Did Dillon Gabriel just take a shot at Shedeur Sanders?
As the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback battle heats up, Dillon Gabriel seemed to have made a jab at Shedeur Sanders after his preseason debut.
Drama on the field, drama off the field? The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback crisis has been going on for so many years, you may be feeling totally numb to it by now. But Cleveland’s new rookies are bringing back the intrigue.
While Shedeur Sanders was expected to be a top-10 draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the Browns ended up taking him in the fifth round, behind a different rookie quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, whom they took in the third. Both have since had their preseason debuts, and the battle is heating up indeed.
Browns rookie QB battle heats up as Gabriel takes shot at Sanders?
The Browns will likely start veteran Joe Flacco as their QB1 when the regular season begins. They also have veteran Kenny Pickett on the roster behind him. However, in the Browns’ first preseason game, Pickett and Gabriel were both recovering from injuries, while Flacco was being rested as the presumed starter.
That left Sanders with the opportunity to prove himself, and that he did. He had an outstanding debut, scoring two touchdowns. But the following week, he suffered an oblique injury, opening the door for Gabriel, who’d since recovered, to play in the Browns’ second preseason game without having to switch off with Sanders.
Both got their own preseason debuts to themselves. While Gabriel got off to a hot start, he made a few costly mistakes that could set him back a bit. But what’s got fans buzzing from that game was what Gabriel said during his sideline interview mid-game.
“There’s entertainers, and there’s competitors, and I totally understand that. My job is to compete, and that’s what I’m focused on doing.”
Some fans immediately speculated that this was a veiled shot at Sanders, known for his flashiness and media spotlight as Deion Sanders’ son. Others argued Gabriel was simply contrasting his approach to football with the in-game media obligations, not targeting anyone specifically. (The question was about doing interviews in the middle of the game.)
On social media, reactions ranged from criticism - accusing Gabriel of stirring up QB-room drama - to defense, noting the quote was taken out of context. While the comment may fuel debate among fans, those inside the Browns organization, including Sanders himself, are unlikely to see it as anything more than an awkwardly phrased answer.
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