Dillon Gabriel Clarifies Comments About Shedeur Sanders
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel clarified on Saturday that a comment made during an in-game interview was not intended as a dig at teammate Shedeur Sanders. After completing his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gabriel was asked during the CBS Sports broadcast about “ignoring the noise” surrounding the Browns’ quarterback competition.Your comment about the “animators” was interpreted by many on social media as a reference to Sanders, who, despite being selected in the fifth round, two rounds after Gabriel, has received more attention. Sanders’ fall in the draft, after he was widely expected to be selected in the first round, and his famous father, Colorado coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, have made him one of the NFL rookies with the highest profile this season. After the game, in which Gabriel completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and two turnovers (one interception and one fumble), he issued a clarification about those comments. Gabriel explained in his post-game press conference that he refers to the media as “entertainers” and that his quote in the game was something he had said before.“Yes, it’s part of this. You know, there are entertainers and there are competitors, and I totally get that. But my job is to compete. And that’s what I’m focused on,” Gabriel said.
Dillon Gabriel
Sanders, who didn’t play in Saturday’s game due to an oblique injury, shined in his preseason debut the previous week, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers. The two rookies and veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are competing for the team’s quarterback position, although Flacco has consistently received first-team reps in practice. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday that the decision on the team’s starting quarterback would come “sooner rather than later.” Cleveland is treating its final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at home on Saturday as a dress rehearsal, and the team is expected to play most of its starters.“Yes, first of all, I am for our team and everyone. I would never make that [comment about Sanders] and I’ve said that before, so that’s interesting, but for me I’ve explained that the cheerleaders are you, the competitors, that’s what I am, and all my teammates and we both have jobs to do, that’s all.”
Dillon Gabriel
Stefanski said he has “hopes” that Sanders and Pickett, the latter of whom hasn’t participated in 11-on-11 drills since he injured his hamstring on July 26, can increase their practice participation in the coming week, but will take it “day by day”.“I need to bring the football team here, talk to the players, that kind of thing,” Stefanski said. “We’re working towards, obviously, Week 1, that’s part of what this week is about, preparing our football team. So, we’ll make all those kinds of determinations in the coming days.”
Kevin Stefanski
