Mangini Downplays Sanders’ Speeding Incidents
Eric Mangini, former head coach of the Browns, hasn’t rushed to criticize Shedeur Sanders following a couple of speeding tickets.
He seemed to minimize the situation regarding Sanders, who racked up two speeding violations: once driving 91 mph in a 65-mph zone and another time at 101 mph in a 60-mph area, and this all happened during Sanders’ early days as a rookie quarterback with Cleveland.
“I haven’t loved it since my fifth draft pick,” Mangini expressed in a recent segment on FS1’s “Swarm” with Colin Cowherd. “I don’t appreciate that it’s happened multiple times.”
He drew a comparison, saying, “This is like a kid who’s been away from home for the first time. There are a few hiccups here and there.” Mangini indicated that opinions may vary on how seriously to treat Sanders’ speeding tickets.
He also remarked, “I think this is the first time he’s been out from under his father’s watch, and the pressure might be intensifying. Is he going to handle things the same way you would? Probably not, especially given the legal issues the Browns’ quarterbacking scenario has faced in recent years.”
Of course, one might say this isn’t a huge deal given that no one was injured in either instance.
But speeding can lead to more serious consequences if something were to go wrong.
The Browns are addressing the matter internally with Sanders, who mentioned he’s “handling the tickets.”
He admitted, “I personally made some wrong choices, and I can own that. I’ve made some good choices too. I’ve learned from them.”
Growing up in the spotlight as the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, he played under his father’s guidance at Jackson and Colorado. In the NFL Draft, he unexpectedly fell to the fifth pick, putting him behind names like Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco in the Browns’ quarterback lineup.
“It feels right to say that for Shedeur, this is the first time he’s venturing out without his father’s oversight,” Mangini commented. “Thus, it’s almost like a kid experiencing independence for the first time.”
In his past stint as head coach, Mangini finished with a record of 10-22, utilizing quarterbacks like Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
Since that time, the Browns have dealt with various controversies, including Johnny Manziel, who faced cuts after multiple arrests, and Deshaun Watson, suspended by the NFL due to numerous allegations of misconduct made by several massage therapists.
As it stands, Watson remains on the Browns’ roster but might face significant time off due to injuries. He recently had a judge dismiss a substantial aspect of his civil case, bringing some resolution to the matter.
