NBA legend Dwyane Wade makes feelings known on Shedeur Sanders-Kevin Stefanski controversy stirred by the media

The road to becoming an NFL starter was not straightfoward for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The spotlight has been on him from the moment he entered the league, unlike other rookies.

He was once again scrutinized after his fourth straight start in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears. Sanders completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions in a 31-3 defeat.

Despite his disappointing performance, NBA legend Dwyane Wade had nothing but praise for the former Colorado Buffaloes star. The three-time NBA champion raved about Sanders’ talent and potential on Wednesday.

"I’m gonna go with what I love about Shedeur Sanders," Wade said, via the "Timeout" podcast. "I think he just has an ability that you cannot see with the naked eye. There’s just something special that’s just inside and it’s internal, is in his DNA."

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Wade also made it clear that Sanders’ off-field composure stood out to him. He cited the quarterback’s maturity and confidence in front of the media as rare qualities for a rookie.

“I just want to see him be successful on the football field like any other fan, but I love it when he gets in those press conferences," Wade said. "I love how he handles himself. I love how he stands up for himself. I love how he doesn’t throw anybody under the bus. I love how he’s a leader, he takes it. "Like they try to turn against his coach every time they can. The organization is in the ‘we need to build’ stage, and so you have to lose to be able to build, right? We know what it is. Some people call it tanking, some people call it rebuilding. Now, with that being said, I love how he would not allow anyone to turn him against anybody."

One of the most notable aspects of Sanders’ early NFL journey has been his ability to handle press conferences with composure and maturity.

The composure was on display following a controversial moment in Week 14 versus the Tennessee Titans. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski pulled Sanders from the field on a potential game-tying 2-point attempt. The call didn’t pay off as Cleveland failed to convert and the Titans escaped with a 31-29 victory.

Stefanski received backlash from fans and analysts. However, Sanders addressed the situation with professionalism, praising his coach during his postgame presser.

How has Shedeur Sanders performed in his first four NFL starts?

Shedeur Sanders got his first taste of NFL action in Week 11. He took over under center after Dillon Gabriel exited in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens due to a concussion. Sanders struggled, completing just 4 of 12 passes.

However, he made it clear after the game that the performance came without meaningful practice reps with the starters. Sanders delivered one of his strongest showings on Nov. 23 after a full week of preparation with first team members. He passed for 209 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sanders put together a career-best performance in Week 14 versus the Tennessee Titans, recording 393 total yards with four touchdowns. He hit a low point seven days later, throwing three interceptions in a blowout defeat to the Chicago Bears.

Sanders has shown that he can be a legitimate long-term starter, especially with his accuracy down the field and ability to create plays. However, he's still adjusting to the speed and complexity of NFL defenses while working to improve his decision-making under pressure.

Sanders has registered 899 passing yards and five touchdowns since taking over as the starter. He has also provided explosive plays to a Browns offense that struggled to find consistency.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski named him the starter for the team's final three games. The rookie has more opportunities to prove he can be trusted as the franchise’s long-term solution under center.

Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez