Shedeur Sanders is the 42nd attempt at fixing the largest positional concern in sports

Jason Jones

•
Shedeur Sanders is the 42nd attempt at fixing the largest positional concern in sports image

Shedeur Sanders fans around the country have dubbed the Browns at Raiders game, “National Shedeur Sanders Day”, but how big is this performance really? On the surface, Sanders is a fifth-round pick getting his first start in November and should otherwise not garner this level of excitement.

For Sanders fans with no loyalty to Cleveland, its retribution for a draft slide deemed to be ‘disrespectful’ or based in non-football reasons. For the fans of Ohio’s north shore, this game represents the potential for so much more.

Every football fan has seen the ‘quarterbacks jersey’. One jersey that hung in the window of a Cleveland area business that included, at the time, over 35 starting quarterback names. While that has reached ‘meme’ levels, it speaks to a torment that has plagued a city for three decades.

Many outsiders believe the Cleveland quarterback conundrum started in 1999 when the team returned as an expansion team. For most Cleveland fans, the quarterback issue began in 1993 when then rookie head coach Bill Belichick waived longtime starter and Cleveland hero Bernie Kosar. Making Cleveland’s quarterback issue over 30 years old.

Many who have followed this positional soap opera believe it has reached ‘curse’ levels. In a sports world that accepts the "curse of the Bambino", this one could be explained by an irrational thought of a similar type.

The Red Sox were cursed for trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Just like an argument could be made that Cleveland was cursed when owner Art Modell told a reporter Jim Brown would be fined every day, he is late to camp. Jim Brown retired from the NFL in London the next day. However, it is explainable. Poor choices, an arrogant cleverness, and a devaluation of the importance of that position.

Almost 30 of the 42 starting quarterbacks since 1999 were bad ideas from the start. Leaning into the ‘he’ll be good enough’ idea. Names like Wynn, Pederson, McCown, Frye, Anderson, McCoy, Weeden, Hoyer, Kizer or Thompson-Robinson. Some names were big swings that in hindsight, lacked certain logic. Names like Garcia, Dilfer, Quinn, Delhomme, Campbell, Manziel, Griffin III and Watson.

For decades the Browns front office seemed to operate as if they believed they were cleverer than everyone else. This is why the 22nd overall pick has become a danger zone for Browns fans (Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel). Three picks most teams had no interest in. Many drafts that included most teams chasing the top prospect, Cleveland chose to zig while everyone else zagged. An idea that has failed consistently.

What makes No. 42 any different than the 41 before him?

Everything Shedeur Sanders is and everything he’s not creates optimism for a fanbase who hasn’t had a consistently ‘good’ quarterback since the debut of beanie babies and the first public mention of “the internet”. Sanders brings optimism because he represents the one thing Browns fans have not tried. Someone specifically built for this situation in particular.

Many Cleveland quarterbacks have failed because they followed similar paths. Have similar makeup. Even suffer the same pitfalls. Many cracked under the pressure of being the quarterback savior. Many others struggled to handle the demand from a fan base and media pool that are tired of waiting.

As his father and Colorado Buffaloes head coach has said many times, Shedeur was built for this. At no point in his college career did the younger Sanders have the best offensive line or running game. At no point was he the media darling for a top-rated program in the country. At no point was Sanders’ path paved with waves of five-star talent. The short version is Sanders has had to do more with less around him to be noticed. The most sacked quarterback in Colorado history. Sanders found some success in college knowing full well, everyone was gunning for him.

Despite narratives to the contrary, Sanders’ unique path and hall of fame father is also why fans should embrace the idea that the Sanders man known as “Grown” might actually be the answer to this 42-person question. At the end of the day, is the younger Sanders a ‘nepo baby’? Yes, but don’t disregard that idea just because most NFL stars were not. Shedeur is where he is because his father and NFL hall of famer provided a lifestyle that allowed his son to chase this dream. Yes, with resources and access almost every other young football player never had.

One of the worst kept secrets in projecting quarterbacks is the elite program vs non elite program argument. In college football we lean into elite, storied programs believing the best programs make the best quarterbacks. In the last quarter century of NFL football successful quarterbacks can be put into two categories. That haves and have nots. The haves represent the Alabamas, Ohio States and USCs of the world. The have nots are every program that had the quarterback without future NFL talent around him. 

Tom Brady, an afterthought in Michigan when Michigan wasn’t great. Peyton Manning couldn’t beat anyone when Tennessee was good but not great. Aaron Rodgers was believed to be a system quarterback who would not succeed outside of the Tedford system. Drew Brees was incredible, but no one feared Purdue on a national scale. Patrick Mahomes had an ‘unconventional style’ and many questioned his long-term viability in the league.

Ben Roethlisberger – Miami of Ohio. Kurt Warner – Northern Iowa. Lamar Jackson – Louisville. Russell Wilson – Wisconsin and NC State. Josh Allen – Wyoming. The vast majority of successful NFL quarterbacks in recent memory did not come from a top program surrounded by future NFL talent. Most of them were playing with future accountants and construction workers.

Sanders doesn't need to be elite, he just need to look the part

If Sanders plays well vs the Raiders, this idea will elevate to new levels. Fans from several places are going to react irrationally. It won’t be limited to the “just here for Shedeur” fans. It won’t be limited to the tried and true, die-hard Browns fans. Anyone with a rooting interest for the Cleveland Browns (even by outside fans who pity the fanbase) or Shedeur Sanders or Deion Sanders fans on any level will be united in their enthusiasm of the young Sanders.

Sanders does not need to be Tom Brady to garner legitimate excitement. He just needs to look like he belongs as a starting NFL quarterback. Can he protect the ball? Can he move the offense? Can he operate within the framework, but also take his shots when they are there? Cleveland has a top 5 defense. They have the second best rookie running back in Quinshon Judkins (on pace to exceed 1,100 yards rushing with zero training camp practice). They have two pass catching threats at tight end. Sanders does not need to be the best player on the field today. He just needs to look like a starting NFL quarterback, and if he does, millions of people are going to lose their minds.  

The most Browns thing that could ever happen is to find their quarterback that reverses their positional quandary in the one year where everyone else passed on that quarterback. 

More college football news: 

Staff Writer