Days before Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders shockingly slid all the way to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a story shared comments from an unnamed "longtime NFL assistant coach" who said Sanders is "so entitled" and was responsible for "the worst formal interview" that coach had experienced.
That same piece quoted a "longtime AFC executive" who said Sanders "makes you feel small" and "wants to dictate what he's going to do and what's best for him."
On the latest edition of the "New Heights" podcast, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce used plenty of not-safe-for-work language to challenge those anonymous sources to "say who they were."
"That’s so f------ lame," Kelce added, per Matt Ehalt of the New York Post. "I just feel like there’s no validity to it."
NFL Media personality Kyle Brandt, a "high-level NFL executive" and a Colorado reporter ripped the anonymous sources before the draft opened on April 24. However, multiple reports have since detailed how Sanders allegedly bombed predraft interviews with teams, perhaps in an attempt to determine his landing spot.
The Cleveland Browns eventually traded up to draft Sanders with pick No. 144.
"What I saw of the film, I thought he was a way higher pick, and that’s all I think should matter. It doesn’t seem like he’s a terrible person," Kelce added about Sanders. "...I feel like this is going to be such a fresh start for him. I can see him working his a-- off and becoming the starting quarterback in Cleveland at some point, for sure."
Podcast co-host and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce pointed out that teams simply did not "think the potential of Shedeur Sanders panning out at the next level is high enough to warrant an earlier pick." The Kelce brothers are originally from Cleveland Heights, and Jason noted that he's "rooting for" Sanders to prove doubters wrong.
"I love this for Cleveland," Travis Kelce said about Sanders ending up with the Browns. "God, I love this for Cleveland. I really do, man. The Browns fan deep down in my heart is like, 'F--- yeah.' You get a swag champ that works his a-- off that has something to prove now -- not that he didn’t before, but he’s got that chip on his shoulder, I’m sure, because of how much he dropped."
Reporters and analysts previously wondered how veteran players would react to a big-name rookie such as Sanders joining their locker room. It could be interesting to see if current members of the Browns echo Travis' words as Sanders competes with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for Cleveland's starting quarterback job this summer.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel likely won the respect of his team Wednesday. However, he may have needed a few stitches afterward. The Patriots hosted a joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took a Commanders pass-rusher to the ground in pass protection, resulting in a scuffle. Vrabel then jumped in to help stop the fight. His face was bloodied after both teams calmed down. Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye loved that his coach was willing to step in. In a news conference after practice, the 22-year-old passer said that's the mentality the team needs. "That's what we're trying to build," he said. "The intensity, bringing it every day, taking no cr-p when we're out on the field. But also, it comes a time where, with our guys offensively, and getting over there and getting some tussles and kind of having some penalties, and extra after the whistle, can get us in trouble. But for mentality, I like it. I mean, I almost got in there, but I think maybe another day, maybe." His new coach doesn't want the QB to get in any brawls. The Patriots are banking on the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft being the franchise's future. Plus, he doesn't need to worry about the Patriots' intensity with Vrabel in the building. New England wide receiver DeMario Douglas noted the former linebacker didn't seem rattled after breaking up the scrap. "I said, 'Coach, what's wrong with you?' And he said, 'You should have seen the other guy,'" Douglas told the media while smiling. "I just saw the scar on his face but didn't know what was happening." Vrabel likely sent two messages at Wednesday's practice. He won't tolerate an undisciplined team but also has his players' backs. That could go a long way for a Patriots squad aiming to improve after a 4-13 season.
Over the past couple of years, the WNBA has seen a major uptick in ratings and overall fan engagement. Unfortunately, that has also come with negative attention. It may have reached a new low, as there have now been three separate incidents in which a fan has thrown a sex toy on the court. This time, it nearly hit Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham during a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Cunningham had already joked about it on social media, and given her outspoken nature and reputation as a bit of an instigator, she didn't shy away from it: She also laughed it up on her Instagram story: Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, however, didn't think it was a laughing matter. Following the game, she put the fans on blast for their "stupid" behavior. "It's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid," Roberts said, per Yahoo Sports. "It's also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it's really stupid." There's no place for any of this in sports, much less in women's sports. The league needs to crack down on this and take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening ever again. The WNBA is finally thriving after years of surviving, and while the fans will eventually grow to respect the product, not all publicity is good publicity.
Despite being viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe ended up sliding into the third round. The 22-year-old who was the starter for Alabama for two seasons was selected with the No. 92 pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Although every player's dream is to go in the first round, Milroe likely couldn't have gone to a better situation. There is virtually no pressure on him as the Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Sam Darnold, to a three-year, $100.5 million contract this offseason, and also have Drew Lock, who has started 28 career games on the roster as well. However, based on ESPN's initial depth chart, Milroe may be climbing the depth chart sooner than most expected. Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart As reported by ESPN, the Seahawks depth chart goes as follows: QB1: Sam Darnold QB2 Jalen Milroe QB3 Drew Lock If this truly ends up being the case, Milroe has taken major strides following his final season at Alabama. During his final year in Tuscaloosa, Milroe was criticized heavily for forcing passes into windows that weren't there after being late on reads. In his final season at Alabama, Milroe threw a career-high 11 interceptions to just 16 touchdowns, an increase of five more interceptions than he threw in 2023. Although training camp is still ongoing and the preseason games have yet to be played, clearly, Milroe is finding some success in the pacific northwest.
There seems to be a sense that the situation between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys is much different than the negotiations that happened last year for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys announced their new deal with Prescott hours before they played their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Lamb signed his contract extension on Aug. 27, after Dallas' preseason schedule. Per Michael Silver of The Athletic, there are "bruised" feelings between owner Jerry Jones, executive vice president Stephen Jones and Parsons. The Jones family believed they had a deal in place with Parsons, but the star pass rusher is unhappy that the front office won't work with his agent, David Mulugheta. Because Parsons showed up to training camp this summer, he lost leverage, and Dallas has several unsavory options to use if no agreement is reached by the beginning of the season. The Cowboys could shut the four-time Pro Bowler down for the season if he leaves camp or could eventually suspend him. "Now, if Parsons were to leave camp in protest, the Cowboys could send him a “five-day letter”— giving them the right to put him on the reserve/left squad list if he doesn’t return within five days.," Silver wrote. "Once placed on that list, a player is shut down for the season, without pay, and his contract tolls to the following year... "Time will tell, but if Jones is miscalculating and things get ugly, I wouldn’t rule out a trade, a suspension (and accompanying grievance), or other scenarios that might keep Cowboys fans up at night." Parsons would be receiving the same treatment the Miami Heat gave Jimmy Butler before they traded him to the Golden State Warriors, by suspending him from the team. That wouldn't be ideal for the Cowboys' hopes in the regular season, but nothing about the way Jones is handling talks this summer is setting up Dallas to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones should have finalized a deal with Parsons' agent before T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby signed their contract extensions. Handshake deals have an early expiration date. Dallas will be worse off this season without Parsons on the field. Jones needs to get over his hurt feelings and do what's best for the other 52 guys on the regular season roster and first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Pay Parsons the market rate, or find someone who will and make a trade.
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