Shannon Sharpe Blasts Browns Owner Over Shedeur Sanders Remarks: “Why Is He Still Around?”

The Cleveland Browns’ decision to draft Shedeur Sanders with the 144th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft immediately made headlines. While the rookie quarterback has yet to play a single snap of professional football, he has already become one of the most discussed—and polarizing—players of the offseason. Now, comments from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam have ignited a fresh wave of controversy, drawing sharp criticism from NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and others.

Haslam’s Comments Spark Backlash

Speaking to the press at the Browns’ most recent training camp, Haslam made it clear that selecting Sanders was not his idea. “If you would have told me on Friday night, driving home, y’all are picking Shedeur, I’d say, ‘That’s not happening,’” Haslam said. “At the end of the day, Andrew Berry made the call to pick Shedeur.”

Haslam’s public distancing from the pick has raised eyebrows across the league. For many, it was a surprising admission—especially since Sanders, the former Colorado Buffaloes star and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was expected to bring not only talent but also significant media attention to Cleveland.

Shannon Sharpe: “Why Y’all Still Got the Man?”

Shannon Sharpe, never one to shy away from controversy, was quick to criticize Haslam’s remarks on his show Nightcap. “Who asked him that? Why did he feel the need to share that information?” Sharpe asked. “That’s unprompted. You’re dry snitching. Nobody asked you, ‘What did you think you were going to take Shedeur in?’ Nobody asked you that. I get he’s the owner, but… If you feel this way about Shedeur, why y’all still got the man? It seems like every time I turn around, somebody is trying to take a dig at him.”

Sharpe’s co-host, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, echoed these sentiments, noting that Haslam has never before distanced himself from a draft pick in this manner. “He’s never done this before,” Johnson said. “Since 2000, the Cleveland Browns have had 35 different starting quarterbacks. 35 different quarterbacks, but now you want to say that Shedeur Sanders wasn’t your pick? That’s probably why it’s going to work, because you had no dealings with him being drafted. Watch how god works.”

A Troubling Pattern—or a Fresh Start?

Haslam’s comments are particularly concerning given the Browns’ tumultuous history at the quarterback position. With 35 different starting quarterbacks since 2000, the franchise has struggled to find stability under center. For some, Haslam’s remarks suggest a lack of unity and support for the team’s newest signal-caller—raising questions about how Sanders will be treated as he begins his NFL career.

Despite the controversy, Johnson remains optimistic, suggesting that the Browns’ lack of direct involvement in Sanders’ selection may actually bode well for the rookie. “That’s probably why it’s going to work,” he said.

Sanders’ Status and the Quarterback Competition

Sanders’ start with the Browns has been rocky. He was recently held out of training camp activities due to soreness in his throwing arm, and even when healthy, has seen limited opportunities with the first-team offense. With Kenny Pickett sidelined by a hamstring injury, the competition for the starting quarterback job is wide open, but it remains unclear whether Sanders will be given a fair shot.

What’s Next for Sanders and the Browns?

As the Browns navigate this latest controversy, all eyes will be on how the team handles Sanders’ development and whether he’ll get the chance to prove himself on the field. For now, the rookie quarterback finds himself at the center of a media storm—not for his play, but for the words of the man who owns his team.