Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam just threw his rookie quarterback under the bus, and NFL legend Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson isn’t having it. When Haslam publicly distanced himself from the team’s decision to draft Shedeur Sanders, claiming it wasn’t his pick, Johnson saw something darker at play.
“They’re trying to break him,” he said, painting a picture of organizational dysfunction that could derail a promising young career.
Why Did Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam Publicly Distance Himself from Shedeur Sanders?
On “Nightcap,” a show hosted by former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, they had former NBA star Joe Johnson on the show to discuss a bevy of topics, including the recent comments by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam saying that the team’s 2025 NFL Draft fifth-round pick, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wasn’t his pick, but rather general manager Andrew Berry’s.
About five minutes into the show’s clip, Sharpe turns to Johnson and asks him why he believes Haslam felt the need to comment on this situation. For context, Haslam appeared before the media and made it known that Sanders wasn’t his pick.
“If you’d have told me, you said you picked him on Saturday, right? Friday night, driving home, y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say that’s not happening. But we had a conversation early that morning, and then we had a conversation later that day. I think we had the right people involved in the conversation,” he said, as mentioned by PFSN’s Abhinand Variar.
That’s certainly an odd comment to make regarding a current player on the roster, especially without explaining why he felt that way. The timing feels particularly awkward, given that Sanders is trying to establish himself in a competitive quarterback room.
“At the end of the day, that’s Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur. Just like who’s going to start or what play we’re going to call is Kevin’s call. But that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call,” Haslam continued.
What Does Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson Think the Browns Are Really Trying to Do?
Now, here’s what Johnson thinks of the whole situation. “… You know what they tryna do. They tryna break him,” Ochocinco said to Sharpe and Johnson.
“They use the draft, ‘OK, we tryna break him, we gon make him wait. OK, now he’s here. He’s doin’ everything he’s supposed to do. Doin’ everything he’s supposed to do plus the extra.” Ochocino continued.
Johnson played in the NFL from 2001 to 2012, suiting up for the Cincinnati Bengals (2001 to 2010), New England Patriots (2011), and the Miami Dolphins for a short time in 2012 before being released during the preseason following an arrest.
Ochocinco was an incredibly “flashy” player with visibility and showmanship — as seen when he legally changed his last name for a short period to “Ochocinco,” alluding to his jersey number.
Sanders is often criticized for “flashy” things, though these are not necessarily one-to-one comparisons. Therefore, Ochocinco could have unique insight into what Sanders could possibly be enduring right now as his NFL career begins.
RELATED: ‘Punished His Son to Punish Him’ — ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Rips NFL Teams for Using Shedeur Sanders to Hurt Deion Sanders
“Then, ‘OK, how can we break him now? He’s out here playing very well,” he continued, building the potential narrative regarding the Browns’ thought process.
“‘So, what do we do now? He’s playin’ well, he’s got the offense down, he’s not makin’ too many mistakes, he’s throwin’ touchdowns, whether he’s runnin’ with the 1s, the 2s, the 3s, or the 4s. So what do we do now? The owner has to come out and try to break him again,’” Ochocino said before Sharpe chimed back in.
The veteran receiver’s theory suggests a deliberate pattern of psychological pressure designed to test Sanders’ mental toughness. According to Ochocinco’s narrative, first the Browns made Sanders wait through the draft process, then after he arrived and performed well in practice, Haslam felt compelled to publicly undermine his confidence.
One thing is for sure: the Browns’ quarterback room is crowded with Sanders, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett. It wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them dealt or cut before the season begins.
We’ll see where Sanders fits in as the season approaches. However, if Ochocinco’s assessment is accurate, the rookie quarterback faces challenges that extend far beyond learning the playbook or competing for snaps.