Shannon Sharpe blasts Browns for Shedeur Sanders' decision amid NFL debut

Matt Sullivan

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Shannon Sharpe blasts Browns for Shedeur Sanders' decision amid NFL debut image

The Cleveland Browns in Week 11 of the NFL season finally got their first look at Shedeur Sanders in the offense. Dillon Gabriel left with a concussion, and Sanders had a chance to act as the starter for Cleveland.

But he struggled a lot. It wasn't a good debut for Sanders, but against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, and being thrust into the starting lineup due to injury, there were bound to be some bumps. After the game, a revelation from Kevin Stefanski made things even worse.

Stefanski said that Sanders has yet to get any reps with the first-team offense. This revelation led to Shannon Sharpe, on The Nightcap Show with Chad Johnson, to blast the Browns organization for their "malpractice" with Sanders.

Shannon Sharpe blasts the Browns for Shedeur Sanders 'Malpractice'

"Kevin Stefanski to say the first time Shedeur Sanders had taken a snap with the starters, the ones, was malpractice," Shannon said. "... So for Shedeur Sanders, we are in Week 11, the man got drafted in May. And at no point in time had he taken one snap with the ones, is very, very disappointing."

Sharpe is calling the Browns' lack of first-team reps for Sanders "malpractice." Sanders has been the backup since Week 5, and Cleveland easily could've given Sanders some first-team reps at some point in the month and a half since.

Sanders was unprepared for his first opportunity in the NFL, as he went 4-16 for 47 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, two sacks for 17 yards lost, and an intentional grounding penalty.

He struggled a lot in his debut, but Sharpe is putting some of the blame on the Browns for not having Sanders prepared enough with the starting offense.

Sharpe explains that the Denver Broncos, with John Elway, would still give the backup quarterback some first-team reps just in case, "Even when John (Elway) was taking the majority of the reps... If we did 10 reps in a period, the backup would take two. Just in case."

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But the Browns didn't give Sanders any first-team reps, much to the chagrin of Sharpe and others in the NFL. His performance in Week 11 wasn't great, but the main gripe that Sharpe is calling the Browns out for is not putting their backup quarterback in a position to succeed.

If Sanders were a veteran who had starting experience, the lack of first-team reps would be more digestible. But he's a rookie, and that lack of first-team reps to build chemistry was likely partially responsible for his poor NFL debut.

While Sanders' debut didn't go well, he wasn't put in a position to succeed by the Browns organization. It's "malpractice" to not get Sanders, or any backup, first-team reps in some capacity, according to Sharpe.

Sanders will potentially get his first start in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, as Gabriel nurses a concussion, which could keep him out for a week.

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Editorial Team