Shedeur’s Need for Speed: Browns GM Condemns Rookie’s Dual Tickets as “Not Smart”

Headlights illuminate a black Dodge TRX barreling down Route 71—Shedeur Sanders behind the wheel, toes buried in the pedal, pushing past 100 mph in the dead of night. Three weeks of rookie orientation turned into tachometer drama.

He was issued two citations in June: first at 91 mph in a 65 mph zone, then 101 mph in a 60 mph zone. Both tickets—standard misdemeanors with combined fines nearing $520—also included a missed court date that only deepened the scrutiny. The Browns stepped in, but the public backlash began with force.

“Not Smart”—Not Just A Phrase

GM Andrew Berry didn’t mince words at training camp: “Not smart, just not smart. … It isn’t just about driving fast, it’s about endangering others,” he told media. Sanders has reportedly paid the fines and faced the team’s caution, but Berry’s tone left no room for spin.

“It’s not something we want our guys to be doing,” added head coach Kevin Stefanski, reinforcing the message about maturity and responsibility, whether on turf—or asphalt.

Defenders, Critics, and a Brother’s Joke

Voices rallied both support and critique. Former cornerback Asante Samuel offered context: “Every player speeds,” he argued, urging grace as Sanders adapts to NFL life and away-from-home freedoms.

Cam Newton was less forgiving: “That’s extremely dangerous… You can’t pay your way when you’re trying to negotiate with the Grim Reaper.” A grave reminder from a quarterback who nearly lost everything in a crash.

Even brother Shilo inserted humor, quipping pedestrians should watch out for Shedeur in Tampa. The joke struck a humane chord—family teasing, but also a public nudge toward vulnerability and accountability.

Fast Car, Slow Lesson

Sanders insists he’s “just a little boy” who “made some wrong choices” and is learning—a phrase repeated at David Njoku’s charity softball game, yet undercut by laughter that left observers questioning sincerity.

His speedometer may have screamed youth, but the NFL watches with scrutiny. With four QBs ahead of him in Cleveland, every move—on or off field—shapes his path. Will the thrill of speed translate to poise under pressure? Or will chlorinated exhaust overshadow touchdown tape?

Shedeur’s reckless nights sparked more than fines—they sparked a reckoning. In NFL life, every choice echoes. So the final query remains: when the lights go up and decisions are fast, will learning from the gas pedal teach enough?