Shedeur Sanders shares theory about '99% of hatred' he receives

Keyshawn Johnson breaks down Shedeur Sanders’ chances to win the Cleveland Browns’ starting QB job, sharing insights on his skills, potential, and the team's quarterback competition. He discusses what it will take for Shedeur to rise and lead Clev...

Shedeur Sanders acknowledged the criticism he’s faced while he played at Jackson State and Colorado ahead of his decision to go pro and enter the NFL Draft and theorized about why he takes a ton of heat.

The spotlight was scorching hot last month when he fell to the fifth round of the draft after being projected to be taken as high as No. 2. The Cleveland Browns eventually took a chance on him at pick No. 144.

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May 10, 2025; Berea, OH: Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) talks to a coach during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.  (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

He told Cleveland.com he thinks a lot of the hate directed at him is based on his father, Deion Sanders.

"They don't care about other people's opinion of you," Sanders said of the younger generation while visiting a local high school. "They go based off their own — 99% of hatred (directed at him) is toward pops. And then I'm just his son. But (the kids) didn't grow up in an era to where they watched him play. It's just the older generation that does it to me rather than the younger people. Because when I come in person, there's no negativity I see. But it's all over online.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, front, walks off the field after the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Berea, Ohio, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.  (AP Photo/Sue