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Shedeur Sanders made the same misstep LeBron James once made in Cleveland, but now has the chance to respond the right way

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 8:33 AM ET

There won’t be any more viewing access to the Cleveland Browns until training camp begins toward the end of July, when the media is allowed back in. OTAs have wrapped up for public viewing, and all eyes will shift to the four quarterbacks once things ramp back up.

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made headlines for the wrong reason on Wednesday when Fox 8 reported that he was allegedly pulled over for driving over 100 mph.

According to the report, Sanders was stopped on I-71 North at 12:24 a.m. on June 17 for going 101 mph in a 60 mph zone. He now has the option to either appear in court or pay the fine without appearing.

Shedeur Sanders’ incident mirrors a past situation involving LeBron James

Back in 2008, James was cited for speeding on the same highway—though traveling in the opposite direction. While James has had very few off-court issues during his career, he was once cited for driving at a similar high speed.

“James was ticketed by the State Highway Patrol on Interstate 71 south of Cleveland about 3 a.m. on Dec. 30. James later said he was heading home after the team arrived in Cleveland from New Orleans, where they had lost to the Hornets hours earlier.” — ESPN

12/30/07: LeBron James, age 23, was cited for going 101 mph by law enforcement

6/18/25: Shedeur Sanders, age 23, was cited for going 101 mph by law enforcement

Just stating the facts! pic.twitter.com/JC7kiljIBq
— SleeperBrowns (@SleeperBrowns) June 18, 2025

At the end of the day, this speeding ticket likely wouldn’t have made headlines if Sanders didn’t have a high-profile last name. How often do you hear about a fifth-round draft pick getting national attention for a traffic ticket? That said, traveling at such high speeds is undeniably dangerous, and Sanders must make better decisions. There’s no sugar-coating that.

Even as a fifth-round selection, Sanders will have a legitimate opportunity to compete for the Browns’ starting quarterback job in 2025. While he may not begin the season as QB1, there’s a real chance he could earn that role at some point. The Browns are hopeful that one of their two rookie quarterbacks can finally be the answer they’ve long sought under center.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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