By Cole SullivanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Cleveland Browns recorded a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, earning their third win of the NFL season and going 1-0 with rookie Shedeur Sanders starting at quarterback.
Sanders made his first career start after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
On Monday morning, ESPN’s “First Take” co-host Stephen A. Smith weighed in on Sanders’ performance.
"I give credit where credit is due... because you know obviously the first week was awful," Smith said. "It was really, really good to see him perform. For him to have the opportunity after a few days of practice to really showcase his skill. And then you look at him. He's bigger than Dillon Gabriel, he clearly has a better arm, can spread the field better, can throw the deep ball."
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Stephen A. Smith also addressed former head coach Rex Ryan’s comments about Sanders’ postgame remarks on ESPN’s “Get Up” Monday morning.
“Outside of that, I also want to say this, and I want to piggyback off what Rex Ryan said on ‘Get Up’ this morning. Respectfully, we come from different perspectives," Smith added. "He is right when he says, you know, when we win, it’s us, and when we lose, it’s me when you play QB in the NFL. That is true, Rex. But be fair too… how many people come into the league and, before they’re able to pass gas, get scrutinized as much as Shedeur Sanders has been scrutinized? You have to take that into consideration, which will assist in why he said the things that came off the way that it did.”
...Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to officially name Sanders the starter for next week’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, but it would be quite surprising to see him return to the bench in favor of Gabriel. Such a move would not sit well with the city of Cleveland, which has already embraced Sanders since drafting him.
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