Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was decidedly chattier about Joe Flacco being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals than he was about the team’s decision to name Dillon Gabriel its starting quarterback.
Sanders acknowledged Flacco told him about the trade earlier in the day during an interview with Fox 8 News. What was the Colorado product’s reaction to it?
‘I was like, ‘Dang. That happened quick,” Sanders said of the trade. ‘It was crazy.’
Sanders also credited the 40-year-old quarterback with serving as a mentor to him during his rookie NFL season.
‘He was definitely somebody I leaned on for wisdom,’ Sanders said of Flacco. ‘I feel like he helped me a lot.’
Sanders will likely lean on some of that wisdom as he prepares to embrace his new role as Cleveland’s backup quarterback.
As for Flacco, he will get a chance to battle for the starting job in Cincinnati just over a week after Cleveland benched him in favor of Gabriel.
The Bengals have struggled offensively since losing Joe Burrow to a significant turf toe injury. Flacco could replace Jake Browning – who has completed 64.5% of his passes for 757 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions – as soon as this week if he can quickly ingratiate himself into Cincinnati’s offense.
And Sanders is happy to see his former teammate get that chance, even if it is with a divisional rival.
‘Everybody has their own destinies and have their own plans they have in life,’ Sanders said. ‘So, I’m just happy for him.’