Cleveland’s quarterback room is already a heated competition, and things got a little spicy on Saturday night when Dillon Gabriel found himself clarifying remarks that fans thought were aimed at rookie teammate Shedeur Sanders.
Gabriel, handed his first start this weekend after Sanders impressed in his debut against the Panthers last week, was asked on the sideline how he manages to “tune out the noise.”
His response immediately drew attention.
“Entertainers and Competitors” Sparks Backlash
“There’s entertainers and there’s competitors,” Gabriel told CBS’ Aditi Kinkhabwala. “And I totally understand that, and my job is to compete.
And that’s what I’m focused on doing.”
Fans quickly interpreted this as a subtle dig at Sanders, who has been a high-profile addition to the Browns.
Social media erupted with criticism:
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“Proof that there are many ways to be a bad teammate,” one fan wrote.
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“He thought this comment was slick,” another chimed in.
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“Why is he dissing Sanders when Shedeur is literally better?”
Gabriel Explains Himself
After the game, in which Gabriel threw for 143 yards and an interception, he addressed the backlash, clarifying that the “entertainers” he referred to were actually members of the media, not his teammates.
“All you in this room are entertainers,” he said. “You have a job to do, and I respect it, right? And I’m a competitor, so I have a job to do as well.”
He also stressed that he had used the term “entertainers” previously and emphasized his commitment to the team.
“I’m all about our team… each other. I would never make that — and I’ve said it before.
Entertainers are you all, competitor, that’s what I am, and all my teammates, and we both have jobs to do.”
Browns Beat Eagles as Sanders Sits Out
With Gabriel and Tyler Huntley at quarterback, the Browns defeated the Eagles 22-13.
Sanders, who threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns in his first outing, did not see the field against Philadelphia.
Sanders made a memorable entrance in his debut against Carolina, walking into the stadium with a boombox in tow, but despite the flair, he remains behind in the pecking order.
Injury Setback Slows Sanders’ Momentum
Things took a turn for Sanders this week when he left a joint practice with the Eagles after suffering an oblique injury, later revealed as a sprain.
He will now aim to recover in time for the Browns’ preseason finale against the Rams next Saturday.
The Road Ahead for Shedeur Sanders
Sanders’ journey to the Browns’ roster has been rocky. Drafted surprisingly in the fifth round despite being once projected as a top-five pick, he reportedly left teams unimpressed during interviews and chose not to throw at the NFL Combine.
Now, he is competing with Gabriel, Tyler Huntley, Kenny Pickett (recovering from a hamstring injury), and veteran Joe Flacco.
Reports indicate he has yet to receive first-team reps in practice, even after his promising debut.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam previously stated that drafting Sanders was not his personal decision.
Quarterback Competition Heating Up
The battle in Cleveland’s quarterback room is far from settled.
With Gabriel clarifying his comments and Sanders battling injury setbacks, the preseason is shaping up to be a critical period for these young signal-callers.
Fans and media alike will be watching closely as each player vies for their spot under center.
