Jason Whitlock claims heat on Shedeur Sanders' QB1 debut comes from the "same reason people root against Trump, Biden, Obama"

Sports commentator Jason Whitlock said on Thursday that the public reactions to Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders reflect cultural polarization rather than football evaluation. Sanders is set to take his first NFL snaps as a starter on Sunday in Las Vegas, following coach Kevin Stefanski’s announcement that the rookie will lead the Browns offense.

Whitlock's remarks came after a fan on X questioned why Sanders has attracted critics who seem to be rooting for his failure.

"This is not difficult to understand," Whitlock wrote on X. "When you believe someone represents a negative influence on culture, you root against them. Same reason people root against Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush."

"Non-political, people root for and against me based on their worldview. For some, Shedeur represents entitlement, false victimhood, radical materialism, racial idolatry. For others, Shedeur represents black empowerment, hip hop culture, a thorn in the side of perceived white bigotry, etc. We all root for and against things. It's not remotely difficult to understand."

Jason Whitlock

@WhitlockJason

This is not difficult to understand. When you believe someone represents a negative influence on culture, you root against them. Same reason people root against Trump, Biden, Obama, Bush. Non-political, people root for and against me based on their worldview. For some, Shedeur represents entitlement, false victimhood, radical materialism, racial idolatry. For others, Shedeur represents black empowerment, hip hop culture, a thorn in the side of perceived white bigotry, etc. We all root for and against things. It's not remotely difficult to understand.

Shedeur Sanders replaces injured starter Dillon Gabriel, who remains in concussion protocol following last week’s loss. He has spent most of the season backing up Gabriel and working in limited reps.

---

Shedeur Sanders is ready to take on the adversity both in life and on the gridiron

Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal (Credits: IMAGN)

Shedeur Sanders played for his father at Jackson State and Colorado before entering the draft. Deion Sanders coached both programs and frequently promoted his son's abilities through media appearances and social media posts.

The pressure increased after a difficult NFL debut performance last weekend, where he struggled to move the offense after replacing Dillon Gabriel in the second half.

The New York Times framed Sanders as a player whose narrative has shifted from the "ultimate overdog" into "a likable underdog."

"Mentally, emotionally, I'm in a great place overall," Sanders told reporters, according to ESPN.

"My life is always going to be adversity. Things aren't always going to go as planned, but I would say I'm prepared for everything."

Cleveland enters Sunday's game at 2-8 after losing five straight games. Gabriel went 1-4 as a starter with a 30.9 Total QBR that ranked 32nd among 33 qualifying quarterbacks.