“I think it's disrespectful”: Shedeur Sanders under fire as New Orleans Saints star calls out Cleveland Browns QB’s cryptic comments after OT loss

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders had plenty to prove in his first start of the 2026 NFL season. But his pregame comments about the New Orleans Saints defense caught the attention of defensive end Carl Granderson. After Sunday's 23-22 overtime loss on November 8, Granderson made his feelings clear, calling Sanders' reaction disrespectful. The Saints defender also had a strong performance to back up his words.Sanders had smiled when reporters asked about his preparation for New Orleans. That reaction sparked questions about how the Saints would respond on the field. They eventually made life difficult for the young quarterback, and Granderson had a major role in their defensive effort. Carl Granderson takes issue with Shedeur Sanders’ reaction to Saints defenseThe tension started before the Week 9 matchup at Caesars Superdome. During a press conference ahead of the November 8 game, Sanders was asked what he had seen while studying the Saints defense."I've seen a lot," the Browns quarterback replied with a smile. He then added, "When I smile, just know that means something. I'm maturing, you know what I'm saying? I'm maturing."Sanders did not directly criticise New Orleans, but his response caught the attention of the Saints. Granderson addressed the exchange during his postgame press conference after the 23-22 victory."We seen a lot on film," the defensive end said when asked if Sanders' comments had motivated the team. "I don't think we're motivated, though. We seen him chirping. We just came into this game like, ready to play, win the game on defense."However, Granderson did not hide his frustration with the quarterback's reaction."I think it's disrespectful for somebody to laugh at our defense, take us as a joke. So, we went out there and balled out," he added.The Saints had another reason to make their point. Their defense entered the game ranked 28th in total yards allowed, according to the pregame figures cited in the original report. Yet the unit delivered when Cleveland needed points most. Saints defense answers with five sacks before stopping Browns in overtimeGranderson did more than speak about the exchange. He recorded two sacks against Sanders, while the Saints defense finished with five. New Orleans also limited Cleveland to 95 rushing yards on 34 attempts, giving the Browns fewer options to support their passing game.The defensive effort became even more important in overtime. New Orleans took the lead through a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Shough to tight end Juwan Johnson with 4:17 remaining. Cleveland needed a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to win.Sanders gave the Browns a chance. He connected with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for a 39-yard touchdown with one minute left in overtime. However, the two-point attempt proved costly.Granderson applied pressure as Sanders rolled to his right and forced an incomplete pass intended for wide receiver Denzel Boston. An offensive holding penalty against tackle Tytus Howard also complicated the attempt. The Saints held on for a 23-22 win.Sanders still had an impressive statistical outing despite the defeat. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Earlier, he connected with rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. for a 64-yard touchdown that gave Cleveland a 13-9 lead in the fourth quarter.The quarterback also addressed the controversy after the game. Speaking to reporters following the loss, Sanders said his words had been taken out of context."I was never, ever throwing a shot," Sanders explained. "I apologize if my words were taken out of context. I was never speaking negatively on anybody."The result gave New Orleans its first home victory of the 2026 season and improved its record to 3-5. Cleveland, meanwhile, fell to 5-4 after suffering its second consecutive defeat.In Granderson’s case, the final defensive stop offered a much better response than another exchange at the microphone. Sanders had shown flashes of what he could do in his first start, but the Saints made sure his comeback attempt ended without the result he wanted.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.