The Cleveland Browns know firsthand the downside of giving an opponent extra motivation with some ill-timed comments. Yet, heading into their game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, that didn’t stop Shedeur Sanders from repeating Jared Verse’s mistake from the week before.
With Sanders in line to take over for injured Deshaun Watson, he was asked what he had seen from the Saints’ defense while watching film. In his reply, he said that when he smiles, that means something, but he stopped short of revealing what that was.
If that answer had come from almost any other quarterback, it likely wouldn’t have generated a second thought. But because it was said by Sanders, it has become bulletin-board fodder in New Orleans.
As a result, Saints defender Carl Granderson is sending a warning to the Browns ahead of Sunday’s game, saying they know what Sanders has said and they will reply with a victory.
“We’re gonna come in with a chip on our shoulder, for sure. They’ve been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback’s gonna say. It’s going to be a good game for sure, so we’re gonna come out with the dub (W),” Granderson said.
"They've been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback said. […] It's going to be a good game for sure,” – Saints EDGE Carl Granderson responds to Shedeur Sanders. pic.twitter.com/Sei5eLk4rL
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 6, 2026
Cleveland should be able to turn the tables on Granderson, using his guarantee of a win as motivation of its own. It is a pretty bold statement coming from someone on a 2-5 team that has given up 103 points in its three games played at Caesars Superdome this season.
Despite that, the Saints are a growing betting favorite, with the line going up in large part because Sanders will be replacing Watson. It was already a difficult assignment, with the Browns playing a third straight road game while their hosts are coming off a bye, but it became even more difficult with Cleveland’s uncertain week at quarterback.
Watson looked to be no worse for wear after taking a hit to the head but finishing the 27-6 loss to the Steelers last Sunday. But after suffering symptoms during the week, he was put back into concussion protocol, and because he might not clear in time, Sanders was named the starter on Friday afternoon.
If he did see something during his preparation to exploit from the Saints, he’d better make it work in a win, or he will take more of the criticism for a loss than he would have otherwise.
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