Dillon Gabriel: "Nobody wants celebrity backup QB": Colin Cowherd claims Shedeur Sanders' persona could affect his future with Browns amid battle with Dillon Gabriel

Cleveland Browns training camp has been a hot topic all offseason, and Shedeur Sanders is right in the middle of it. The rookie quarterback is one of the most marketable names in football right now, but is fighting for a roster spot.

While he showed glimpses of his potential with two touchdowns in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers, the 23-year-old is currently listed as the fourth option behind veteran starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel.

On "The Herd," Colin Cowherd warned that Sanders’ celebrity persona could hurt his chances in Cleveland.

"We're getting into a Tebow situation, and this happens a lot. I've seen this in the NFL with Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, Tim Tebow. Nobody wants a celebrity backup quarterback."

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Sanders’ popularity is undeniable. His name alone draws clicks, jersey sales, and social media buzz. But in a franchise like the Browns, who have only four winning seasons since 1999, Stefanski may prefer the quieter, businesslike approach of Dillon Gabriel.

Also read: "This is embarrassing" - NFL fans react as Shedeur Sanders gets shout out from Morgan Wallen at Cleveland concert

Colin Cowherd on Dillon Gabriel's alleged jab at Shedeur Sanders

Gabriel’s first taste of NFL action came with more drama off the field than on it. The rookie quarterback debuted against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, posting solid numbers, but it was his words during an interview that created a storm.

“There’s entertainers, and there’s competitors. My job is to compete. That’s what I’m focused on doing,” Gabriel stated.

Many quickly interpreted this as a dig at Shedeur Sanders. Colin Cowherd jumped in to cool the fire on his show on Tuesday. He insisted Gabriel’s comment wasn’t aimed at Sanders at all.

“Shame on everybody that said it was,” Cowherd said. “He wasn’t talking about Shedeur. He was taking a shot at us — the media. He was pointing out that some people are entertainers, and some are competitors.” [2:00]

Cowherd then doubled down on his point of a celebrity QB, saying the viral outrage proved Gabriel’s point.

Also read: "What a loser" - NFL fans react as Dillon Gabriel seemingly takes a shot at Shedeur Sanders following preseason debut vs. Eagles

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

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Edited by Prasen