Dillon Gabriel sidestepped controversy on Friday when questioned about Shedeur Sanders' viral "mute" media appearance. He opted to highlight team focus over personal drama.
Gabriel earned the QB1 role following's four-game slump that had left the Browns searching for stability, while Sanders remained the third-string quarterback.
Cleveland reporter Mary Kay Cabot questioned Gabriel regarding Sanders' now-viral "pantomime," a moment when he mouthed silent answers to questions of the media after Gabriel's promotion. Gabriel said:
“For me, we’re a team. We do this as a unit. We can only control what we can control, and I don’t want to speak for anyone in particular.”
Shedeur Sanders' viral moment added to Cleveland's quarterback drama just as the side prepared for its London matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Dillon Gabriel stays composed as Shedeur Sanders faces backlash
Sincer joining the Cleveland Browns, Dillon Gabriel has registered three of four passes for 19 yards and one touchdown across limited outings this season. His only brush with media's speculation came in August when a preseason remark about "entertainers and competitors" was misinterpreted as a job at Sanders.
Not everyone was amused by Shedeur Sanders' latest move. Former linebacker Emmanuel Acho termed the performance "immature" during a segment on Speakeasy.
"Shedeur’s response was what we do when our significant other says, ‘Hey, can you give me a second?," Acho said.
In reply, Shedeur Sanders' siblings came to his support. Deion Sanders Jr. wrote on X about people who "blend in" slamming those who "stand out." His sisters joked that critics found fault whether her brother spoke or stayed silent.
Gabriel now inherits a franchise long plagued by quarterback instability, the Browns have started 41 different passers since the year of 1999, the most in the league. Flacco, now serving as backup, registered 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions through four matches.
ESPN expert Louis Riddick noted that the rookie's London start may serve as an audition.
“They don’t want to go back to Joe Flacco,” Riddick said on Get Up.
“If you’re Shedeur Sanders, you’re turning it up another level.”
Coach Kevin Stefanski reaffirmed Wednesday that Sanders remains the No. 3 option but could see an opening if Dillon Gabriel falters.