The Browns knew they were drafting a lightning bolt when they took Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. What they didn’t expect, at least not this soon, was how literal that might become. On June 18, police clocked Sanders’ Dodge TRX pickup truck roaring up I‑71 at 101 mph in a 60. According to Cleveland.com, the former Colorado QB was cited on the spot. And here’s the kicker, this wasn’t even his first ticket this month.

Twelve days earlier, Sanders had already been pulled over by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for doing 91 in a 65. Medina Municipal Court records show he missed his arraignment on June 13. $269 in fines later, and now another ticket drops. Not ideal for a quarterback trying to carve out trust in a crowded room full of experience and egos.

He spoke after practice on Wednesday night. “I’ve made some wrong choices, I can own up to it, I learn from them,” he said. But in Cleveland, this will make matters worse for him. And with Joe Flacco still tossing darts, Kenny Pickett quietly stacking reps, and Dillon Gabriel already drawing quiet praise, Sanders’ leash might get over even before starting.

So now, it’s a matter of perception vs. projection. We know he is an adrenaline junkie who tries to extract it out of the motorsport adventure. Remember, the conversation with Tom Brady about the fancy cars when the GOAT told him to focus on film, not on the flash. A few days ago, fans even criticized him for the olive green Rolls-Royce, which belonged to his brother, Shilo. They even said: “So rather than hitting the field and studying the playbook + film, he’s spending his entire first year salary on a car? No wonder no GM wanted this kid.”

So, it’s clear that while he is already battling for the starting job, he isn’t making matters easy for himself, now especially with the latest legal troubles.

Shedeur Sanders misses court appearances

There is a hidden message that is also gaining traction. On his 23rd birthday in 2007, NBA legend LeBron James was also cited for driving at 101 mph. That’s almost 2 decades ago. Look where he has reached in those years. Is Shedeur Sanders also on the path to greatness? He has all the tools required to do so. Remember, all those practice sessions when he stayed late to get some more reps. The desire and hunger are there. But he needs to come out of this legal issue first.

To keep things under control and avoid unwanted cameras, he didn’t even attend the court dates, just trying to take care of the tickets through his sources. Is Shedeur just young and impulsive? Or is this part of the pattern that teams feared? Because in the NFL, the ability to read a defense means nothing if the organization can’t read you. He’s still got time. And right now, Shedeur’s biggest obstacle isn’t the playbook. It’s everything outside of it.

Deshaun Watson‘s backup, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, had already been clocked doing over 100 mph once before. And sure, in Ohio, that might earn you a stern warning or a hefty fine, maybe even probation if it’s your first dance. The state’s laws are lenient, until they’re not. That grace disappears real fast when it’s not your first time or when the circumstances feel reckless enough to raise eyebrows in a courtroom, let alone a locker room.

So, Shedeur Sanders needs to be careful about his ways moving forward. His draft slide also started with small issues, which ultimately caused him big trouble. It’s time to wake up else his plan may get cut anytime.