Ex-NFL star explains why Shedeur Sanders' overt confidence isn't necessarily a bad thing

Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders was blunt with his messages aft helium helped present a triumph successful his archetypal NFL commencement Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

He warned the remainder of the league that a afloat offseason with the archetypal squad mightiness marque the Browns look "dangerous" and helium vowed to each of his critics that helium wasn’t going to fail. Sanders was criticized connected societal media arsenic being arrogant erstwhile helium made those remarks aft going 11-of-20 for 209 yards and a touchdown.

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Cleveland Browns backmost Shedeur Sanders, left, and Las Vegas Raiders backmost Geno Smith (7) greet each different aft an NFL shot crippled Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, successful Las Vegas.  (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Former NFL prima Shawne Merriman told Fox News Digital successful a caller interrogation that helium was "on the fence" with immoderate of the remarks that Sanders had made and could spot wherefore helium would get the critiques of being arrogant oregon overconfident.

"But the different broadside of that is, I bash not privation to play with a backmost who’s not confident. I conscionable don’t. I think, maine personally, I deliberation that small spot of cockiness that Shedeur has gives the Browns a consciousness that they got a accidental to triumph each week, which they person not had the full season," the erstwhile San Diego Chargers linebacker said portion praising Myles Garrett and the Cleveland defense.

"When you person them, each they request is simply a defense. When you’re playing astatine that level, you person to consciousness similar you’re walking into a crippled and you got a accidental to win. That is enough. And I deliberation that Shedeur’s confidence, whether radical similar it oregon not, it resonates done that locker room. You saw the guys connected the sideline erstwhile helium made that 50-plus-yard walk – that worldly is contagious. You’re walking that good enactment of assurance and past saying things that tin beryllium considered cocky. You tin archer that is simply a antithetic squad and I’m not conscionable talking astir conscionable playing-wise. They locomotion into that crippled a batch much assured with Shedeur starting astatine quarterback."

Cleveland Browns backmost Shedeur Sanders (12) prepares for a huddle against the Las Vegas Raiders during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot crippled Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, successful Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

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Sanders got the motion for the Browns’ Week 13 crippled against the San Francisco 49ers.

Merriman expected large things to travel for Sanders if helium goes retired and gets different win.

"I cognize there’s a batch of extracurricular unit and media and him going 5th circular and conscionable everything extracurricular the locker room," helium told Fox News Digital. "What happened with Shedeur is the champion imaginable concern for him. You had 2 quarterbacks successful beforehand of him who did not cookware out. What you privation to bash is don’t unreserved it, don’t perceive to the radical extracurricular the locker room. He stayed the people and stayed positive. His clip is here.

San Diego Chargers linebacker (56) Shawne Merriman against the Baltimore Ravens astatine Qualcomm Stadium successful San Diego connected Sept. 20, 2009. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

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"If helium goes retired and has different triumph this week, helium volition solidify himself arsenic a starting backmost going forward. He conscionable has to disregard the worldly extracurricular the locker country and support doing what he’s doing."

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