Former Cleveland Browns QB sets the record straight on Shedeur Sanders

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback shares great insight on Shedeur Sanders. The Browns 93rd pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Cody Kessler shared a fantastic anecdote about his rookie debut on The Arena: Gridiron. In an interview with former All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib, Kessler recollected on how Josh McCown saved him from playing against the Baltimore Ravens. Kessler remembers being scared to play after watching McCown leave the game from a big hit. Luckily, McCown came back. He played through a broken collar bone to keep Kessler safe holding a clipboard. McCown told Kessler, “I finished this game because I didn’t want to put you in a bad situation.” Kessler was filled with so much gratitude that he thanked McCown, and told McCown’s son that his father was a great human being. McCown’s determination and selflessness is something Browns fans will always remember about him.

Kessler will remember making his rookie debut, a week later, against the Miami Dolphins. Kessler desperately needed the week to practice with the first team offense. Kessler started the season as the third string quarterback, and the rookie never practiced with the first team. If it sounds familiar to the Shedeur Sanders situation, it’s because it is. Every NFL team does not have their third-string rookie quarterback practice with the ones. It’d be a gigantic waste of their very limited practice time.

The Browns are not trying to sabotage Sanders – at least more than they’ve sabotaged every rookie quarterback they’ve played. The Browns offering a rookie quarterback to the Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers is the closest thing we have to human sacrifice in the modern world. While the intention has always been a baptism by fire, it’s left far too many quarterbacks burnt. Both defenses are similar using odd fronts and blitzes to bring heat on quarterbacks. The Ravens play defense a little smarter, and the Steelers play defense a little tougher, and in the end they end up in the same great space. Terrifying to opposing offenses, quarterbacks and coaches included. It’s why Kessler was shaking while warming up.

ESPN analyst and former Browns’ receiver Andrew Hawkins added some more details to Kessler’s story. Hawkins mentioned that the Browns’ coaching staff asked Terrelle Pryor to play quarterback when they thought McCown was lost for the game. Pryor told the coaches, “Nah, I’m good. Ya’ll ain’t paying me quarterback wages. You’re paying me wide receiver wages. So that’s what I’m going to play.” A smart move by Pryor, it’s always important to know you’re worth and how to leverage it.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Former Browns QB Cody Kessler shares story of his rookie debut