By Reice ShipleyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberCleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders accomplished something that hasn't been done by a Browns player in 30 years when he led his team to a victory in his first career start in Week 12. Despite this, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski opted not to give him a game ball after the impressive outing, a decision he stands by heading into Week 13.
Some have been critical of how Stefanski has handled Sanders throughout his rookie season. Others have outright declared that there may be some underlying tension between the former Colorado product and his head coach, which led to him sitting on the bench for so long before he finally got his chance to start.
While Sanders outright denied those claims this week, the decision from Stefanski not to give Sanders a game ball certainly didn't sit right to some media talking heads.
...More news: NFLVikings QB Max Brosmer Gets Bad News Ahead of First Career Start
The former Coach of the Year discussed not giving Sanders a game ball this week, explaining how he simply believed that All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett deserved the recognition after his three-sack performance.
"Every game, you go into it trying to just highlight guys,” said Stefanski. “Myles [Garrett] got a game ball. I thought he was probably pretty worthy. But you’re just trying to constantly recognize your guys. We spent time [this week], as well, pointing out all of our guys and the jobs they did. Pointed out Gage Larvadain having a big punt return, which was huge for our team. Your D-line doesn’t get 10 sacks unless the coverage is really good. Obviously, a rookie starting his first game on the road getting a win is huge. So you acknowledge all that with your team."
Loading twitter content...
More news: Tom Brady Dealt Blame for Raiders Disastrous Season by NFL Insider
To be fair to Stefanski, he did acknowledge Sanders in his postgame speech following the Week 12 win. So it's not like Sanders' solid performance went unnoticed.
Still, we have seen instances where other coaches around the league give game balls to multiple players that made a big impact. It certainly would have been nice for Sanders to get a game ball to not only remember his first career start, but also know that he has the support of the Browns coaching staff.
On the bright side, Sanders is set to start for Cleveland in its Week 13 game against the San Francisco 49ers. So maybe he can continue to prove to Stefanski that he is the right man to lead the Browns' franchise into the future at the quarterback position.
For more on the Cleveland Browns and all things NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NFLEagles’ Jalen Hurts Debuts ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ Pair Created Alongside CHOP Patients2 min read
NFLRaiders Emerge as Predicted Landing Spot for 12-TD Wide Receiver3 min read
NFLCowboys Hit With Wild Prediction Following Chiefs Win3 min read
NFLNFL Insider Believes Ravens Are Struggling Due to Major Lamar Jackson Issue3 min read
NFLCommanders See Key Injury Progress from Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown2 min read
NFLFormer Top-5 QB Interested in Trade to Vikings to Compete With JJ McCarthy3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
U.S.Pam Bondi Under Pressure After Worst Week Yet9 min read
NewsUS Halts All Asylum Claims After National Guard Shootings4 min read
PoliticsState Department Expands Visa Pause to Afghan Passport Carriers3 min read
NewsNo Guardsman Has Stepped Back After DC Shooting: Governor4 min read
NewsIndonesian Floods Death Toll Tops 300 as Search and Rescue Continues3 min read
NewsDonald Trump Secures $75 Million Northwestern Deal: ‘Huge Win’4 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
IllinoisProgram Giving $500 Monthly Checks to Americans Extended Into 20264 min read
Donald TrumpMap Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 14 inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Delay All Travel’3 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
