“Mel Kiper Is Seething” “Petty As Hell”: Fans React As Browns Name Dillon Gabriel Backup Quarterback Over Shedeur Sanders

The debate around the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback room has been one of the biggest conversations in this offseason, with both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders competing for the backup quarterback role.

The Browns picked Gabriel as the 94th overall pick, whereas Shedeur was picked as the 144th overall pick, despite being projected to go in the first 10 picks.

The Browns recently announced that veteran quarterback, Joe Flacco, will be taking the lead this season, sparking debate on who should be his backup.

After Shedeur Sanders was seen struggling in the Rams matchup during the second half, it was announced on Tuesday that Gabriel will be given the backup quarterback role, drawing various reactions from fans on an X post with the news.

Browns name Dillon Gabriel as the backup QB entering the season.

Shedeur Sanders is QB3. pic.twitter.com/u2cdM9AWLe

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 26, 2025

“Bro, he is a proud Black man who had to overcome adversity his entire life who happens to have a famous relative and THIS IS HOW HE’S TREATED???” one fan commented.

“They’re petty as hell,” another fan added.

“The best thing that could happen for both Sanders and the Browns is trade him to LA Rams for a 4th. The Browns get a 4th for a 5th, and the Rams have a better QB2 than Stetson Bennet. AND Sanders gets to learn from Stafford who is already banged up,” another fan wrote.

“One of these guys proved himself in the second hardest conference in football. The other barely went .500 in a joke of a conference. But people will really say racism is the reason why he ain’t starting,” another fan expressed their opinion.

“Play him with the better squad not cuttable pieces the man did work with the first and second stringers in his first game! It’s so due to the fact there is bias and the coaches are scared to lose their job if he does well,” another fan took Shedeur’s side.

Shedeur Sanders Reacts to Dillon Gabriel’s Entertainers Comment

Shedeur Sanders made noise during his debut during the preseason game one appearance against the Carolina Panthers, securing 61% of the passes for 138 passing yards and scoring two touchdowns while leading the Browns in a 30-10 win.

Gabriel got his opportunity during the second game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and a sideline interview before the game went viral when he made a comment on “entertainers vs competitors”, which many fans and analysts thought was seemingly directed at Shedeur.

When asked about Gabriel’s comment during a press conference on August 21, Shedeur said the ex-Oregon star told him it wasn’t about him. When asked about whether or not he believes it, Shedeur said he doesn’t know; people’s words don’t affect him and it doesn’t make a difference to his life.

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