatt of Fox Sports suggested no team wants a media scrum at the backup’s locker. No Quarterbacks were taken in the 4th round. By the start of the 5th round, the idea of Shedeur Sanders being relegated to “Undrafted Free Agent” was becoming increasingly possible.

The Call and the Influx

Care of a Well Off Media video posted later that day, of the eldest Sanders child Deiondra was seen playing outside with the newest Sanders, baby Snow while Shedeur contemplated in the distance. Then the ‘draft phone’ rang. On the other line was Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski. What followed next can only be described as the euphoric feeling for player and family when the call comes just before the sense of ‘all is lost’ creeps in. Once the call came in and Shedeur was off the board, the next step of the blueprint came through. The influx of fans feels like a Sanders staple at this point. The first domino was rapper Sexyy Red who tweeted her intentions to be at Browns games this season. Predictably followed by the Gillie and Wallo (longtime friends of the Sanders family) pick reaction with Wallo pledging his new loyalties to the Cleveland Browns. The CU Aunties and Prime fans have begun to show themselves in Browns circles and so far they have been rather pleasant acclimating themselves to a new fanbase. 

The Cleveland Media Conference Call

One thing Shedeur Sanders is to his core, is training. Two and a half years of covering Shedeur proved he has been trained in a number of areas outside the field of play and that was on display for the Cleveland media. Shedeur was media ready on day 1 in Colorado. The conference call was a wonderous blend of Shedeur speaking as Shedeur and not 2Legendary, understanding the situation, and not allowing a media group to walk him into a bad answer.

Mary Kay Cabot asked the emotional rollercoaster question and Shedeur did not take the bait. His answer was based on being grateful and appreciative for the opportunity. Ashley Bastock asked about what motivates him. His answer was about the opportunity and wanting to show what he's capable of within the journey or path he now has. Daniel Oyefusi asked how he would fit into the organization. He claims to believe he will fit in perfectly and said it starts with showing respect to the vets and showing the coaches he’s ready to work. When asked about the presumed QB competition, Shedeur kept it to the work and was willing to execute whatever role they have for him early on.

Jeff Schudel asked “what kind of burden was it being Deion Sanders’ son?” Immediately pushing back Shedeur claiming, “it’s never a burden, I feel like God makes everybody go down a path, this is just my path. The rest is on me.” When asked about the narratives and what’s been said about him, Shedeur leaned into wanting to prove Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski right by choosing him. 

Not to be outdone, Zac Jackson asked about any regrets from the pre-draft process and Shedeur gave a telling response. “There’s always areas I can improve and some things I did at the time that seemed right at the time, I could’ve done differently.” Daryl Ruiter led with the programs Sanders has elevated, which gives him the ability to do that, and the expectations of competing even if he is a 5th round pick. To the enjoyment of many media aware Browns fans, Shedeur gave only a 15-word answer.

“I'm Sanders, so there's always gonna be expectations, regardless of what pick I am.”

Shedeur handled his first interaction with the Cleveland media in a way those familiar with him already, would’ve expected from him. Confident, declarative answers, without sounding like anything other than appreciative.

Workout videos

The youngest Sanders football player wasted no time following through on his media promises. A common theme from the conference call was that he is about the work, understands nothing is going to be given to him, and knows he has a lot of work ahead of him. Three days post draft and ten days before he is expected to report to Cleveland for rookie OTAs, Shedeur was found entering a workout facility called “BrownsFit”. BrownsFit is a gym owned by the Browns located within downtown Cleveland, four blocks south west of FirstEnergy Stadium.

It was initially reported, by Mary Kay Cabot, that Shedeur was seen entering the Browns practice facility. It was not the Browns practice facility. It wasn’t even in the same town as the Browns practice facility. Rookies also don’t report until May 7th. Later that day, a video surfaced of Shedeur in a local park in Akron, some 40 miles away from Cleveland, running hills and doing footwork drills.

Both videos were posted by “Boog” who has been seen on various CU related podcasts. Cleveland fans are not as familiar as Buffs fans that Shedeur moves with cameras. He has chronicled most of his journey since he was in middle school. The notion of videos of Shedeur online is something Browns fans should warm up to.

Aaron Goldhammer of ESPN Cleveland’s “Really Big Show” voiced concerns about Shedeur posting workout videos. Funny how that’s not an issue when every Clevelanders favorite player Nick Chubb does it. No problem if The Chief David Njoku does it, but because Shedeur has something to prove, so Goldhammer has an issue with it. 

John Marshall High School

The smaller theme from the conference call was giving back to the community, specifically the youth of Cleveland and its surrounding areas. Shedeur, as he has done a number of times in Colorado as well as Jackson State, decided to drop in on the students at John Marshall High School.

JMHS is located on W. 140th St, just shortly north of the new stadium site in Brookpark, Ohio. The school was prepared for the visit including but not limited to playing Perfect Timing as entrance music. Shedeur spent time talking to the students about the draft, what motivates him, setting yourself up for your future and even took a lengthy Q&A session. After which, he stuck around to sign autographs for all the students and teachers that wanted it. Side note for those in Cleveland or familiar with the geography. In the five days following the NFL Draft, Shedeur was in Cleveland 10 days ahead of schedule, and has done constructive things in downtown Cleveland, Westpark, and Akron while the other rookies are preparing for rookie OTAs elsewhere.

Local Media Reaction

The local Cleveland media had the same early reactions as you would expect. Why take Shedeur when they already took Dillon Gabriel two rounds earlier? Resistant to the Prime Show they were certain they would follow. Condescending comments about how this is not CU and he is not the Football Prince. Hesitation that he would be anything more than a distraction.

However, most of that has quelled since learning that Shedeur made it to #1 in rookie jersey sales in a little under 72 hours. The jersey sales thing combined with the workout videos and the trip to John Marshall High School all converging at once to create a tone switch by most of the media. Ken Carman a long time Cleveland voice on the radio said the following and it’s a simple microcosm of the switch in feeling on Shedeur.

“He’s a fifth round pick. He leads jersey sales among all rookies. That’s over Travis Hunter, that’s over Cam Ward. If he’s conducting himself seriously and dammit guys, so far he is. SO FAR HE IS. If he’s conducting himself seriously and he has more talent than Dillon Gabriel or shows more promise than Kenny Pickett, he ain’t going anywhere folks! He ain’t going anywhere. 

"Do you know how bad he has to be in training camp? I mean this isn’t Alex Tanney. Think of some of the guys you’ve had in camp before. This isn’t that! He leads in jersey sales. He is a star. I gotta get my head out of the clouds here and go, he’s going to have every opportunity to make this football team.”

-Ken Carman 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland

Longtime Browns fan reaction

As one might expect, the fans of the team with the longest QB ineptitude streak in human history, starved for a winner since 1989 and starved for a football championship since 1964, was in a word, skeptical. Unlike Colorado fans, Browns fans after the pick had little to go on besides what they are given by ESPN and NFL Network.

They knew about the touchdown celebrations, the “Legendary” narrative, the jersey retirement, and a social media presence they would understandably be reluctant to. After they signed Joe Flacco less than a month ago, fans rejoiced that there was a starting QB in the room that was not an Instagram star.

That lasted exactly three weeks. Shedeur Sanders is and will continue to be a social media darling. He has spent more days on camera at this point than days he hasn’t been on camera. There was clear and understandable trepidation surrounding the Shedeur pick. While there is no clear cut starter today, that QB room now boasts 5 names.

Watson won’t play with an injury designation, but with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and now Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, it’s a crowded room. Just as Browns fans were warming back up to the idea of Joe Flacco with Kenny Pickett as a backup, they drafted two rookies to make that QB competition interesting at the very least. On a more one to one, interaction by interaction front, the long time Browns fan reactions have been significantly positive.

With most fans leaning in, if he wears Brown and Orange I will support him. Some have said give the kid a shot, it’s not like we have a history of great QB play to lean on. There have been some fans vocally opposed to it, but those by and large seem to be the “hand the ball to the ref, act like you've been there before” crowd. To steal an old television quote, “they’ll like us when we win.”

Meaning, if Shedeur Sanders is everything he and his father thinks he is, and performs in a way that gives Browns fans hope at the QB position, every Browns fan will be a Shedeur fan. If Shedeur is leading touchdown scoring drives at any point in the regular season, the entire Dawg Pound will be “Wrists Up” like it was Midwest Folsom.

The Browns fanbase is just different

Every fanbase is unique. Every fanbase aspires to be a winner. Every fanbase supports their players on some level. Every fanbase is not Cleveland. Objectively, most fan bases aren’t Cleveland, they aren’t built for it. The weather is brutal. Industry left in the 80s and 90s so it has a vibe of being a city forgotten. It isn’t a destination for nightlife like LA, NY or ATL.

The sports scene is the city. However, the fans are unwavering. When cities like Miami and New Orleans offer plenty of attractions for your entertainment dollar, Cleveland has their sports teams. A Browns game will bring more fan participation than most any other fan related events. They hosted a FanExpo recently and had to schedule it during a Cavs home stand in the hopes of gaining more foot traffic.

In most cities, it's just your typical die hard fan that loves the team. In Cleveland, 90 percent of the population rep the Browns. Even in the face of bad seasons, people fly their flags and wear their gear like they had already clinched home field advantage in the playoffs. In September, and that devotion does not diminish with a low win total. Cleveland is a city that will root for anyone who reps the colors well.

If Sanders takes this opportunity seriously and prepares to win or at least perform well in a QB competition, winning over the city will be easier for him than outsiders would think. He’s not an Ohio kid. He’s not a keep your head down and work quietly. But if Shedeur Sanders can become the first QB in Cleveland since Bernie Kosar to provide a calm to the position and a winner in big moments, Shedeur Sanders will win Cleveland over easily. If the first week in Cleveland has been any sort of indicator, he’s well on his way to winning over the fanbase.