Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders rebuked a reporter after the team’s 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills, saying he won’t answer questions that would pit members of the organization against each other.
With the Browns down by three points and facing fourth-and-2 from their own 44-yard line with 5:08 left in the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to keep the offense on the field. Sanders was sacked by Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau, giving the Bills good field position.
After the game, a reporter asked Sanders if he thought it was a good decision to go for it on fourth down. Sanders objected to the question.
“You can’t be asking me that question,” Sanders said. “Come on, man… if we want to change the narrative and change the franchise, we have to speak life. Those types of things separate us. A lot of the players get these types of questions. We want to be working with you all and we want to be proactive, but when questions are asked to us players and it’s pinning stuff against each other, come on now.”
Sanders said some of the questions being asked of players in the locker room have been a topic of discussion among the Browns players.
“We’re not going to be able to talk to them for real,” Sanders described as some of the dialogue that has taken place. “We’re not going to be able to give them what they need because that separates the team.’ That doesn’t help anything. It doesn’t help anything in any situation, no matter how you answer it.”
Sanders and the Browns were playing efficiently in the game, keeping drives going, while the defense held the Bills offense in check. He finished the game completing 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Once Browns running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a gruesome fibula fracture and dislocated ankle, the offense struggled. Two passes hit the hands of Browns receivers and were intercepted. The offensive line eventually gave way to Rousseau, who looked dominant coming off the edge in the fourth quarter.
Still, Sanders remained positive and thinks the team will build off the lessons learned after the loss.
“We’re not far from success,” Sanders said. “It’s all of us thinking the same thing at the same time. That’s all it is… There’s a lot that we did win. We won mentally today and that’s something I’ll take and move forward with.”
Sanders and the Browns will host the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday, Dec. 28, at 1 p.m. EST.
