Kevin Byard reveals significance of Shedeur Sanders not getting a game ball after first Browns start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When it comes to the high-profile of Shedeur Sanders, almost every detail surrounding him and the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation is examined with a microscope.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhich is why it was so significant when Kevin Stefanski didn't award Sanders with a game ball after his first start and victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.
Chicago Bears veteran safety Kevin Byard revealed in an interview with NFL insider Josina Anderson what the little things can do in a relationship between a coach and a player, such as not awarding a game ball.
Kevin Byard talks about encouragement between coaches and players
"Everybody knows, everybody sees this guy (Sanders) is talented; & for him to go out there and get a win (in his 1st start), especially with the season that they’ve had, I think that would’ve been huge. You see the locker room of the teams that are winning, you see the teams that really care about each other, cause even from a coach’s to a player relationship," Byard told Anderson.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Until you can develop that type of trust with a player and coach, & a player knows that coach actually cares about them on a human level it’s hard to connect—to try to encourage this guy, or like say I need you to play better and have those tough conversations. Because if a guy don’t feel like you really care about him, it’s like..I don’t care about you."
As a 10-year veteran, Byard knows a thing or two about how relationships work in the NFL, and if what he's saying is true, it could be something of note between Sanders and Stefanski.
After all, everybody is on notice in Cleveland right now, and no jobs are guaranteed, whether you're a coach or player.
Sanders was unable to get a win in his second career start against the San Fransico 49ers, but if he can continue trending in the right direction, he may force Stefanski's hand.
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