Shedeur Sanders has become the Angel Reese of the NFL, thanks to his insufferable supporters

The discourse surrounding Shedeur Sanders’ NFL draft position and subsequent criticism mirrors the narrative around Angel Reese, where any critique is often framed as racism by supporters and some media personalities. Figures like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith have accused NFL teams of racism and collusion, drawing parallels to Colin Kaepernick’s situation. This constant racial framing, applied to both Sanders and Reese, undermines the athletes themselves by shifting focus from their performance to cultural war debates.

• The criticism of Shedeur Sanders and Angel Reese is often met with accusations of racism from their supporters and some media figures.
• Media personalities like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith have suggested NFL teams colluded against Sanders due to his race and connection to his father, Deion Sanders.
• Legitimate football-related concerns about Sanders’ talent, personality, and work ethic are being ignored in favor of a ‘victimhood narrative’.
• Similar patterns are observed in the WNBA with Angel Reese, where criticism of her game is framed as racial bias.
• The author argues that disagreement or being evaluated incorrectly by teams is not automatically discrimination.
• The constant racial framing of these athletes’ careers is a disservice and can ultimately undermine their accomplishments.
• Shedeur Sanders’ statistics show he ranked 41st in Passer Rating among eligible quarterbacks last season, with more interceptions than touchdowns.
• Criticism of players should be based on performance and actions, not be subject to accusations of character flaws or racial prejudice.