During the first half of the Cleveland Browns’ game against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, quarterback Shedeur Sanders did not look like he was worthy of the starting job he was given with Deshaun Watson injured. It turns out, there may have been a reason for that.
During the CBS broadcast of the 23-22 overtime loss, a conversation between Sanders and Cleveland head coach Todd Monken was relayed by sideline reporter A.J. Ross, who was working the game at Caesars Superdome. In it, Sanders had a different idea of what the Browns were going to try to do against the Saints.
Addressing that report on Tuesday, FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd raised some eyebrows with his Sanders take, saying that it is just another example of the young quarterback’s immaturity.
“This says it all. CBS Sports reporter A.J. Ross covered the Browns-Saints on Sunday. That person reported that Todd Monken asked Shedeur, ‘What do you want to go through on our opening script of the game?’ Shedeur started suggesting plays that they didn’t have in their playbook. Monken, according to the story, said, ‘No, stuff that we’ve practiced,’” Cowherd said.
"There is a reason every team including Cleveland passed 4 or 5 times. If one time is a coincidence and two is a pattern, what's nineteen? The truth."@colincowherd on another report of Shedeur Sanders' immaturity pic.twitter.com/kVd8I14gsD
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 10, 2026
Ross did state that Monken was laughing when telling the story of the exchange, but Sanders’ ability to prepare and handle his job with professionalism has always been one of the major criticisms against him. So even if he was joking, this report does nothing to dispel that notion, and could make his reputation even worse.
If this perception is widely held around the league, it is no wonder that Sanders has not attracted much interest heading up to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. It may also be why the Browns were reportedly quick to reinstate Watson as their Week 10 starter, although an official announcement has still not been made.
Sanders had just 38 yards passing on eight attempts as the Browns’ season-long first-half struggles continued. With the opening script long gone and Cleveland in a much freer comeback mode, the second-year pro did throw for 187 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, with two touchdown passes.
Watson, as a veteran, was always seen by Monken as better suited to run his offense as instructed, which is why he was given the starting job in the first place. Sanders may be better suited to make plays outside of a rigid structure, which perhaps gives him a higher ceiling.
It is doubtful that Monken would have told Ross that story if he were afraid of it becoming public, so perhaps this is a much bigger issue to everyone else than it is to the Browns.
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