Stephen A. Smith tears into Dillon Gabriel for media comments

In the United States, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel made controversial comments about the media during a recent game, which drew the ire of ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. Gabriel described some individuals as 'entertainers' and others as 'competitors', leading many to speculate that he was referring to fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders. However, Gabriel clarified that his remarks were directed at the media and not Sanders. Stephen A. Smith addressed the situation on his show 'First Take', labeling Gabriel's comments as immature and indicative of the pressure he faces in his competition for the starting quarterback position. Smith emphasized that Gabriel's remarks heightened scrutiny regarding his performance, particularly as he is competing against Sanders for the backup role. This tension arose after Smith noted that the media had drawn comparisons between the two rookies, reinforcing Gabriel's sense of competition and possibly contributing to his incendiary remarks. Notably, while Smith supports free speech and the competitive nature in sports, he warned that such comments can backfire, especially when athletes struggle on the field. After the comments created a stir, Sanders responded and expressed that he was unaffected by Gabriel's words, claiming that he had spoken to Gabriel and understood the intent behind his statement. This incident illustrates the challenges rookie quarterbacks face as they navigate not just their performance on the field, but also the media scrutiny that comes with their positions. As the competition heats up in Cleveland's quarterback room, with Joe Flacco named the Week 1 starter, Gabriel and Sanders will need to perform consistently to prove their worth.