{"id":130858,"date":"2025-08-09T04:42:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T04:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/130858\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T04:42:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T04:42:20","slug":"danny-kanell-calls-out-stephen-a-smith-robert-griffin-iii-following-shedeur-sanders-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/130858\/","title":{"rendered":"Danny Kanell calls out Stephen A. Smith, Robert Griffin III following Shedeur Sanders debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Cleveland Browns announced Shedeur Sanders<\/a><\/strong> would start Friday\u2019s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, some analysts expressed concern. They wondered if the former Colorado<\/a><\/strong> star was being \u201cset up to fail\u201d by starting the preseason opener.<\/p>\n

Through the first half, Sanders impressed, which led to a wave of reaction on social media. That drew a strong response from CBS Sports\u2019 Danny Kanell<\/strong>, who called out the about-face he saw from some analysts.<\/p>\n

The idea of Sanders being \u201cset up to fail\u201d made its way around multiple times. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III<\/strong> posted it on X<\/a><\/strong> shortly after the announcement, and ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith<\/strong> also said the same<\/a><\/strong> this week.<\/p>\n

\n

Just a PSA for all NFL fans: All the same dudes who said Shedeur Sanders was \u201cset up to fail\u201d bizarrely because he was forced to start a preseason game (\ud83d\ude31)will now say he should be QB1. Both takes are stupid. Just don\u2019t fall for either!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) August 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cJust a PSA for all NFL fans: All the same dudes who said Shedeur Sanders was \u2018set up to fail\u2019 bizarrely because he was forced to start a preseason game will now say he should be QB1,\u201d Kanell wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cBoth takes are stupid. Just don\u2019t fall for either!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanders looked impressive as he got the start Friday. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in over two quarters of action. At the time of his departure, the Browns had a 21-7 lead over the Carolina Panthers.<\/p>\n

The expectation was Sanders would play 50 snaps in Friday\u2019s game, Browns coach\u00a0Kevin Stefanski<\/strong>\u00a0said. He wound up playing the entire first half and the first part of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

Sanders got off to a bit of a slow start with a three-and-out, but had the Cleveland offense moving on the second drive of the game. However, on fourth down, he ran backward before eventually throwing the ball away. He bounced back well from there, though, finding Davis for his first touchdown in an NFL uniform on the ensuing possession.<\/p>\n

Sanders initially came in as the No. 4 quarterback on the Browns\u2019\u00a0initial depth chart<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0earlier this week.\u00a0Joe Flacco<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was listed as QB1, followed by\u00a0Kenny Pickett<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Dillon Gabriel<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. However, Pickett is dealing with an injury, and Stefanski said the Browns are being careful with Gabriel as he also nurses an injury.<\/p>\n

That opened the door for Sanders to get the nod Friday night after he went No. 144 overall in the\u00a02025 NFL Draft<\/a><\/strong>, ending his surprising slide down the board. Stefanski said the former\u00a0Colorado<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0star showed his excitement about the opportunity at hand.<\/p>\n