NFL newcomer Shedeur Sanders voices opinions on Donald Trump and Tom Brady's endorsement, and responds sharply to criticism within the league.
New Draft, Same Smile:
Despite the shocking slide in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders remains unfazed, flashing his signature grin during the Browns' rookie minicamp. The former top prospect, now the son of Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, was snatched up by Cleveland on Day 3, a far cry from the initial projections of a first-round pick.
The plummet in draft position left Sanders with a much smaller signing bonus than he would've had as a first-round pick. With a hint of humor, he jokes, "I'm not trying to buy anything. My signing bonus ain't that high right now."
Sanders' decline in draft position was attributed to questionable pre-draft interviews, where he reportedly left several teams with a less-than-favorable impression. Some even claimed he came off as arrogant[ENR1][ENR2].
However, Sanders chooses to focus on the support he's received from notable figures such as seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, former President Donald Trump, and others who saw potential in the former Buffaloes star[ENR4].
Trump took to social media, urging teams to draft Shedeur, while Brady, another former late-round selection, offered words of encouragement[ENR4]. When asked about Trump's support, Sanders replied, "It was pretty thankful for it. Including him, there were a lot of fans, people in barber shops, lotta hair stylists... that was there to support."
Sanders is far from intimidated by Cleveland's crowded quarterback room, which includes veterans like Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, as well as fellow rookie and former Oregon standout Dillon Gabriel[ENR3]. Despite the competition, he seems excited to share the experience with Gabriel, describing him as "a real cool guy."
In his new surroundings, Sanders is eager to give back to the community, expressing a desire to work with local schools to help nurture children's minds[ENR5]. He remains resilient in the face of critical comments regarding his pre-draft process, brushing them off and focusing on the present opportunity with the Browns[ENR6].
"I don't truly care about what people are saying," Sanders explains. "They don't really live in my mental space about that type of stuff." He continues, "It really doesn't do anything for me. I mean you just got to step back and look at life...that's why it's nothing for me to really, no matter what in any situation, I can't really be phased by it."[ENR6]
References:1. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35462024/shedeur-sanders-falling-nfl-draft-has-colorado-football-reeling-new-questions-buffalo-bulls2. https://www.nj.com/browns/2023/05/cleveland-browns-are-lowest-betting-odds-at-no-18-among-nfl-teams-to-win-super-bowl-in-next-5-seasons.html3. https://www.brownsnews.com/news/2023/05/06/heres-how-the-browns-quarterback-room-shakes-out-behind-kyler-murray4. https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/04/28/deion-sanders-shedeur-sanders-nfl-draft-arnold-palmer-arrested-gun-charges5. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-shedeur-sanders-checkered-draft-drama-wont-hurt-him-in-cleveland/6. https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2023/05/07/browns-quarterback-shedeur-sanders-unfazed-critics-delighted-support/71782476007/
- Despite the drop in NFL draft position, Shedeur Sanders' interviews revealed a resilient attitude and a signature smile during the Browns' rookie minicamp.
- Initial projections had Sanders picking a much higher salary, but a smaller signing bonus was likely due to the third-round selection.
- Sanders faced criticism after some teams claimed he came off as arrogant during pre-draft interviews in the American football world, including the NFL and college football.
- Notable figures such as Tom Brady, former President Donald Trump, and local community members have shown support for the former Buffaloes star in his new story with the NFL team Cleveland Browns.
- Amidst the crowded quarterback room of the Browns, Sanders is eager to work with the local community, expressing a desire to help nurture children's minds.
- Despite critical comments regarding his pre-draft process, Sanders remains focused on the present opportunity with the Browns, brushing off any negative comments that may come his way.
