Marcus Spears knows why NFL made 'crazy as hell' Shedeur Sanders Pro Bowl decision

Members of the NFL community understandably rolled their eyes when it was learned that Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had been added to the Pro Bowl Games roster as a replacement for New England Patriots starter Drake Maye.

During an appearance on ESPN's "SportsCenter," former player and current NFL analyst Marcus Spears was asked about his reaction to Sanders being announced as a Pro Bowl participant. 

Adding Browns' Shedeur Sanders to Pro Bowl "is about marketing"

"Crazy as hell," Spears said about the decision. "But I get it. I get it from the NFL perspective. He's one of the most followed football players in the world, in America, for sure. And it's about bringing eyes. ...This is about marketing. That's the only thing I can derive from it."

Pro Bowl television ratings have generated negative headlines for the league since the shift to the current Pro Bowl Games format. History suggests that's unlikely to change this winter, regardless of Sanders' involvement. 

As for why adding Sanders to the mix has received such negative reactions, the numbers show he was one of the NFL's most unimpressive starting quarterbacks this season. Per Pro Football Reference, he ended Week 18 ranked 40th in the league among qualified players with an 18.9 adjusted QBR, 41st with a 68.1 passer rating and last with a 56.6 percent completion percentage. 

Cleveland went 3-4 in games that Sanders started.

NFL hoping fans will tune in to watch Shedeur Sanders either succeed or fail as a Pro Bowl QB

Spears mentioned that New Orleans Saints quarterback and Offensive Rookie of the Year Award finalist Tyler Shough is among younger players more deserving of a Pro Bowl nod than Sanders. That said, Spears seems to realize that Shough doesn't have the name-brand value possessed by Sanders in early 2026. 

"It's about one of the guys and the biggest names in the league coming to make the Pro Bowl more interesting," Spears added. "The NFL has to figure out what to do with the Pro Bowl games now. But I understand Shedeur Sanders being in it. And this is my perspective on it, is that he's going to bring some eyes that wouldn't necessarily be there."

Sanders being named a Pro Bowl replacement likely won't make him any less of a polarizing figure among fans and analysts. Truth be told, that reality likely has something to do with why he was chosen in the first place.