A wave of outrage swept through NFL circles this week when the Cleveland Browns’ emergency signal-caller, Shedeur Sanders, found himself in the sights of one of the sport’s most outspoken voices. On an edition of Get Up, NFL coach turned analyst Rex Ryan brought Sanders under the microscope and fueled full-blown debates. Following Ryan’s comments, an NFL legend who played under him has made his feelings clear on the matter.

On ESPN’s Get Up, Ryan lobbed an unforgiving criticism at Shedeur: “This kid talks and he runs his mount. Like he said, ‘I can be a starting quarterback’… Get your a** in the front row and study and do all that… Quit being an embarrassment that way. You’ve got the talent to be the quarterback, you should be. You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback now.” But former NFL running back LeSean ‘Shady’ McCoy didn’t see eye to eye with this assessment.

On a recent edition of SPEAKEASY, the 2x Super Bowl champ and Pro Bowler running back defended Shedeur Sanders after dropping his own view on the Browns’ QB room. So far, starting quarterback Joe Flacco has carved out a single win for the Browns and lost three matchups. Addressing Flacco’s struggles and Sanders’ desire to play, McCoy noted, “The starting quarterback is playing… Awful. So what do you want me to do? Because I know I can do better than that. – Joe Flacco looks like an old, scared man out there in the field, and you telling me I can’t get a shot?” Then, McCoy addressed Rex Ryan’s comments directly.

As McCoy further added, “I played for Rex and I love Rex Ryan, but it’s a matter of ‘what do you want me to do? How you know I ain’t studying?’” It’s at this point that McCoy emphasises the narratives these kinds of criticism fuels. “See this is the part when they create the narrative because when a coach of the magnitude of Rex Ryan talks about it, when guys on the TV talk about it… we create the narrative that ‘I’m talking about running my mouth. I’m not ready to play. … I’m not studying.’ – How do you know that?”

McCoy’s point hits especially hard for current and future players who get picked apart by analysts before they ever get a shot. The pressure that comes with being the Browns’ starter is real, but so is the grind Shedeur Sanders has been on ever since he joined Cleveland. Yet each day in the league is a shot; sometimes at redemption, sometimes at rewriting what it means to be ‘ready.’ The conversation isn’t just about who suits up, but who shapes the narrative for the next generation of athletes.

But LeSean McCoy isn’t the only one speaking up for Shedeur Sanders. Following Rex Ryan’s comments, Shedeur’s mother, Pilar Sanders, broke the fourth wall with a response that instantly went viral. Her fierce words not only defended Shedeur but also reframed the situation.

Pilar Sanders’ fierce response to Rex Ryan

Pilar Sanders didn’t mince words on her Instagram. She called out the commentary with all the urgency of someone protecting the family. In the process, she also sent a warning to every young athlete watching. Putting up a story on her Instagram featuring Rex Ryan, Pilar wrote, “To young Athletes and Football fans. This is what im–tent, cancerous, envious energy looks like… This type of Evile goes waaay back – you can cut it with a knife – embedded in bl**d and bones seeping through all of the rotting worm holes it has.” Her words weren’t just a defense; it was a direct callout to Ryan’s criticism.

In her story, Pilar further added, “What and who does he really represent? Its’ family and peers should be embarrassed to know and let this on their platforms. There’s no room for this type in sports. Please. Tsk tsk tsk. Enuff!!” Pilar’s message hit home with young athletes. Instantly, her Instagram story became part of the larger conversation across social media platforms, pushing back against the harsh headlines and polarizing sound bites.

The public spotlight on Sanders isn’t going away. What’s clear: Sanders will continue to fight for an opportunity to play, with both family and NFL legends standing by his side. Ryan’s comments fueled the fire, but the collective pushback made sure only those closest to the action would write Sanders’ story.