An NFL fan was taken aback when Shedeur Sanders fell to the 144th pick in this year’s draft, so much so that he has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the NFL.
The plaintiff, who identifies as a Georgia native and supports the University of Colorado football team, claims that statements supposedly made by Sanders about his interviews being subpar and not being ready affected his reputation and draft position.
This lawsuit argues that the situation breaches the Civil Rights Act of 1964, suggesting that race may have played a role in the decisions surrounding Sanders’ draft.
There has been considerable conversation on social media regarding Sanders’ slide. For instance, former Congressman Jamal Bowman brought up the notion that “America continues to fear strong black men,” sparking discussion between notable figures like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy.
Interestingly, the first overall pick this year was also a Black quarterback, which makes it even more complex. The last three players chosen first in the NFL Draft have also been Black quarterbacks.
The lawsuit claims that the fan endured “deliberate emotional distress and trauma,” citing that the NFL’s actions and dissemination of harmful statements led to significant frustration and psychological harm.
Fox News Digital reached out to the NFL for a statement but has yet to receive a response.
On the Tuesday before the draft, comments from an unnamed assistant coach on Sanders hinted at serious concerns about his performance during interviews, describing it as the worst experience he had ever encountered. The coach noted issues with Sanders’ preparedness, attitude, and his tendency to blame teammates.
Despite all this, neither Sanders nor his family have publicly expressed dissatisfaction about his draft experience. He was eventually picked up by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, where he will compete with fellow rookie Dilongabriel, drafted earlier in the third round, for the starting quarterback position. The team has announced that Sanders will wear jersey number 12.
