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Shedeur Sanders came into Browns rookie minicamp with buzz, expectations, and a rocket arm-and by the end of Day 1, he'd delivered. The former Colorado QB dropped a picture-perfect deep ball during drills that quickly made the rounds on social media, giving fans a glimpse of what he might bring to Cleveland's crowded quarterback room.
But while the hype around his on-field performance is building, something else stirred up conversation online: the jersey number situation. Sanders, who wore No. 2 throughout his college career and saw that number retired in his honor at Colorado, was instead assigned No. 12 with the Browns.
Not the number, but the message
The number swap raised eyebrows, especially since No. 2 went to wide receiver DeAndre Carter-who, notably, has never worn it in the NFL. That move sparked quick reactions from fans and insiders, some calling it a miss by the Browns front office.
In an interview following practice, Sanders was asked what he wanted fans to take from seeing him in No. 12. His answer was direct:
"I'm here to work and win. I think everything off the field is going to handle itself," he said. "On the field, of course, that's why I want my personality, and that's what I want to be known for-the one that came here and changed the franchise."
One of Sanders' longtime ers, ESPN Cleveland contributor Brad Stainbrook (aka "Boogie Knight"), didn't hold back online.
"There's no way the Cleveland Browns should've given #2 to anyone else-especially to a WR who's never worn it before," he tweeted. "But we expected it, so we're not flinching. Take it, smile, then make it legendary."
Fans echoed the sentiment, flooding Browns threads with comments defending Sanders' right to the number and speculating on whether the decision was political, logistical, or something else entirely.
Still, Sanders didn't bite. No ive-aggressive comments. No backhanded shade. Just a cool focus on what's ahead. And what's ahead might be bigger than anyone expects.
The Browns' QB room is deep, with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in the mix. But insiders like NFL Network's James Palmer have already noted how quickly Sanders is picking up the system. His chemistry with young receivers is growing, and his leadership vibe has shown early.
Robert Griffin III, himself no stranger to navigating the NFL spotlight, tweeted in : "The jersey doesn't make the player. The player makes the jersey."
For Shedeur, this chapter is just getting started. Whether it's No. 2, No. 12, or No. 99, the message is clear: he's not here for the drama-he's here to compete. And if minicamp is any clue, Cleveland might want to start paying close attention.