Cam Newton Says Kevin Stefanski Wants Shedeur Sanders to Fail

There are innumerable ways to put Shedeur Sanders professional debut into perspective. Kyle Hamilton made it painfully obvious what his opinion is, by teabagging Sanders with his own celebration on the rookie's third career snap. 

Then there's the statistical measure, which is not the way Sanders dreamed it would be when he was being projected to go in the Top 12 of the draft:

But for a perspective on the topic unlike any other in all the world, we should all look to Cam Newton. Because his is an absolute doo-oo-zy:

… going to see." 

There's a lot to unpack here, so let's take it in manageable, easily-digested, bite-sized pieces, shall we? 

Newton obviously knows a thing or two about being a rookie quarterback on a terrible team. He was drafted by Carolina after they had the league worst 2-14 record and fired the coaching staff. Then tripled their win total in his first season. Two years later he had them 12-4. So having finished 4th in the NFC South without Newton, with him they finished 3rd, 2nd and then 1st for the next three yeas and went to a Super Bowl. So he speaks with a rare moral authority on this topic few human beings can match, due to his experience. 

But crikey. Suggesting Kevin Stefanski is intentionally setting his fourth string quarterback to fail is a wild claim, indeed. I mean, what does Stefanski hope to gain by this bold gambit, exactly? Que bono? "Who benefits?" Is Stefanski part of some evil cabal, hellbent on undermining this one QB's career before it begins? A group of Death Eaters, plotting to destroy this young wizard before he can grow to become a powerful threat to their Dark Lord?

Or is Stefanski simply OK with sacrificing his own career as long as he takes Sanders with him? Because if this is even infinitesimally true this would be professional suicide. On his watch, the Browns have gone from an 11-win with their first playoff victory in over a quarter century to the third worst record in the league at the moment. Six seasons in, he's coaching for his job. And what, he's willing to strap the metaphorical C-4 vest on just to take Shedeur Sanders with him? Please make it make sense. 

But that second part is even more bonkers. If you're someone who's been pulling for Sanders all along, the one thing you've been wanting all along is to see your hero get his shot. When he wasn't practicing with the first group in camp and Dillon Gabriel was getting reps before him, the pro-Shedeur people complained about how unfair it was. When he was put at the bottom of the QB depth chart, they decried the injustice. And now that he's finally getting to play, they should, and I'm quoting now, "not want him to take the field." 

So the one thing they should root against, is their guy getting an opportunity. At least not this opportunity. Some other opportunity. Because Cleveland sucks, "that's going to be consistently the display we're going to see." For instance, if one of the better passing attacks in the league like the Patriots, Rams, Lions, Eagles or Bills would be kind enough to have their quarterback step aside so Shedeur could play there, that would be nice. But for the team that actually drafted him to put him under center to show what he's capable of, that's setting him up to fail. Or something. Duly noted.

What all of this speaks to though, is the entire reason Sanders went 144th instead of 12th. Because his talent level does not rise to the level of the pain in the ass that comes with having him on your roster. If the Browns had taken Kyle McCord out of Syracuse instead (he went 181st to Philly), no one would be going on basic cable to accuse Stefanski of plotting to ruin his fourth stringer's career right now. They'd simply be looking at McCord as a young prospect who needs time to develop, and that would be the end of the conversation. 

Stefanski may or may not survive the offseason. He's got to be feeling that seatwarmer through his khakis right now. But regardless of who has the job in Cleveland in 2026, he'll have to ask himself if the circus that comes from having a celebrity at the bottom of his QB depth chart is worth the hassle.