Shedeur Sanders Reveals How He Really Feels About Cleveland Browns Fans Booing Deshaun Watson
Sanders speaks up as tensions rise.
Shedeur Sanders wasn’t happy after Cleveland Browns fans relentlessly booed Deshaun Watson during Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, and he made sure to speak out about what he thinks.
Sanders called out the crowd for turning on his teammate, telling fans that Watson deserves more respect, no matter what their personal feelings are or where they stand on the starting quarterback battle.
“I don’t appreciate that at all,” Sanders said. “Just regardless of competition, we all human beings, and I think we all need to understand that.”
Sanders also thanked the Browns fans for showing up while asking them to keep the bigger picture in mind.
“Just for all the fans and everything, I really appreciate ya’ll showing up and everything,” Sanders said. “And however ya’ll feel about the situation, about with Deshaun, about with everything, still I think it’s about bigger purpose of just respect.”
Watson Calls The Treatment Disrespectful
Deshaun Watson (Photo Via Imagn Images)
Watson also addressed the crowd’s reaction after the game. He called the treatment disrespectful after completing 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and throwing one interception.
“It has nothing to do with performance. It’s a little more personal than that. It’s a disrespectful thing,” Watson said, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic.
Watson pointed to his last game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. He tore his Achilles in that game, and he said the same fans cheered after the injury.
The quarterback battle now faces more attention after Sanders delivered a solid performance against Buffalo. Several analysts quickly argued that Cleveland should move forward with the rookie.
“I mean, the Browns simply cannot name Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback after this,” Ben Axelrod wrote.
Brad Stainbrook also called for the Browns to cut Watson.
Head coach Todd Monken still has a major decision ahead. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Monken expected to make the call between Sanders and Watson by Monday.
Fowler said, “What Shedeur Sanders does today is a major data point in the process. He won’t have all the starters with him, but he will have a few guys with the first-team offense going at it.”
Monken will review the recent tape with his staff before making the decision.
The Browns will face the New England Patriots in their final preseason game next Thursday. That game could give Monken one more look before Cleveland settles its Week 1 quarterback plans.
