The Cleveland Browns organization is no stranger to dysfunction, but the latest allegations emerging from Berea suggest a level of internal warfare that threatens to burn the franchise to the ground. What appeared to be a chaotic quarterback switch on Sunday is now being described by multiple sources as a calculated act of “sabotage” orchestrated by Head Coach Kevin Stefanski to humiliate rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and protect his own authority.

According to explosive reports from insiders within the facility, the decision to pull starter Dylan Gabriel mid-drive and insert Sanders was not a desperate attempt to spark the offense, nor was it a genuine evaluation of talent. Instead, it was allegedly a trap—carefully designed to ensure the high-profile rookie failed publicly.

The “Calculated Sabotage” Plan

The setup, sources claim, began long before kickoff. Throughout the week leading up to the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sanders reportedly received zero meaningful first-team repetitions. The entire practice week was structured around Gabriel.

“Shedeur wasn’t incorporated into offensive game planning sessions,” one source revealed. “He didn’t participate in critical timing routes with starting receivers and wasn’t included during situational walkthroughs.”

While Gabriel received comprehensive, Baltimore-specific installation, Sanders was relegated to running the scout team—mimicking the opposing offense for the defense’s benefit. His preparation was generic and developmental, with no focus on the actual game plan he would later be forced to execute.

“Coaching staff structured the entire week guaranteeing he’d enter completely unprepared if suddenly deployed,” an insider noted.

The Mid-Game ambush

The execution of this alleged plan occurred during a functional possession in the second quarter. Gabriel, who had not committed a turnover or suffered an injury, was abruptly pulled after completing a short checkdown. Witnesses describe Gabriel’s visible confusion on the sideline. When he asked for an explanation, he was reportedly given a vague response about “trying something different.”

Stefanski then turned to Sanders and ordered his immediate insertion. The rookie was reportedly shocked. He hadn’t expected to play and had not been mentally prepared for game action. When he asked a coordinator for specific play-calling adjustments, the response was chillingly dismissive: “Just go play football.”

There were no situational reminders. No simplified game plan. No adjustments to account for the fact that the offensive line and receivers were executing a scheme tailored for Gabriel, not Sanders.

“Letting Ownership’s Guy Fail”

The motive behind this bizarre sequence of events appears to be a power struggle between the coaching staff and the front office/ownership group, who invested significant draft capital in Sanders. Sources allege that in private coaches’ meetings, the phrase “letting ownership’s guy fail publicly” was used repeatedly.

By throwing an unprepared Sanders into a hostile environment against a championship-caliber Ravens defense, the theory goes, Stefanski could point to the rookie’s inevitable struggles as proof that he wasn’t ready, thereby justifying his preference for Gabriel and preserving his own control over personnel decisions.

On the sideline, Stefanski’s body language reportedly spoke volumes. Arms crossed, offering minimal communication, and showing visible frustration whenever Sanders tried to extend plays with his legs—a necessity given the collapsing pocket and mistimed routes.

The Locker Room Revolts

The players, however, were not fooled. The “calculated deception” became transparent almost immediately. Veteran offensive linemen were reportedly furious upon realizing Sanders had never practiced the protection schemes they were calling. Receivers were confused by the lack of timing, only to learn later that Sanders had never rehearsed those specific concepts with them.

“They pulled our prepared quarterback mid-drive for no reason, threw our most talented guy into an impossible situation without giving him any preparation, then acted surprised when it looked rough,” one starting offensive player allegedly said. “That’s not evaluation, that’s sabotage. Everyone sees it.”

The fallout has been swift and severe. Veterans who once respected Stefanski’s leadership are now questioning his integrity. Younger players feel disillusioned, watching organizational politics override competitive meritocracy.

Ownership Furious, Change Imminent?

As the details of this alleged setup reach the upper echelons of the Browns’ front office, the situation has become precarious for Stefanski. Ownership is reportedly “furious” at the suggestion that the coaching staff would actively undermine a key asset for political gain.

The question now is not whether Shedeur Sanders is ready for the NFL, but whether the Cleveland Browns are capable of providing a fair environment for him to succeed. If these allegations are true, the coaching staff didn’t just lose a game on Sunday; they lost the trust of their locker room and potentially their jobs.

Shedeur Sanders deserved a fair competition. Instead, it appears he walked into a trap. And as the smoke clears, it’s the architects of that trap who may find themselves caught in the wreckage.