The atmosphere in Cleveland is pretty bright these days.
Last week, during an in-game interview, rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel made headlines while discussing fellow Browns QB Chedure Sanders.
“You know, there are celebrities and there are competitors, I get that,” Gabriel mentioned in a CBS broadcast. “But I’m here to compete, and that’s my main focus.”
Although Oregon’s Gabriel later clarified that his “celebrity” comment was aimed at the media, the conversation still centered on Sanders.
“Honestly, I’m not thinking about that,” Sanders said to reporters on Thursday. “I can’t do anything, really, without being affected by words or anything like that. God doesn’t determine my abilities, and honestly, I don’t care about what others think. That’s just not my focus. I talked to him, and it’s not going to change how I approach anything.”
Gabriel, as a rookie in the NFL, is still adjusting to the spotlight after his college career.
Choosing Gabriel as the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft surprised many, especially since Sanders, selected in the fifth round, was once expected to go higher.
The two have been in a battle for recognition post their first training camp, which saw veteran Joe Flacco take the lead in a four-way QB competition.
As Kenny Pickett deals with a hamstring injury, things seem stable for now. Sanders seems content to focus solely on football, especially with the preseason finale against the Rams coming up this Saturday.
“Did Gabriel mean what he said? I’m not really sure,” Sanders mused regarding Gabriel’s earlier remarks. “Saying it doesn’t really change anything for me.”
