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

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 a season high with four touchdown passes. Completed over 75% of those passes. The result was a muchneeded win that kept the Cowboys playoff hopes a lot. 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 Shrager now joins the show. What is at sta 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 De Marcado running all over them and us hailing Jacobe Brassette 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 Quinnon and Logan Wilson and what they got back with Overshon. 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 Marshon Neland shirts coming off a by-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 Dax 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 I after after Shrags gives a statement like that, what the hell do y’all want me to say? Uh, I I got motivated, Triggs. 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, Greg, 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 is going to happen but but by far by some stretch of the imagination they actually win the next three games and 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 an opportunity to make the playoffs, their quarterback came through and they beat three teams in this league that nobody thought they would beat at this point of the season. So, there is some validity to that. Problem is, I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Yeah. And we talked about this in the first hour, Trey, 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 g you, 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 team these three teams that they’re playing but two 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 Dak does go on a three-0 run and wins these next three games, Trees, I’m with you. I do think people will 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. Peter, I think that your your position is a bit extreme in terms of you saying legacy defining uh in terms of the outcome of the game. I do think how he performed matters, but we’ve seen them tie with Green Bay. He dropped 40. That wasn’t on him. So, my point to you is that I think it’s I think what you’re saying makes sense if we’re talking about him performing well compared to wet in the bed, knowing how important this is, knowing the adjustments that have been made or the the alterations that have been made over Sean’s back. obviously off Sherman’s back. Of course, you got Quinton Williams and Logan Wilson back in there now. You got them there now that you’ve acquired them. The defense is supposed to look better. If the defense still looking like trash the way that they 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 against Philly, Kansas City, you know, and and and and I forgot the third team they’re playing. I mean, I’m just saying if you Detroit, Detroit, thank you. I said, “If they go out and they can’t score and and with CD Lamb and with George Pickkins 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 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. He there is 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. Oh, go ahead, Stephen. I go ahead. 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 tragedy that took place. We know what happened with his brother in April of 2020. Our heart goes out to him and obviously Dak Prescott overcame a lot and tre and tribute to him for being that guy. What I would say to you, uh, Peter, is that he been he in terms of his muscle, I’m talking about, you know, his ability to lead, his ability to overcome adversity, his ability he’s done he’s been proven that. I mean, so it’s it’s like, you know, 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 can 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 to 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 I’m sorry, Spago, 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 we pass George Pickkins and CD 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 cuz I You need a hug. You’ve been so mad the last couple weeks for no reason. And I know why, Stephen A. I know why. It’s because I’m not there. I’m not there to give him a hug. Talk to him. We don’t We haven’t had our It’s a joke. We haven’t had our time. Upsetting. Go ahead. I’m sorry. I know. I know. I know how you Let it out. Let it out. Stephen A. We got to put him through therapy sometimes on the show when you and I are not there cuz he feels like No, no. You’re wrong. You’re wrong. You’re Listen, he doesn’t He mess up in therapy. Okay. Cuz 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. 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, good news is we got to leave. I mean, Stephen A, this man, this man Shra, this man Shre pours his heart out about Dallas and Dak and you come and talk about Dak and what he’s been through and everything and Mad Dog says Jared Rice and Alies of a football game. He’s referencing his football man up here. I don’t even know happening. We have some breaking news out of the NFL. Shador 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 Stfansky. This was moments ago making the move official. Shador is going to start at quarterback. Dylan is still in the concussion protocol. He is improving. Um, but obviously we got to put a plan together for all of our our players, all of our uh our offense, our defense, our special teams, plan of attack and give our guys a chance to go execute and play fast. That’s that’s the goal. Peter Shreger, with this news, what’s your reaction? Okay, now it’s time to do it with first team reps. I mean, there’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 that it you had to start him over Matt Flynn, you had to start him over the late Travaris Jackson that maybe Shador would do it. He didn’t have that training camp. He hasn’t had that season where 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 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. Even a I am very very disappointed with Peter Shaker right now. Here we go. I mean, what a what a tepid response. 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 Stfansky is a twotime NFL coach of the year 2020 and 2023? having a quarterback who’s a rookie so flagrantly illprepared to be on the football field last week. Where that Peter Shreger at now? Come on, man. Come on now. This is what I’m talking about here. When I’m This is what 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 with Shay yesterday. I root for Kevin Stfansky. Let me tell you why. I know his daddy. Ed Stfansky is a longtime NBA executive. We go back decades. I love that man. Okay. And that’s his son. So, I’ll never root against Kevin Stfansky. And Kevin Stfansky 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, too, Peter. Please don’t get me wrong. What I’m saying is if you know you’re already starting a rookie and a rookie happens to be the QB2 and you know that the QB1 is susceptible to concussions. He’s a relatively small dude. One hit can end him for the game for the season. You know this for the backup to be a rookie and to be so flagrantly unprepared which Shador 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. Shador 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 against the Raiders. I want to maintain my place on first take. So, let me come a little bit hotter here. That was tepid. You’re right, Stephen A. 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 in 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. Uh I think it’s really to blame Stfansky for the quarterback being unprepared. He’s an excellent coach. He knows QBs. I I know Cam Newton did. They had Watson forever and he worked with him. 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 Flaco’s seen everything in the NBA NFL. Gabriel’s just he just started. He’s got to get all the snaps. He’s get preparing for a ball game. And I’ll give Shadur 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 have got 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 do. Especially when Gabriel is a rookie quarterback who needs all the practice time he can get so he can be qualified for the game. But I agree with Steve on one thing. No excuses now. Mhm. You’re playing the Raiders who stink. Go out there. You don’t have to be phenomenal. Be like a representative quarterback, which he wasn’t on Sunday against the RA. I think it was the fact that the offensive line had never heard his cadence that got everyone rattled. How have they never one time he took 10 seconds took 10 seconds to throw the ball when he was back in the past. He should have been 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 pos this point of Shador Sanders uh tenure with the with the Cleveland Browns, there is no way in hell, Shay. 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 in the NFL locker room nine years. The second string quarterback on a football team always has a package or some reps that he gets with the first team just in case he has to step in if a quarterback gets hurt or goes down. That is absolutely bull crap 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 Stfansky. 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 Shadura 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’re saying 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. 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 Trey, 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 and and y’all know me, Stephen A. You know me as well as anybody. I ain’t going to defend a quarterback when I don’t think he good. I don’t give a damn who he is, who his dad is, what where he came from or his life story. It don’t matter to me. This game is very honest. Either you could play it or you can’t or you can’t. I’m telling you right now in this particular situation, this kid needs more of an opportunity and toutelage to see if he can be a really good quarterback in the NFL. It’s unfortunate how it has went, but now Kevin Stfan and Kevin Stfensky even alluded to it. We got to build some continuity. We got to we got to make sure that the guy that we preparing for this week is 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 offensive coordinator, the head coach, the quarterback coach, and everybody else. Go ahead, Stephen. Cuz I Here’s the deal. And I And I got that young man responsible that he’s not because listen, this is where doggy is so wrong. And see, Peter, I get where you’re coming from because listen, look, Peter, let’s call Peter what he is. All right, Pete. Peter’s an insider. Damn it. You understand? Peter know everybody in the NFL. You understand? So, I understand. I I get it. I I can get on you for being tempered and all that, but damn it, I’ve been there covering the NBA for 30 years. I get it. Sometimes you got to you got to you going to be you going to be the truth. You’re going to tell the truth. You don’t lie. You’re going to 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 insider perspective. Got it. No problem, doggy. What the hell is your excuse? You’re a Hall of Fame You’re a Hall of Fame radio host. You’ve been c You’ve been a a a pundit and ra just raising hell for four plus decades. They inducted you into the Hall of Fame because of this and you’re going to sit up here with a straight face on national television. Yes, I am. Kevin Stfensky is not once. He’s a twotime coach of the year. He’s a damn good coach and his quarterback ain’t ready. You know that that Dylan Gabriel is totally different than Shador Sanders. Shador Sanders does hold on to 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, cuz 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 to Kevin Stfansky because he’s the one coaching the team. Last but not least, while we’re sitting here raving about Kevin Stfansky, do you know that right now when it comes to Kevin Stfansky, Shador Sanders will be his 13th quarterback since 2025. Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Nick Mullins, Deshaawn Watson, Jacobe Brassette, Joe Flacco, PJ Walker, Dorian Thompson Robinson, Jeff Driscoll, Jameus Winston, Bailey Zappy, Dylan Gabriel, and now Shador Sanders. Last time I checked, this is Kevin Stfansky. We talking about right Swagule. This is Kevin Sansky. We be talking about, right, Peter? Uh, B, I’m sorry. Baker Mayfield can’t play. Uh uh uh uh uh Jacobe Rosette can’t play. I’m looking I got at least two You got at least two cats that are starting in the NFL now. Where what’s up with Kevin Stfansky with that? At some point in time at some point in time and and with Flaco, 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 is the problem? How are they complaining about Cadence? How is he completely illprepared? You know what? Yesterday, Chris Kanty and Jeff Saturday told me Doggy and I’ll pass it to you after saying this. They said to me that when or Kanty said when Bill Parcels was coaching, particularly in Dallas or what have you, if you had a cat that was getting reps that was 20, he’d extend it to 27, 28, 30 just to get the reserves more time so get get them their time so they could get exposed to that. So what’s up? I was there. could get you could have got you could have got Shador Sanders better prepared for the moment. We can say that that’s fair. Your final word. Uh first off, Baker Mayfield got released by two other teams before he ended up in Tampa, including Shawn McVey where I’m talking about Kevin Stfansky. Well, that’s what I mean. Stfansky released him released him, too. So, if you’re going to kill Stfansky, kill McVey. You didn’t resign because McVey had him for resign him. Gone. Here, here is the last thing on this. I think that we have a tendency because of his dad who’s an all-timer to put your door 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. You got six games. Let’s see if you can play in the NFL.

Peter Schrager, Stephen A. Smith, Marcus “Swagu” Spears and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo join Shae Cornette on First Take to discuss storylines around the Dallas Cowboys, and Shedeur Sanders being named the starter for the Cleveland Browns vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.

0:00 Dak Prescott going off
2:53 Swagu is motivated!
5:33 Stephen A. brings the stats
9:42 Can Mad Dog just commit?
11:37 Breaking news
15:43 Anyone giving Shedeur a pass?
19:15 Talking Kevin Stefanski
22:19 Giving Doggy the facts

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