The air around the Cleveland Browns facility is thick with expectation as Shedeur Sanders prepares for his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders. This moment is not just about a rookie making his debut; it’s a massive political and professional litmus test for the entire organization, especially General Manager Andrew Berry.
Berry, the man who supposedly handpicked Sanders in the fifth round, has been conspicuously silent—ducking the media and avoiding public statements about his prized rookie. Now, as Sanders is set to take the field, everyone is asking: Where is Andrew Berry?
The answer, sources suggest, isn’t about shyness; it’s about a calculated, self-serving gamble. Berry is positioning himself to claim credit for success while avoiding all blame for failure, exposing a disturbing pattern of cowardice instead of confident leadership.
The Architect of Silence
Andrew Berry himself once described the Sanders selection with guarded language, stating that the rookie was “a good solid prospect” who was “mispriced” relative to the draft. He quickly added a disclaimer: “Nothing’s been promised. Nothing will be given.”
Yet, since that draft day, Berry has been quieter than a library at 3:00 AM, a silence that becomes profoundly suspicious given the volatile quarterback drama that has consumed the team.
Here is the undeniable irony: Berry is the one who saw “something” in Sanders, pulling the trigger in the fifth round when other teams, including the upcoming opponent, the Raiders (a decision reportedly influenced by Tom Brady), passed on him multiple times. This was his guy.
Now, with the stakes at their absolute highest—a pivotal game that could define the Browns’ season and Sanders’ career—the man who should be publicly supporting his pick is nowhere to be found.
The Expert Consensus: Talent Over Hype
While Berry remains hidden, the people who actually know football are breaking their silence to vouch for Sanders:
Urban Meyer, Coaching Legend: Meyer, who watched Sanders up close during his first season at Colorado, dismissed the criticism about Sanders’ “flash and jewelry,” focusing solely on ability.
“I know what I saw. I saw a player who can get out of trouble, who can lead a team, who has all the skill sets to be successful in this league… He took a god-awful program and turned it around.”
David Carr, Former NFL Quarterback: Carr, who understands the pressure on a young quarterback in a tough situation, highlighted Sanders’ technical skills:
“When you give Shedeur time, he can read defenses and find completions. He ripped the end cut on a two-minute drill… The answer is yes, he is talented enough. Does he want to do it? Yes. That’s the key right there.”
These experts—coaching legends and former pros—are offering public, unequivocal support, while the man who drafted him hides behind his desk. They confirm that Sanders is a player who embraces the workload, with sources noting he is treating this week like his “final exam,” bouncing from meeting room to meeting room, studying film like his life depends on it.
The Cowardice of Calculation
The core of the issue is simple: Andrew Berry is engaged in a political strategy to win either way.
Scenario One (Win): If Sanders dominates against the Raiders, Berry will “magically appear” with a microphone in his hand, taking a victory lap. He will talk about his “vision,” his “evaluation process,” and his ability to find value in the fifth round. The previous silence will be forgotten, and he will get credit for the win.
Scenario Two (Loss): If Sanders struggles (due to the lack of preparation reps and support he received earlier in the season), Berry will stay silent. He will allow the Head Coach, Kevin Stefanski, to take the heat for starting him “too early.” Berry gets to distance himself from the decision without ever having publicly supported it, avoiding the blame.
This is not leadership; this is cowardice. You do not get to claim credit for the wins if you are not willing to stand up during the uncertainty. The general manager should be the first person defending his player and the decision to start him.
The Statement Game
This Sunday’s game is profoundly personal for Shedeur Sanders. It’s a chance to face the Las Vegas Raiders, the team that Tom Brady himself reportedly influenced to pass on him. It is Sanders’ opportunity to look at every doubter—from draft analysts to the general manager who wouldn’t publicly support him—and say, “I told you so,” without uttering a single word.
Sanders has been preparing for this moment his entire life, already overcoming more scrutiny and criticism than most rookies will face in their entire careers. He is built for this pressure.
The ultimate question now is not about Sanders’ talent, but about Andrew Berry’s integrity. How long can the general manager maintain this calculated silence? If Sanders lights up Las Vegas, Berry will find his voice, and the entire league will see the timing for what it is: a cynical political move designed to maximize personal gain.
The story that truly matters here is about a kid who refused to let the doubters define him. The game against the Raiders is his introduction to everyone who has been sleeping on him. And when he succeeds, the silence of Andrew Berry will finally be broken, forcing the GM to either acknowledge his hidden belief or confirm his calculated betrayal.
