Shedeur Sanders Responds to Criticism of Browns QB Trolling Rex Ryan on Video

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders addressed the criticism he received for trolling ESPN analyst Rex Ryan by pantomiming answers while holding a media session.

"I guess not everybody likes playful all the time," Sanders said Thursday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "So it's to understand how to be at all times and keep my personality a little bit slimmer, I guess. Because not everybody understands it at all times and you may not have a full time to be able to explain things."

During an episode of Get Up, Ryan blasted Sanders for his comments about his role with the Browns. He had told ESPN Cleveland that he was "ready to play right now" despite being the team's third-string quarterback. Following Ryan's comments, Sanders mouthed silent answers to reporters' questions about fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel being named Cleveland's starting signal-caller for the Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

While speaking on Thursday, Sanders declined to respond to Ryan's comments directly, saying, "We not on no negativity from now on, man, we not doing that. I'm just here to be positive and I don't speak on anything negative."

Following this week's trade of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski didn't confirm that Sanders will be elevated to the backup quarterback behind Gabriel for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stefanski told reporters he will "let the week play out" before deciding between Sanders and practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe.

Despite the uncertainty, Sanders is maintaining a positive outlook.

"I'm in a great mental space overall," Sanders said. "So I would say you tend to get a little bit more excited when you see a light at the end of the tunnel, for sure. … Whatever my role is here, I'm thankful. I'm happy just to do that."