Retired NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman is not happy with Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl selection. The Cleveland Browns rookie was a confirmed addition as Drake Maye’s replacement for the Pro Bowl. Maye is currently gearing up for a showdown against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX after winning the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos.
In a tweet on X, the former Los Angeles Chargers star said that giving Shedeur Sanders the honor of participating in the Pro Bowl stains its prestige. Merriman also highlighted how the outlook regarding the Pro Bowl has changed over time.
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“I have a Pro Bowl helmet that I walk by almost everyday. It’s signed by some of the best players in the history of the NFL, legends, HOF’ers and real GOAT’s. The Pro Bowl use to be a badge of honor and respect. Things have changed,” Merriman tweeted.
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Shedeur had a rather average rookie campaign with the Cleveland Browns. Initially, he was the third-string option behind Joe Flacco and 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.
However, after a disappointing start, Gabriel was named as the QB1 heading into Week 5. In October, Flacco was traded to the Bengals, resulting in Shedeur’s promotion as the backup.
He made his first start for the Browns in Week 11 after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Former coach Kevin Stefanski then decided to name Shedeur as the QB1 for the remainder of the season. The rookie won three of the seven games he started while recording 1,400 yards and seven TDs passing.
The Browns finished dead last in the AFC North with a 5-12 record. Stefanski was fired from his position, as the team looks forward to a new chapter under a suitable replacement.
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Analyst Jon Root heavily criticizes the league for Shedeur Sanders Pro Bowl selection
Analyst Jon Root did not mince his words when calling out the NFL for Shedeur Sanders being added to the Pro Bowl lineup.
In a tweet on X, he compared the Browns rookie to other eligible quarterbacks in the league.
“Shedeur Sanders being added to the Pro Bowl is how you know the Pro Bowl is dead…” Root wrote.
“Out of 42 eligible QBs, Shedeur Sanders ranked 41stt in Passer Rating. … He threw more INT than TD. 5th worst QBR since QRB became a stat in ’06 & worst for any Browns QB with at least 6 starts in THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE. What a joke.”
As the Browns coaching search continues, there is an air of uncertainty about whether Shedeur will return as the QB1 of the team this upcoming season. GM Andrew Berry has not yet committed to the rookie as the future of the franchise.
Edited by Priyam Hazarika