Shedeur Sanders to START for Browns vs. Raiders 🚨 Stephen A. CALLS OUT Kevin Stefanski | First Take

Back to the NFL now. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense firing on all cylinders on Monday night against the Raiders. Dak tied his season high with four touchdown passes, completed over 75% of those passes. The result was a much needed win that kept the Cowboys playoff hopes alive. Overall, Dak has been impressive this season, ranking in the top five of most quarterback metrics. His total QBR of 75 is his best since his rookie season in 2016 with his nearly 70% completion rate, which was the best of his career. Okay, so up next, the Cowboys have a huge game against the Eagles, as we talked about a lot. Division rival. Peter Schrager now joins the show. What is at stake for Dak Prescott this weekend?

Well, two weeks ago I was in Dallas and watched the Dallas Cowboys put together one of the worst performances you will see an NFL team do on Monday Night Football, losing to the Arizona Cardinals with Bam Knight and DiMarcato running all over them and us hailing Jacoby Brissett, the next great thing.

Two weeks later, Swagu and I were in Vegas and I watched a Cowboys team that I think would have beaten the 76 Steelers on Monday night. This Cowboys team looked night and day from the version that we saw just two weeks earlier. And my statement here is that

the next three games, this stretch is a legacy-defining three weeks for one Dak Prescott. And I believe there's a very good chance

that the Cowboys run the table in these three games. Now hear me out. Eagles, Chiefs, Lions. Eagles game, national audience. Chiefs game, Thanksgiving. Lions, national audience.

This Cowboys team with the additions of Quinn and Logan Wilson and what they got back with Overshawn. And then I take it to a dramatic place here, and I understand this is a bit of a right turn, but Swagu was in the building as well, and I think he could back me up.

The way this team got off the bus in their Marshawn Nealon shirts coming off a bye week where they were listening to all the outside noise going into it, and then real life happened, I believe this team is all on the same page. I believe they were galvanized by this moment. And I believe they needed something

like Monday night's victory to kickstart and look at each other and say, you know what?

Screw it.

Let's do this thing. Dak Prescott has been good all season long. Heavy is the crown. He makes a ton of money, makes $60 million. Go have your stretch. Go have your moment. These next three weeks, I could see the Cowboys doing some real things here and following Dak's lead, who has been the ultimate leader

through what was a real-life tragedy and a real-life crisis, and he has handled this like maybe no other quarterback

could.

Raghu?

After Schrags gives a statement like that, what the hell do y'all want me to say? I got motivated, Shregs. I got motivated by what you said, but I'm nervous, man. And I think you're right.

I think this next three-game stretch will say a lot about Dak Prescott. Now, everybody will go to the playoffs, Shrug, and everybody will talk about it really is not legacy-defining because you get into the postseason.

But I do agree with you here. You look at what's at stake for this football team. You look at the who the opponents are and how well-respected they are in this league

and

which I don't think it's going to happen. But but by far by some stretch of the imagination, they actually win the next three games and Pat and Dak Prescott performs at a very high level and this team is a lot better. People will look at this stretch and say a team that was on the brink of not having the opportunity to make the playoffs.

Their quarterback came through and they beat three teams in this league that nobody thought they would be that this point of the season. So there is some validity to that. Problem is I just don't think it's going to happen. And we talked about this in the first hour stray with Philly. It's always a toss-up as good as Philly is. I got a ton of respect for what Philly is, but this is a divisional game.

I don't think anybody is crazy for saying that the Dallas Cowboys could win against Philly at home. I don't think it's going to happen, but I think they if they won, I don't think we would be surprised. You got a desperate Kansas City Chiefs team on Thanksgiving and you got a Detroit Lions team. That's probably about to start playing with a lot of

desperation who I think are two better teams than Dallas and I understand what gal you and I were there and they are galvanized and I talked about that in the first hour. There's a different tone and tenor to what this football team is and obviously because of what they went through, but ultimately this game is the biggest humbler in the world.

And I think these two teams, these three teams that they're playing, but to specifically after the Philadelphia Eagles, that's going to be probably the toughest task that this team is going to face all year because it's two teams that's playing desperate football that we all have a ton of respect for and we know that

they have the personnel to win any game that they play in. But if that does go on a 3-0 run and wins these next three games, Shraves, I'm with you. I do think people would look at him completely different based on how he plays if the team wins these next three games.

Dak Prescott has won 18 straight at home against divisional opponents. Just throwing it out there. Stephen A?

Bita, I think that your position is a bit extreme in terms of you saying legacy defining,

but we've seen them tie with green Bay. He dropped 40 that one on him.

So my point to you is that I think it's, I think what you're saying makes sense.

wet in the bed, knowing how important this is, did for the better part of the first half of the season, then that's not on Dak Prescott.

Now, if he goes out there and suddenly they can't score

Detroit, Detroit, thank you. I said if they go out and they can't score, and with C.D. Lamb and with George Pickens and Ferguson and all of these cats, they can't do anything right offensively, then your point is valid. But if Dak Prescott goes out there and he plays well and the offense is clicking, but the defense is trash, that's not on him. And that's the only thing that I would say.

I would add this. It's almost as much about the leadership piece of this for Dak to me. This is a man who makes $60 million. There's no excuses for him not being able to rise above statistically, and he's always done that. This is where the team was at a crossroads.

There's a real crisis, and then real life hits. So at the same point where they're losing these games to the Arizona Cardinals at home on Monday Night Football, which is inconceivable if you look at it now and think about what that happened in that game just less than a month ago, to now, all right, real-life hits, Doc, we pay you all this money,

you've been through it on a personal level when there's tragedy like this, and to tell the rest of the guys, hey, follow me. I got you. And then to go run off these three wins. I'll go a step further. I just saw the full screen of that schedule. I don't think the Vikings are world beaters.

I just watched the Jaguars dominate the Chargers. I don't think the Giants are any good. And the Commanders on Christmas Day, the Cowboys could be double digit favorites by that point. There is no reason that the Cowboys after what they did Monday night and granted it was against a terrible Raiders team can't look around at each other and say, you know what?

Why not us? Let's go on the run. Let us be the story.

And you know what?

If Dak Prescott is being paid what he's paid and is the leader that he has, he's got those two Alpha wide receivers.

Why not? Well, I will say this last point. Last point, and this is very important to bring up. You know, we know, we all know what you're alluding to when you talk about Dak Prescott relating to the personal strategy that took place. We know what happened with his brother in April of 2020. A heart goes out to him and obviously Dak Prescott overcame a lot and

tribute to him for being that guy. What I would say to you, Peter, is that he been, in terms of his muscle, I'm talking about his ability to lead, his ability to overcome adversity. His ability, he's been proven that. I mean, so it's like him saying, it's on me, it's on my shoulders. One of the things in all seriousness, I might troll him from time to time because of the Cowboys and their fan base and I like messing

with them. But we all know what a great player Dak Prescott is. You know, he's got to get over the hump in terms of postseason, but we know the brother can play. We know the brother's a quintessential leader. We know that when in terms of how he comports himself, how he conducts himself. We know there's nobody that could say anything about him. You want that kind of leader at your quarterback position. I'm saying he's proven that years ago. So there's nothing here, you know, to prove.

If anything, you're feeling even better as a team when it comes to your quarterback because you know what he's been through on a very, very personal level and what he's overcome. So I don't think

that that's an issue at all.

Did Dwight Clark and when we go miss big news, I'm sorry, Swagu, you were next. My fault. Go ahead.

Go ahead, Swag. And then final word to Doggy. Go ahead.

You're 82.

Mad dog. Mad dog. Mad dog. Can you get into the flow of the conversation with everybody else, please? Can you just come along with us? We passed George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb not playing in the first series of the game. Join the conversation, Mad Dog. Okay? Thank you, brother. I can't wait to see you next week because you need a hug.

You've been so mad the last couple of weeks for no reason, and I know why Stephen they I know why is because I'm not there. No doubt. I'm not there to give him a hug.

It's a joke.

Upsetting. Go ahead.

I know. I know. I know how you let it out. Let it out. Stephen. Hey, we got to put him through therapy. Sometimes on the show when you and I are not there because he feels like no, you're wrong. You're wrong. You're here. Listen, he doesn't he'd mess up in therapy. Okay, because he can't help himself. All right.

This is a man that comes on national television. Okay, and you're talking about a guy that's supposed to be on television discussing sports and finds a way to take shots at his wife, his mama, his mother-in-law. I mean three precious individuals that are just ... Holidays. Holidays.

He's the Grinch. You know, it's Thanksgiving, he hates it. It's Christmas, he hates it. You know, he celebrates when the wife goes away with the children so he can have the house to himself and his dogs. There's no hope for somebody like that. You got to just accept the fact that doggy is who he is.

There's no hope for him. There's no hope.

I mean,

I mean Stephen a this man, this man, Shrey, this man Shrey pours his heart out about Dallas is that you come and talk about Dak and what he's been through and everything. And mad dog says that Jerry Rice is the albumist for the first series of a football game.

He's representing his football almanac up here. I don't even know what's happening. We have some breaking news out of the NFL. Shadur Sanders will be getting his first career start this weekend when the Browns take on the Raiders. Dylan Gabriel remains in concussion protocol. And so here's his head coach, Kevin Stefanski.

This was moments ago, making the move official.

Shador's going to start at quarterback. Dylan is still in the concussion protocol. He is improving. But obviously we got to put a plan together for all of our players, all of our offense, our defense, our special teams, plan of attack and give our guys a chance to go execute and play fast.

That's the goal.

Peter Schrager, with this news, what's your reaction?

Okay, now it's time to do it with first team reps. I mean, it's always been a caveat that he hasn't been able to get the opportunity to play with the first team. You heard some quotes from offensive linemen saying they weren't really sure about his cadence because they hadn't worked with him. I said in training camp, if he had a Russell Wilson-like training camp from when Russell was a third-round pick in 2012 and made it so undeniable and blew away every coach at it,

you had to start him over Matt Flynn. You had to start him over the late Travares Jackson. That maybe Shador would do it. He didn't have that training camp. He's made it undeniable in practice. And whether or not he's been given that opportunity or not, that's neither here nor there. Here's how I look at it. Shador Sanders, right now, has about eight games. He can make a statement to not only that coaching staff,

not only to that owner, but to that fan base, that yes, I am the guy and it's worth keeping me around or it's worth giving me a shot next year as opposed to using one of those two first-round picks on a quarterback or packaging them and getting a quarterback that way. I know there's been a lot of discourse on Shador Sanders. Guess what? Full week of practice.

You're the guy. Let's see it now on an even playing field, and let's make our judgments after this week as opposed to last week.

Stephen A?

I am very, very disappointed with Peter Schrager right now.

Here we go.

I mean, what a tepid response. Rational. Talk about lukewarm. I mean, damn. I mean, listen. We all know.

Listen, Peter. Where's the guy so incredibly connected to the National Football League with sources everywhere, knowing your football backwards and forwards the way that you do Where's the guy that was saying what's up with the cadence issue? What's up with no first-team reps? What's up with the fact that Kevin Stefanski is a two-time NFL coach of the year? 2020 and 2023

Having a quarterback who's a rookie so flagrantly ill-prepared to be on the football field last week. Where that Peter Schrager at? Now come on man. Come on now. This is what I'm talking about here.

When I'm talking about here, when I'm talking about, listen, in the interest of full disclosure, doggy, uh, swagu and Peter, I said this was shared yesterday. I root for Kevin Stefanski. Let me tell you why. I know his daddy. Ed Stefanski is a long time NBA executive. We go back decades. I love that man. Okay, and that's his son. So I'll never root against Kevin Stefanski. And Kevin Stefanski comes into the NFL and he immediately shows he's a hell of a

coach. Again. I'm not saying rookies, you know, start and get first team reps as a QB to Peter. Please don't get me wrong. What I'm saying is if you know, you already starting a rookie and a rookie happens to be the QB to and you know that the QB one is susceptible to concussions. He's a relatively small do one hit can end them for the game for the season. You know this for the backup to be a rookie and to be so flagrantly unprepared which should door Sanders look like I find to be suspicious.

So I'm glad they announced that he's the starter. I'm glad he's gonna get his first team reps and stuff like that. I get it. I understand. I'm looking forward to it. And I want to say this last point. Shadur Sanders, I can't think of a game that's going to be more important. He can't come out this week and stink up the joint going four for 16 like he did last week. Nobody is giving him a pass. He goes out there and he stinks up the joint this weekend. People are going to be saying he don't belong in the league yet.

It's going to be bad. He is under immense pressure to at least look respectable this week.

I think we're actually against the Raiders.

I want to maintain my place on first take. So let me come a little bit hotter here. I was tepid. You're right, Stephen. I apologize for that. That was weak sauce.

When I say Russell Wilson won the job and became undeniable, when I say Derek Carr as a second round pick won the job and was undeniable, what I'm also saying is Shador Sanders did not win the job this summer did not earn a place on the field yet this season. And it took for three other

quarterbacks to go down for him

to get an opportunity.

What I'm also saying is some of the onus is on the player as well and that they're not looking to lose games. They want to put together the best team possible and they

didn't believe up until this point. Shador Sanders gave him the best chance to do so.

quarterback being unprepared. He knows QB's. Furthermore, he's got a rookie quarterback in Gabriel.

What are you going to do split the split the snaps with Gabriel who's a rookie quarterback? He needs as much snaps as anybody. You can't it's not like he's Joe Flacco where you can sort of maneuver because Flacco's seen everything in NFL. Gabriel says he just started. He's got to get all the snaps. He's preparing for a ball game and I'll give Shadour a little credit because that last drive on Sunday against the Ravens was at least respectable, respectable. But let's call it like we see it. He was outright awful on Sunday afternoon against,

let's call it like we see it. And to put the blame because he wasn't prepared is nonsense. He held the ball way too long. He couldn't get the ball to the line of scrimmage. He didn't too long. He couldn't get the ball to the line of scrimmage. He didn't play well. So to sit there and blame this now on a head coach to me is

really not the right thing to Especially when Gabriel is a rookie quarterback who needs all the practice time he can get so he can be qualified for the But I agree with Steve on one

No excuses now. the generators who stink go out there. You don't have to be phenomenal. Be like a representative

But she wasn't on Sunday against

I think it was the fact that the offensive line had never heard his cadence that got everyone How have they never won time.

It took 10 seconds. It took 10 seconds to throw the ball when he was back in the

Right. a late first-round guy, but third round wouldn't have made me scratch my eyebrows based on the conversations that I had with a lot of people around the league. But ultimately, when we get to this point of Shadur Sanders tenure with the Cleveland Browns, there is no way in hell, Shea, you absolutely right, that the offensive line shouldn't know his cadence.

I don't give a damn if it's a baby at quarterback

in front of him. I've been give a damn if it's a baby at quarterback in front

of him. I've been in the NFL locker room nine years. The second string quarterback on the football team always has a package or some reps that he gets with the first scene just in case he has to step in if a quarterback gets hurt or goes down. That is absolutely bullcrap for them not to know his cadence going into his first game in the NFL.

Doggy, I don't give a damn what you feel like about Kevin Stefanski. I ain't ever seen a second string quarterback or some offensive line say they don't know the cadence of a quarterback that has the potential to play in the game. We didn't know Shadur Sanders was going to play in the game. They didn't either that you

don't prepare for a guy not to play. If he your second string quarterback, you prepare for all variables in case something happens to your first string guy. I go back to training camp and I understand what you saying Shrugs and obviously throughout the training camp. You got to do something to catch the attention of your football team,

but we heard it. We heard limited reps in practice. Right? Joe Flacco came in. He had to go down the laundry list of quarterbacks in order to get reps with the first team and the good on good and maybe he didn't show well during that period of time, but Shr, you and I know it wasn't enough to make a determination of if he was going to be good enough to be a starting

quarterback for your football team. So now we get and y'all know me, Stephen. They, you know, me as well as anybody. I ain't gonna defend the quarterback when I don't think he good. I don't give a damn who he is, who his daddy, and I'm not what where he came from or his life story. It don't matter to me. This game is very honest.

Either you can play it or you can or you can. I'm telling you right now in this particular situation. This kid needs more of an opportunity and tutelage to see if he can be a really good quarterback in the NFL. It's unfortunate how it has went, but now Kevin Stefanski even alluded to it. We got to build some continuity.

We got to we got to make sure that the guy that we prepare for this week is knows enough and the people around him knows enough in order for him to have success. The young man was not in a position to have success. The last time we saw him play football period. That's on the coaches.

That's on the coordinator, the head coach, the quarterback coach and everybody else. Go ahead, Steven. Well, because I got there. I got it. I got it responsible.

That he's not because listen, this is where doggy is so wrong and see the Peter I get where you're coming from because listen look Peter. Let's call Peter what he is. All right, Pete Peters an insider damn it Yes, there's a peanut. I didn't buy it in NFL. Yes, sir. I understand I get it I can get on you for being tepid at all as a but damn it I've been there covering the NBA for 30 years. I get it sometimes you got to you got to you're gonna be You're gonna be the truth. You're gonna tell the truth. You don't lie You're gonna tell the truth

But in the same breath the momentum the energy that comes with it a little bit different when you got to go from an inside It's like got it. No problem You're a Hall of Fame radio host. You've been a pundit, and raving, raving, raising hell for four plus decades. They inducted you into the Hall of Fame because of this.

And you're gonna sit up here with a straight face

on national television.

Yes I am.

Kevin Stefanski is not once, he's a two time coach of the year. He's a damn good coach. And his quarterback ain't ready? You know that Dylan Gabriel is totally different than Shador Sanders.

Shador Sanders does hold onto the ball a little bit too long. He is looking to make deep passes. He will stand into the pocket. You got Dylan Gabriel trying to get the ball out inside of two seconds. That's not Shador Sanders.

They knew that. We also know because I know you know this Peter. We know Cleveland ain't on the same page. The owner and the GM might want one thing. The coach and the offensive coordinator might want another. So that's a house divided in Cleveland. That still comes down to Kevin Stefanski because he's the one coaching the team. Last but not least, while we're sitting here raving about Kevin Stefanski. Do you know that right now, when it comes to Kevin Stefanski, Shadur Sanders will be his 13th quarterback since 2025.

Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Nick Mullins, Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, PJ Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jeff Driscoll, Jameis Winston, Bailey Zappi, Dylan Gabriel, and now Shador Sanders. Last time I checked, this is Kevin Stefanski we're talking about.

Right, Swagu? This is Kevin Stefanski we're talking about. Right, Peter Schrager? Absolutely. I'm sorry, Baker Mayfield can't play? Or Jacobi Rezek can't play?

I'm looking. I got at least two. You got at least two cats that are starting in the NFL now. What's up with Kevin Stefanski with them?

That's three with Flacco.

At some point in time, at some point in time, and with Flacco, that's three. At some point in time, we do get to look at him and we get to say, yo, you're two-time coach of the year. How does the problem? How do they complain about cadence? How is he completely ill-prepared? You know what yesterday Chris Canty and Jeff Saturday told me doggy and I'll pass it to you after saying this.

They said to me that when okay, can't he said when Bill Parcells was coaching particularly in Dallas or what have you if you had a cat that was getting reps that was 20. He'd extended to 27 28 30 just to get the reserves more time. So get them their time so they can get exposed to that. So what's up?

I was there. You could get you could have got you could have got should door Sanders better prepared for the moment.

We can say that that's fair.

Your final word.

First off, Bacon Mayfield got released by two other teams before he ended up in Tampa including Sean McVay We're talking about Kevin Stefanski But actually means the fancy released the ladies them too, so if you're gonna kill stuff, so he killed McVay Resigned him gone. Yeah, here's the last thing on this I think that we have a tendency because of his dad who's an old-timer, to put Choudhour on this incredible level. He's the fifth round jet pick to me for a reason.

But that's all out the window right now.

Here's the deal. Here's the deal.

You got six games.