Emmitt Smith didn’t mince words when he weighed in on the situation surrounding Shedeur Sanders. The Hall of Fame running back joined Up & Adams and delivered a pointed critique of how the rookie quarterback has been handled - and he didn’t shy away from calling out what he sees as a double standard.
Let’s rewind a bit. Sanders, coming off a rocky rookie campaign, was named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Drake Maye.
The decision sparked plenty of debate. Critics questioned whether Sanders had earned the nod, while supporters saw it as a deserved opportunity for a young player who’s taken his lumps and kept pushing.
Sanders didn’t exactly light it up in the Pro Bowl’s competitive flag football game - he threw two interceptions - but the bigger story is what’s ahead. With the Cleveland Browns bringing in new head coach Todd Monken, the quarterback job is officially up for grabs. Sanders has made it clear he’s not backing down from the competition, vowing to keep grinding for the starting role.
That’s where Emmitt Smith stepped in with some strong words. On Thursday’s episode of Up & Adams, the Cowboys legend questioned why Sanders is being forced to fight for a role that, in his eyes, other young quarterbacks were simply handed.
“I guess coaches wanna make sure that guys know there is no security in their position,” Smith said. “They want them to be as competitive as possible.
No one wants to hand anything to them. This is the way they treated Shedeur.”
Then came the fire.
“But they handed it to Drake Maye. They handed it to the kid out in San Diego [Justin Herbert].
They handed it to the kid in Jacksonville [Trevor Lawrence]. They handed it to Sam Darnold.
They handed it to other players.”
Smith’s point? There’s a pattern - and Sanders isn’t part of it.
He didn’t stop there. “And what does Cleveland have?
Absolutely nothing. So, what’s the debate?
Are you going to give it to Dillon [Gabriel] again?”
For Smith, the Browns’ current quarterback situation is wide open, and Sanders has already shown he belongs. He argued that Sanders was the only quarterback to play like a true starter for Cleveland in 2025 - a bold claim, but one that underscores just how high Smith is on the former Colorado standout.
Smith also touched on locker room dynamics, noting that leadership can’t be forced. “You can name somebody a starter or captain,” he said, “but if the players don’t follow or respect that person, things won’t go as expected.”
It’s a fair point. Quarterback isn’t just about arm strength and playbooks - it’s about presence.
Command. Trust.
And according to Smith, Sanders has already earned plenty of that on the field.
As for Sanders, he’s not caught up in the noise. He’s focused on the work.
He knows the job isn’t his yet, but he’s not backing away from the challenge. With a new coaching staff and a wide-open competition in Cleveland, the door is there.
Now it’s up to him to kick it down.
Whether you agree with Smith or not, one thing’s clear: the conversation around Shedeur Sanders isn’t going away anytime soon. And if he keeps grinding the way he has, he just might turn all this debate into something far more convincing - wins.