Shedeur Sanders Situation 'A Mockery' by Browns, Says Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski raised some eyebrows on Wednesday when he was noncommittal about naming rookie Shedeur Sanders the backup quarterback following this week's trade of veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stefanski told reporters that he'll "let the week play out" before making a decision on who will be the QB2 behind rookie starter Dillon Gabriel for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

During Wednesday night's episode of the Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco Johnson blasted Stefanski and the Browns for their treatment of Sanders.

"They've made a mockery of this," Sharpe said (2:35 mark). "We've talked about Cleveland more in the first six weeks of this year than we have at any point in time, and it's not all good, but I really don't know what to make of this. It's 'we're gonna let it play out,' what are you gonna let play out? I can see if this was a training camp battle, Ocho. Let it play out? I'm trying to figure out what can someone do in a week of practice, Ocho, that's gonna change your mind from where you stand right now..."

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Ochocinco responded. "Again, that's why I said they're making a mockery of the situation, that's all."

The Browns have journeyman quarterback Bailey Zappe on their practice squad, so Stefanski could choose to elevate him for Sunday's game while keeping Sanders as the third-string quarterback.

However, such a decision would generate significant questions about Cleveland's development of Sanders, who was drafted two rounds after the team selected Gabriel with a third-round pick in this year's draft.

It's likely that no backup quarterback decision has ever garnered this much attention, but Stefanski will be under the spotlight for what he decides to do with Sanders this week.