How Shedeur Sanders wasn’t disrespecting the Saints defense with his ‘smiling’ answer, but at least one of their defenders took it that way

BrownsCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.comBy Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.comBEREA, Ohio - Shedeur Sanders inadvertently gave the Saints’ defense some bulletin board material to get ready to face him in his first start of the season. “We’re gonna come in with a chip on our shoulder for sure,” Saints defensive end Carl Granderson told reporters on Friday. “You know, they they’ve been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback done said. So, you know, we’re going to come in hot and ready to play. We’re going to pack the defense, and the offense is going to come with it. So, it’s going to be a good game for sure. So we’re going to come out with the dub.”Granderson, who’s second on the Saints with 5.5 sacks, indicated that Sanders’ words gave them some extra juice for the 5-3 Browns. Shedeur Sanders gets his opportunity for the Browns on Sunday in New Orleans: Berea Report (Video)Browns vs. Saints Week 9 preview: Friday’s Sports 4 CLETodd Monken announces Shedeur Sanders will start vs. the Saints despite Deshaun Watson returning to practice Friday “I just can’t wait till Sunday to get out there, play fast and hit somebody, especially them,” he said. Sanders, who said had just learned Wednesday morning along with everyone else that Deshaun Watson was in the concussion protocol and that he was likely starting against the Saints, was asked shortly thereafter about the Saints’ defense. It came right after he declined to answer another reporter’s question about him hiring an agent, saying “I’m focused on this game. Anything else really doesn’t matter at this point.” Cleveland.com then asked, “well, speaking about this game, Shedeur, have you had an opportunity yet, I know it’s happening fast, have you had a chance to study the Saints’ defense yet a little bit? And what are you seeing so far?”Sanders may have taken exception to the idea that he hadn’t a chance to study the film much yet when he answered. “Yeah, I’ve seen a lot,” he said with a broad smile. “When I smile, just know that means something. I’m maturing. I’m maturing. Like, I could have given a decent answer, but now I’m just going to smile whenever it’s just, like, some questions.”Sanders was widely criticized on social media for the answer, and the Saints interpreted it as disrespect.But Browns aren’t taking the Saints defense lightly, even though it’s 28th in total yards allowed and 23rd against the pass. “I think this front, I think this defense is better than people give it credit for, to be honest with you,” offensive line coach George Warhop said Friday. “They do some good stuff. I think the stats don’t say it, but I think they do some solid stuff in the run game that makes it hard. I think they can get to the quarterback. I think they have a nice pressure package. I think this defense is way better, in my opinion, than what they get credited for in the media.”It marks the second straight week a Browns player gave the opponent some extra motivation for the game, even though that wasn’t Sanders’ intent. Last week, it was Jared Verse doubling down on his claim that the Steelers played dirty in the first meeting, and that he planned to “make Pittsburgh ours.” Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward vowed that Verse’s tough talk would be addressed during the game, and the Steelers took it to the Browns from the jump, beating them 27-6 in a battle for first place in the division. Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker hit Deshaun Watson helmet-to-helmet on the third play of the game, a blow that ultimately landed him in the concussion protocol on Tuesday morning after symptoms first surfaced on Monday night, and cited Verse’s trash talk after the game. Now, Sanders will face a Saints’ defense that took his smiling answer the wrong way. Mary Kay Cabot has more than 30 years experience covering the Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, and became only the second female in Pro Football Hall of Fame history to win the Bill Nunn...