Shedeur Sanders DISRESPECT Sparks Coach Mangini MELTDOWN On Browns Owner!
Cleveland’s Chaos: Shedeur Sanders, Jimmy Haslam, and a Front Office Implosion
The Cleveland Browns are no strangers to drama, but the 2025 season has turned their quarterback room into a full-blown circus, with rookie Shedeur Sanders at the center of a controversy that’s exposing the franchise’s dysfunction. Owner Jimmy Haslam’s recent comments, coupled with a fiery takedown from analyst Joe “Unc” Manini, have ignited a firestorm around the team’s handling of Sanders, their fifth-round draft pick. With a shaky quarterback depth chart, a front office dodging accountability, and a fanbase fed up with indecision, this saga is less about football and more about a franchise grappling with its own identity. Let’s break it down, tying it to the broader football narratives of Shedeur Sanders, Mike Gundy, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce’s recent clashes.
The Spark: Haslam’s Bombshell and Manini’s Wrath
On September 30, 2025, Jimmy Haslam dropped a bombshell on ESPN’s First Take, addressing the Browns’ selection of Shedeur Sanders at pick 144 in the 2025 NFL Draft. “If you’d told me Friday night we’re picking Shadur, I’d say that’s not happening,” Haslam admitted, pinning the decision on GM Andrew Berry. “That’s Andrew’s call.” The comments, meant to clarify the draft process, instead painted a picture of a fractured front office, with Haslam distancing himself from a pick he didn’t want. This wasn’t just tea-spilling—it was a public admission of disarray, echoing the chaos of past Browns regimes.
Enter Joe “Unc” Manini, who didn’t just critique Haslam—he obliterated Cleveland’s narrative with surgical precision. On his podcast, Manini called out the Browns for “dry snitching” on their own process, questioning why Haslam would air this now, months after the draft, when Sanders is fighting for a roster spot. “Why’d you take him? Nobody asked you that,” Manini roared, accusing the Browns of sabotaging their own quarterback. He pointed to Sanders’ training camp film, where he’s carving up Cleveland’s first-team defense with second- and third-string offensive support, as proof of his readiness. “He’s busting everybody’s ass, and you won’t give him first-team reps? Tell us why!” Manini’s tirade wasn’t just about Sanders—it was a middle finger to a front office he painted as clueless, scared, and addicted to overthinking.
Chris Broussard, trying to play diplomat, praised Sanders’ talent and urged the Browns to give him game time to assess his potential as a franchise quarterback. But Manini wasn’t having it, dismissing Berry’s “good process” excuse as corporate nonsense. “This ain’t rocket science, fellas. The kid can ball. Draft the kid,” he said, mocking Cleveland’s attempt to spin the pick as a calculated “value” move. Manini’s core argument: Sanders isn’t the problem—the Browns’ fear of embracing him is.
The Context: Cleveland’s Quarterback Mess
The Browns’ quarterback room is a Jenga tower on its last legs. Deshaun Watson, the $230 million starter, has been inconsistent, with a 2025 stat line of 60% completion, 650 yards, 4 TDs, and 3 INTs through three games. Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old backup, is a stopgap at best. Kenny Pickett, acquired in a trade, has flopped spectacularly, with Manini bluntly stating, “He’s not an NFL quarterback.” Third-rounder Dylan Gabriel is seen as a career backup, not a starter. Then there’s Sanders, buried fifth on the depth chart despite preseason flashes: 14/23 for 138 yards and 2 TDs against Carolina, though a rough 3/6 for 14 yards and 5 sacks against the Rams showed growing pains.
Sanders’ college resume—7,623 yards, 65 TDs, 70% completion at Jackson State and Colorado—made him a projected top-10 pick. His draft slide to the fifth round, past teams like the Titans and Bears, fueled allegations of league-wide collusion, with some claiming owners wanted to “make an example” of his perceived entitlement and Deion Sanders’ influence. Haslam’s comments only fanned those flames, suggesting he was pressured into the pick, possibly breaking a pact among owners. A $100 million fan lawsuit alleging collusion, while legally shaky, keeps the narrative alive. Sanders’ “Prime Equity” clause, netting him $14 million from $250 million in jersey sales, adds another layer—his financial independence threatens the NFL’s old guard, much like Mike Gundy’s resistance to NIL doomed his tenure.
Parallels Across Football: Dysfunction and Defiance
This Browns saga mirrors the broader football stories swirling in 2025:
Mike Gundy’s Fall: Gundy’s firing from Oklahoma State after a 1-2 start and a 3-9 2024 season stemmed from his refusal to embrace NIL and the transfer portal, losing 16 players in 2022 and alienating stars like Spencer Sanders. Like Cleveland’s hesitation with Shedeur, Gundy’s inability to adapt to player empowerment led to his downfall. Both stories highlight organizations clinging to outdated power structures, only to be exposed by modern realities.
Tyreek Hill’s Injury: Hill’s gruesome knee dislocation on September 29, 2025, against the Jets—tearing his ACL and other ligaments—ended his season and tested Miami’s adaptability. Hill’s upbeat response, waving to fans from the cart, echoes Shedeur’s defiance amid Cleveland’s chaos. Both face systemic challenges (Hill’s physical recovery, Sanders’ organizational resistance), yet their resilience shines through.
Travis Kelce’s Sideline Clash: Kelce’s heated bump with Andy Reid during the Chiefs’ 22-9 win over the Giants on September 21 reflects the same passion-meets-frustration dynamic as Sanders’ situation. Kelce, like Sanders, is a star feeling underutilized (10 catches, 80 yards through three games), clashing with a system that’s not fully leveraging his talent. Reid’s tough love contrasts with Cleveland’s indecision, but both underscore the tension between stars and their franchises.
The Bigger Picture: Cleveland’s Curse
Manini’s takedown isn’t just about Sanders—it’s about a Browns franchise that’s been tripping over its own feet for decades. Haslam’s comments reveal a leadership vacuum: he deflects to Berry, who deflects to coach Kevin Stefanski, who’s stuck managing a bloated QB room. The “process” Haslam touts feels like a fantasy football draft gone wrong, with Sanders as the prize they didn’t want. Manini’s point is brutal but clear: Sanders is the blueprint—pocket presence, accuracy, leadership, and a chip on his shoulder the size of Lake Erie. Yet Cleveland treats him like a side dish, not the main course.
The irony? Not playing Sanders is riskier than starting him. Watson’s inconsistency, Flacco’s age, Pickett’s failures, and Gabriel’s ceiling scream for a bold move. Fans, fed up with Cleveland’s 35 starting quarterbacks since 1999, see Sanders as the answer, not a project. Manini’s call to “play the kid” resonates because it’s obvious—Sanders is outshining vets in practice, commanding scrimmages, and shifting the room’s vibe. The Browns’ hesitation isn’t strategy; it’s fear of admitting they botched the optics by not backing him from day one.
What’s Next?
As of October 1, 2025, the Browns sit at 1-2, with a Week 4 matchup against the Raiders looming. Sanders is unlikely to start soon—Stefanski’s loyalty to Watson and Flacco’s veteran presence keep him buried. But pressure is mounting. If Watson stumbles or the team drops to 1-3, calls for Sanders will grow louder. A trade is possible—teams like the Raiders or Steelers, who passed on him, might pounce—but Cleveland risks losing a generational talent. Manini’s warning is clear: keep Sanders on the bench, and you’re not just delaying the inevitable—you’re sabotaging your future.
Final Thoughts
Shedeur Sanders’ saga is Cleveland’s curse in microcosm: a franchise too scared to embrace its best shot at salvation. Haslam’s loose lips and Berry’s indecision have turned a draft steal into a PR disaster, with Manini as the truth-teller calling out their nonsense. Like Gundy’s fall, Hill’s injury, and Kelce’s clash, this is about more than one player—it’s about a sport grappling with change. Sanders, with his talent and swagger, is ready to flip the script. The question is whether Cleveland has the guts to let him.
What do you think? Should the Browns start Sanders now, or is their caution justified? How does this compare to the Chiefs’ handling of Kelce or OSU’s mishandling of Gundy? Drop your take below!
