Cam Newton Feels Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Doesn’t Want Shedeur Sanders to Succeed

Cam Newton believes that Kevin Stefanski doesn't want to work with Shedeur Sanders and that's why the QB looked unprepared against the Ravens.

Cam Newton Feels Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Doesn’t Want Shedeur Sanders to Succeed

Shedeur Sanders, Kevin Stefanski and Cam Newton (Image via IMAGO)

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Shedeur Sanders made his Cleveland Browns debut in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He replaced Dillon Gabriel in the second half.

The crowd expected fireworks from the rookie fifth-round quarterback. He threw a dot to Cedric Tillman to start his NFL career. That was the high point of his debut.

Sanders went 4 completions from 16 pass attempts for 47 yards, was sacked twice, and threw an interception. As it wasn’t the start that he had envisioned, Sanders shouldered the blame for the defeat.

His willingness to admit his shortcomings is a character trait very few possess. However, he still needs to go out and win games. It looks bleak because Stefanski has yet to show much faith in the 23-year-old.

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton speculated that Sanders is set up to fail in Cleveland.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: I do not think Kevin Stefanski wants Shedeur Sanders to succeed in Cleveland. The reason is, don’t tell me what he said, don’t tell me what he’s saying. I’m going off of actions.

Cam Newton on Monday’s segment of ESPN’s First Take

From Newton’s point of view, the reason quarterbacks fail in Cleveland is because of the culture. The Browns shuffled through several quarterbacks in the last few seasons, leaving them with Gabriel, Sanders, and Bailey Zappe.

Deshaun Watson barely gets the attention from a quarterback standpoint, even though he earns $46 million per year. If someone like Watson, a multiple Pro Bowler, can’t get it together, then what hope do the rookies have?

More importantly, inexperienced players need reps with the first team. Gabriel had plenty, while Sanders reportedly had zero. It’s a recipe for disaster.

The thing that really irks me the most… because [Sanders] doesn’t get any reps… [My] backup for [the] majority of my career [in Carolina] was probably the biggest blessing of my career, to have a veteran in Derek Anderson. Ron Rivera still knew, ‘We’re one play away, kid’, from you not being available.

Cam Newton said

Browns’ offensive lineman revealed a shocking detail about Shedeur Sanders’ debut

The Browns started the season with Joe Flacco as QB1. Gabriel replaced Flacco after Stefanski benched him due to a string of poor results. The situation did not improve. Gabriel won just one game from five ahead of the big divisional clash against the Ravens on Sunday.

Cam Newton Feels Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Doesn't Want Shedeur Sanders to Succeed
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Near the end of the second quarter, Gabriel suffered a concussion. Stefanski took him off and sent Sanders in for the rest of the night. The Colorado graduate ended his first Browns outing with a QBR of 13.54.

His stats might have been better if he’d practiced with the first team. Veteran guard Wyatt Teller said the first time he heard Sanders’ cadence was during the Ravens game.

I think I have heard his cadence like, two or three times. I think going out of halftime, we all got on the line, and he said his cadence and we kind of got through it. Again, a lot of learning, but he played his heart out. We just fell short.

Wyatt Teller said after the game (H/T: ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi)

Fortunately for Shedeur, he may receive practice snaps during the week while Gabriel recovers from the concussion. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot tweeted that Sanders has a big chance of playing the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.

The Browns’ Shedeur Sanders is expected to start Sunday’s game in Las Vegas with Dillon Gabriel in the concussion protocol. Barring something unexpected, Sanders will make his starting debut, becoming the 42nd starter since 1999.

The Browns drafted Sanders in the fifth round even though experts projected the Colorado graduate as a top 10 pick. He played four seasons of college football at Jackson State and Colorado.

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