It's one thing to catch fire on the football field. Think about what wideout Puka Nacua has done during two exceptional seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, for example. Otherwise? Fifth-round draft picks entering the NFL need to be flame retardant.
In the case of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, encasing himself in asbestos might have been the prudent move. Alas.
Rather than avoiding an NFL spotlight that’s sparked so many off-field wildfires over the years, Sanders instead provided fresh kindling for a legion of critics waiting to pounce – cited by police for driving 101 miles per hour after midnight ET Tuesday in suburban Cleveland. The listed speed limit where he committed the infraction was 60 mph.
Maybe you’re thinking this isn’t a big deal, easy enough to ascribe this mistake to youthful intemperance. And Sanders, 23, didn’t cause an accident. He wasn’t driving under the influence. His maximum legal exposure for a fourth-degree misdemeanor is a $250 fine.
The Browns haven’t issued a public statement. Nor has Sanders. And why should they? This incident – if it’s even that – pretty plainly speaks for itself.
