Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III just hit the Cleveland Browns with a massive accusation, saying they are straight up setting Shedeur Sanders up to fail in their quarterback competition. This isn’t just some casual hot take, either. RGIII laid out exactly why he thinks the Browns never truly intended to start Sanders, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense when you look at how they are handling this whole thing.
Is This Even a Fair Fight? RGIII Says No Way
From the jump of the offseason, the Browns’ QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders felt like it was leaning Watson’s way. Sanders has closed the gap some, but heading into the preseason, Watson was still a step ahead. Watson started the first preseason game, and Sanders is slated for Week 2. That alone felt a little off, right? But the real kicker, according to Griffin, is that Sanders isn’t going to get to run the first-team offense in the second preseason game like Watson did in Week 1. That’s a huge problem.
Griffin didn’t mince words on Twitter/X, declaring, “I’m convinced the Cleveland Browns never had any intention to start Shedeur Sanders.” He went on to explain, “Shedeur starting the 2nd preseason game without the rest of the Browns starters makes zero sense. It’s impossible to get a comparable evaluation in a QB competition if Shedeur doesn’t get to play with all the starters.” Think about that for a second. How can you truly evaluate a guy when he’s out there with backups while the other guy got the full starter treatment? If the Browns’ starters really aren’t playing in that second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Sanders is totally getting the short end of the stick. Trying to prove your worth with backups? That’s an uphill battle if there ever was one, and Griffin believes it’s completely by design.
It’s a Business, But At What Cost?
Griffin understands the business side of the game, especially with Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed contract. He gets it. But he also called out the Browns for making “unnecessary noise” for the media, the locker room, and the fans by not just declaring Watson the starter from the beginning if that was always the plan. “Shedeur doesn’t have a $230 million fully guaranteed contract,” Griffin stated. “It’s a business. I get it. But the Browns could have saved the locker room and the fans from a lot of unnecessary noise from the media by just declaring they planned to start Deshaun Watson no matter what.”
Griffin’s frustration is understandable. While the Browns might not have “rigged” the competition, they definitely gave Sanders a much tougher path. Sure, if Watson doesn’t return to Pro Bowl form, Sanders might get a chance later in the season. But for now, Shedeur Sanders has to go out there in Preseason Week 2 against the Bills and play so lights-out with backups that he forces their hand. It’s a massive challenge, but the spotlight is on him now more than ever to prove Griffin and everyone else wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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