When it comes to clutch performances, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had some Tom Brady-like game-winning drives during his days at Colorado. Like the 7-time Super Bowl champion, he also has something else in common. He’s a late-round pick with something to prove.
Chalk it up as added motivation after being selected with the No. 144 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In fact, he wasn’t even the first quarterback selected by his own team. One team that was linked as a potential landing spot for Sanders, the Las Vegas Raiders, passed on taking a quarterback which was a surprise given that Tom Brady is the minority owner.
Shedeur Sanders has a prime opportunity in Cleveland
As someone who has shown support for Sanders, Brady was asked about Sanders’ slide in the draft during an interview on the Impaulsive podcast. Taken No. 199 back in the 2021 NFL Draft, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback didn’t really have an answer for the slide but used his own experience to motivate the young quarterback.
“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft. I was [pick] 199. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.’”, Brady said.
Sound advice from a quarterback who took advantage of the opportunity he was given in 2021 to lead the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl victory. He not only took Drew Bledsoe’s job, but he went on to be the face of the franchise. Can Sanders do that with the Browns?
If he does, he will have to beat out Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel to get a chance. He has the talent to do it, he has the motivation and what Brady further advised is having the work ethic to become a leader and win over his teammates.
“He’s goota show up every day…as a quarterback you have to be a leader,” Brady continued. “To Be a leader is: Do I care about my teammates, and do I care about what we’re trying to accomplish? Rules one and two. And I would say that to every quarterback that I come across. …That’s what’s endearing to your teammates. You’re not just appealing to your 22-year-old rookie. You’re appealing to the coach who doesn’t want to get fired. You’re appealing to the owner who has made an investment in you.”
One could say Brady’s rise as a franchise quarterback helped define the legacy of Bill Belichick. He also helped make Robert Kraft one of the most respected owners in the NFL. Brady did that through a work ethic that defined the Patriots Way during the team’s two decades of dominance. Sanders has an opportunity to turn his NFL slide into a legacy. He must approach the game as “we” vs “me” no matter how motivated he is to show the rest of the NFL that they made a mistake passing on him.
The only way to prove doubters and critics wrong is to perform. Not only perform but make players around you better. Everyone who follows Sanders know the confidence is there, now he needs to show that he has the fortitude to be a face of a franchise.