Ex-NFL star explains why Shedeur Sanders' overt confidence isn't necessarily a bad thing

Shedeur Sanders has been named the starting QB of the Cleveland Browns, and will face the San Francisco 49ers. Colin Cowherd asks if Sanders is ready to be the starter for the Browns and if he can help them win games.

Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders was blunt with his messages after he helped deliver a win in his first NFL start Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

He warned the rest of the league that a full offseason with the first team might make the Browns look "dangerous" and he vowed to all of his critics that he wasn’t going to fail. Sanders was criticized on social media as being arrogant when he made those remarks after going 11-of-20 for 209 yards and a touchdown.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, left, and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) greet each other after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Las Vegas.  (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Former NFL star Shawne Merriman told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that he was "on the fence" with some of the remarks that Sanders had made and could see why he would get the critiques of being arrogant or overconfident.

"But the other side of that is, I do not want to play with a quarterback who’s not confident. I just don’t. I think, me personally, I think that little bit of cockiness that Shedeur has gives the Browns a sense that they got a chance to win every week, which they have not had the entire season," the former San Diego Chargers linebacker said while praising Myles Garrett and the Cleveland defense.

"When you have them, all they need is a defense. When you’re playing at that level, you have to feel like you’re walking into a game and you got a chance to win. That is