In the high-pressure cooker of the NFL, timing is everything. For Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, the timing of his latest praise for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders might be a case of “too little, too late.” Following a performance where Sanders sparked life into a dormant offense, Stefanski finally acknowledged the rookie’s “outstanding” play. However, instead of applause, the coach is facing a firestorm of criticism from analysts who believe he squandered the season to protect his ego.

Stefanski’s Admission: “High-Level Throw and Catch”

After weeks of dodging questions and sticking to a conservative script, Kevin Stefanski stepped to the podium and delivered what many fans have been waiting to hear: an admission that Shedeur Sanders belongs on the field.

Reflecting on Sanders’ first start against the Raiders, Stefanski didn’t mince words. “Obviously, as a quarterback, your number one job is to lead your team to a win… for him to be able to do that in his first start, I think is a big deal.”

Stefanski went further, highlighting specific moments that showcased the rookie’s elite potential. “There are some big plays on there, none bigger than the throw to IB [Isaiah Bond]… which was a high, high-level throw and catch. To be able to find those chunks, I think was outstanding.”

It was the kind of endorsement that usually solidifies a coach-quarterback partnership. But in Cleveland, where the ghost of the “Dylan Gabriel Experiment” still haunts the locker room, these words sparked a backlash.

“You Ain’t Getting No Credit”

The most blistering critique came from Cleveland radio personality Earl Da Pearl, featured on Sports Talk with B. Watts. In a segment that can only be described as a verbal takedown, Earl dismantled the idea that Stefanski played a role in Sanders’ development.

“I don’t like the way you handled the quarterback situation during the offseason,” Earl declared, addressing the coach directly through the airwaves. “You ain’t getting no credit for nothing, Kevin Stefanski.”

The crux of the argument is simple: Stefanski had ample time to evaluate his roster. He saw Dylan Gabriel—the team’s third-round pick—in training camp, preseason, and six regular-season starts. According to Earl, Gabriel “never showed to be a competent quarterback” and arguably regressed with every snap. Yet, Stefanski continued to trot him out, leaving Sanders, a talent clearly capable of making “high-level throws,” to rot on the bench.

“You messed up a third-round draft pick messing around with Dylan Gabriel,” the host B. Watts added, calling the previous starter a “5’9 Hawaiian left-hander” who shouldn’t have been prioritized over Sanders.

The “Justification” Trap

Why did Stefanski stick with Gabriel for so long? The prevailing theory among critics is one of self-preservation. B. Watts suggests that Stefanski was trying to “justify his pick.” By admitting Gabriel wasn’t the answer, Stefanski would have been admitting a failure in evaluation—a dangerous thing for a coach and GM to do.

“He tried to justify his pick in Dylan Gabriel, and it showed that owner and especially the general manager he was wrong,” Watts argued. “Now Shedeur is making him look like a fool.”

This stubbornness, critics argue, may have cost the Browns a playoff spot. With a defense that is hunting quarterbacks and creating turnovers, even average quarterback play early in the season could have translated to wins. Instead, the offense stagnated under Gabriel, digging a hole that Sanders is now trying to climb out of.

The League Takes Notice

While the local media roasts the coach, the league is buzzing about the rookie. Reports from insiders like Adam Schefter indicate that the Browns—and the NFL at large—want to take a “longer look” at Shedeur Sanders. The “week-to-week” uncertainty seems to be vanishing, replaced by a mandate to see what the rookie can do for the remainder of the season.

“They want to take a long look because… they believe Shedeur is going to be our franchise quarterback,” Watts noted. This shift effectively ends the debate about drafting a quarterback next year. The answer is already in the building.

The “Last Supper” for the Coaching Staff?

The video concludes with a symbolic clip of Deion Sanders referring to “The Last Supper,” a metaphor for the end of a chapter. For the Browns’ coaching staff, the writing may be on the wall.

Stefanski’s praise of Sanders now rings hollow to those who believe the decision was made for him, not by him. If the Browns go on a winning streak under Sanders, the narrative won’t be about Stefanski’s brilliant coaching; it will be about how he held back a star for half the season.

As the Browns prepare for the 49ers, the pressure is no longer on the rookie quarterback. He has proven he can make the throws. The pressure is squarely on Kevin Stefanski, a coach who might have found his franchise quarterback just in time to lose his own job. “Hit the road, Jack,” indeed.