Shadeur Sanders Shines in First NFL Start as Spurs Battle Injuries in Tough Loss
I’d like to start out this week with a big congratulations to Cleveland Browns quarterback Shadeur Sanders. Over the weekend the rookie led the 3-8 Browns to a 24-10 road victory over my woeful Raiders in his first official start as an NFL quarterback. Sanders threw for 209 yards on 11-for-20 attempts with one touchdown and one interception.
With the win Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first career start as a Brown since Eric Zeier in 1995. Since the Browns moved back to Cleveland in 1999 they have had 42 starting quarterbacks.
Although his career is just getting started it’s been a long road for the kid in a very short time. The son of NFL Hall of Famer and University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, Shadeur was slated as a guaranteed first round draft pick coming out of Colorado as a senior. For reasons unknown he slid down to the fifth round before finally being snatched up by the Browns.
Despite the disappointment Sanders stayed true to himself and showed the rewards of what hard work, patience, and perseverance brings, especially as a young black man.
His efforts were rewarded further on Monday when he was named the starter for this weekend’s game against the 49ers.
“A lot of people want to see me fail,” Sanders said after the victory, “and it ain’t going to happen.”
Keep shining kid.
In Spurs News
In Spurs news, the team snapped their three game winning streak losing 111-102 Sunday in Phoenix.
De’Aaron Fox led the Silver and Black, who were playing without the injured Victor Wembanyama, with 26 points. The Spurs won their previous three games, all without V-Dub, who will be out at least another week with a left calf strain.
Devin Vassell had 17 points, while Keldon Johnson added 14 and Julian Champagnie finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, both off the bench.
The Spurs were also was missing starting forward Stephon Castle because of a left hip flexor strain and rookie Dylan Harper, the second overall draft pick who remains out with a left calf strain.
Dillon Brooks scored 25 points and Devin Booker had 24 as the Suns won their third straight at the expense of the Spurs.
Despite the loss and the injuries the Spurs maintain their hold on the fifth spot in the West at 11-5, five games behind the Conference leading Oklahoma Thunder who still have only one loss.
The team will look to rebound Wednesday in Portland against the Trailblazers in an Emirates NBA Cup group play matchup. At 1-1 the Silver and Black are currently third in Group C.
Upcoming Games:
Wed, Nov 26 @ (9)Portland(8-10)
9pm
NBA Cup-Group Play
Fri, Nov 28 @ (2)Denver(13-4)
830pm
NBA Cup-Group Play
Sun, Nov 30 @ (7)Minnesota(10-7)
6pm
Tue, Nov 2 vs (10)Memphis(6-12)
7pm
