It’s no secret that rookies in a hurry have never been treated well by the NFL. There have been several quarterbacks who have been tossed to the wolves, chewed up by poor rosters, dismissed coordinators, and the unbearable weight of being the guy on Day 1. Because history teaches us something important. Tom Brady? He was Drew Bledsoe’s backup before a Mo Lewis hit irrevocably altered football. Patrick Mahomes? Observed while Alex Smith guided the Chiefs to a postseason berth. Aaron Rodgers? He interned in Green Bay for three years under gun-wielding Brett Favre.
The best quarterbacks in the NFL honed their skills in the shadows rather than jumping right out of the starting blocks. Because a quarterback’s non-running play might occasionally be his best play. Just quiet growth. Observing the commotion from a distance teaches what not to do. The Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar is one person who understands that more than most because he experienced the intense pressure of receiving the keys too soon. And whether the city is prepared to hear it or not, he has a message for Shedeur Sanders.
On the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show, Bernie Kosar entered the studio with a poise that was comparable to the composure he once displayed, while pockets collapsed. But here he bought no cleats or helmet, just his quarterback gospel. Kosar didn’t mince words when he was questioned about the Browns’ rookie quarterback room, dominated by Oklahoma gunslinger Dillon Gabriel and Colorado sensation Shedeur Sanders. “So the rookies, I think it’s absolutely best, even if you’re God, to not play right away. Especially on a rough team,” Kosar said.
We had legendary #Browns QB @BernieKosarQB in studio today for the first time since the #NFLDraft and he gave us all his thoughts on Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel & how to handle the QB situation in camp. pic.twitter.com/LZLLCZvzgQ
— Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show (@ultCLEsports) May 21, 2025
It wasn’t just hot take fodder. His reasoning was wisdom honed over decades of quarterback mismanagement and Cleveland tragedy. “We haven’t developed a quarterback since 1999. A lot of it is because they play too early on teams that aren’t ready to accept them and mesh together.” Kosar, a man who once carried the burden of being the team’s saviour and is now a respected voice in Cleveland, is aware of the danger these rookies are about to face. And he is also urging caution. Do not panic. Simply be patient. “I’d like to see, for their own development, some time off. It helped me. I believe it’ll help those guys have a better chance of success.”
But here’s the dagger: “It doesn’t look like this is going to be the Super Bowl champion team this year,” said Kosar. Translation? Don’t damage a rookie for no reason if you’re not hoisting Lombardi. Kosar did not announce the winner of Sanders vs. Gabriel. He just stated that Cleveland should quit worrying about why their rookie quarterbacks aren’t fillet mignon by Week 5 and stop putting them in the meat grinder.
From warning Shedeur Sanders to wrecking draft day—The Browns legend who lit the fuse
For those who have forgotten, Bernie Kosar is more than just another former quarterback who boasts about ‘back in my day.’ He broke the NFL in his day. Kosar almost completely blew up the NFL Draft in 1985 by using the supplementary draft to start a chess match. He was wanted by the Browns. The Vikings and Houston Oilers (now known as the Titans) thought they had him. And in the midst of it all, the Bills got entangled. What transpired was a master class in draft day trickery, litigation threats, and loopholes.
Kosar, who was still a college student, figured out a way to get in the supplemental draft if he graduated in the summer before the normal draft’s application date. After receiving a tip from Kosar’s camp, the Browns successfully acquired the top supplemental pick by trading with the Bills for multiple picks. Meanwhile, the Vikings and Oilers were prepared for a riot. In an attempt to postpone the NFL Draft altogether, Houston even filed a lawsuit.
It was a war zone in the draft room. But the Browns walked home together with their hometown hero. The Browns made their first of five consecutive postseason appearances under Kosar’s leadership that season, including three AFC Championships. It was Cleveland’s most prosperous run since the Jim Brown days. To get to the Browns, Kosar outwitted the entire NFL system.
A few years later, what did Cleveland do with their brilliant tactician? They let him go. Kosar was fired mid-season by head coach Bill Belichick on November 8, 1993. Belichick accused Kosar of becoming rogue and said his talents were deteriorating. Following a stint on the bench and a brief comeback, he was sacked for making his own decisions during a game against Denver. A Sports Illustrated article labeled it one of the darkest days in Cleveland sports history.
However, Kosar never forgot what it was like to be abandoned without help or thrust into chaos too soon. He is defending Shedeur Sanders now for that reason, not to provoke a war, but to prevent one from breaking out. Bernie Kosar has experienced it all: fan icon, locker room outcast, draft-day manipulator, franchise saviour. Therefore, he is not afraid when he advises a newbie to sit. It’s a result of survival. Because quarterbacks in Cleveland are not simply thrown into the fire; they are thrown into it without an extinguisher.
The post Browns Legend, Who Sparked Multi-Team Fight That Nearly Stopped NFL Draft, Wants Shedeur Sanders Benched For Growth appeared first on EssentiallySports.
