news-engine

Shedeur Sanders took the field with the Cleveland Browns in a joint practice against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. It was a meeting ahead of the teams' preseason game against each other on Saturday. The NFL is largely about athleticism and trying to be physically better than the other team and one's opponents. But, it's always a mind game. Players like to get into each other's heads and do some trash talk. It's not nice. It's not the right thing to do or the good thing to do. But, it happens, and it's part of the reality of being in the NFL. C.J. Gardner-Johnson takes aim at Shedeur Sanders During the Browns' practice against the Bills, Sanders got some trash talk sent his way from Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Even though the latter wasn't a participant in the practice, he somehow injected himself into the conversation. During practice, he referred to Sanders as a "check-down king." That's not nice, and one could argue that it's also not correct. "Bills S C.J. Gardner-Johnson not practicing but talking all kinds of smack," Browns reporter Tom Withers reported on X. "Earlier he was yelling "Check-down King" in the direction of Sanders on the sideline." So, it wasn't nice, but Gardner-Johnson is known for trash talk, so this is nothing new. Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson split reps for the practice. The two are competing for the starting quarterback role throughout camp and the preseason. Watson has been a favorite to get the start, but the Browns have yet to announce a final decision. More NFL news: - Quarterback Kyler Murray is playing for more than just a Vikings starting job - Dallas Cowboys urged to sign $53 million star to fix a roster weakness - Rams' Ty Simpson could be waiting a while to take over for Matthew Stafford