CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala added context to clear up confusion about Dillon Gabriel’s comments on the difference between “entertainers” and “competitors” that many took as a shot at fellow Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
While some believe Gabriel was intentional, Kinkhabwala doesn’t believe the 24-year-old conducts himself that way.
“Let’s PLEASE not take this out of context. I was so impressed with how sagely - and sincerely - Dillon Gabriel talked previously about tuning out distractions. He told us there are entertainers (hot take artists) and there are competitors (he and his fellow QBs) and he doesn’t ‘ever want to get those lines twisted.’ I therefore asked him to share his (wise) approach to keeping the external noise from, as he said, ‘infiltrating,’ with the people watching,” Kinkhabwala wrote.
“This is as humble and respectful a young man as there is. Don’t malign him by assuming something that isn’t there.”
It’d be out of character for Gabriel to turn on Sanders like that. Gabriel has spoken highly of the QB room’s camaraderie, so stirring the pot now would be a wild turn of events.
Gaining that competitive advantage would be risking a lot for a rookie who is still competing for a roster spot. A third-round pick is usually a lock to stick around for at least his rookie season, but Sanders being an unconventional fifth-rounder opens the door for the unprecedented.
Many would say Sanders’ Week 1 debut against the Carolina Panthers was more impressive than Gabriel’s on Saturday, facing the Philadelphia Eagles for an easy victory.
We’ll soon see how Kevin Stefanski feels about his rookies.