Shedeur Sanders has only just unpacked his bags in Cleveland, but the rookie quarterback’s schedule is already crowded with more than play-book installs. Shortly after arriving for the Browns’ rookie minicamp, the former Colorado star carved out time to visit local middle and high schools, talking with students about chasing big goals and ignoring outside noise. For Sanders, the community stops are not publicity stunts—they’re a source of genuine joy, a break from the whirlwind that surrounds the son of a Hall of Fame cornerback. “It’s just joy to me,” he told reporters, explaining that young kids “aren’t corrupted by other people’s opinions.”

Giving Back on Day One

Sanders’ outreach began almost as soon as he landed in Ohio. Before the second day of rookie camp, he had already chatted with a classroom of eighth-graders, posed for photos in the gym, and dropped off a few Browns T-shirts for a school raffle. Teachers praised his easy manner and the fact that he stuck around long enough to hear what students were proud of this semester. Sanders said those moments reminded him of the high-school visits he made in Boulder and of the way his parents emphasized community service while he was growing up. “Whenever everything was going crazy—negative, wild—my happiness was going there,” he explained, recalling that outreach had become a form of stress relief during a noisy college career.

Social Media Noise

Of course, little in Sanders’ life happens off-camera. Clips of his school drop-in went viral within hours, and that visibility triggered a fresh round of social-media debates. An ESPN Cleveland radio host wondered aloud whether the quarterback was “screaming, ‘Look, see how good a person I am,’” adding fuel to online skeptics who doubt the sincerity behind every handshake and selfie. Sanders, grinning through the question, brushed it aside with trademark confidence. He joked that most of the hostility isn’t even aimed at him: “Ninety-nine percent of the hatred is toward Pops,” he said, nodding at his father, Deion Sanders. “I’m just his son, so it really comes from that.”

Turning Criticism into Fuel

Instead of sparring back, the 23-year-old treats criticism the way he treats an oncoming blitz—identify it, sidestep it, and keep the chains moving. He learned that approach at Colorado, where every throw drew nationwide commentary and every loss drew memes. In Cleveland he’ll need the same composure. The quarterback room is packed with experience (Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett), hype (fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel), and simmering expectations from a fan base that hasn’t lifted the Lombardi Trophy. Sanders knows the quickest way to quiet doubters is to win reps at practice, but he also believes that earning kids’ respect in local classrooms matters, too. “When I come in person, there’s no negativity I see,” he said, emphasizing that face-to-face connection beats any tweetstorm.

What It Means for Cleveland

The Browns have long touted a “Play Like a Brown” philosophy that blends toughness on Sundays with visibility in the community during the week. Sanders’ arrival gives that mantra a fresh spark. In the span of two days he’s showcased precision on timing routes, invited teammates to a youth-sports fundraiser, and laughed through tough media questions. Coaches have praised his poise, noting that the same calm voice he uses in a huddle carries over when reporters grill him about his famous last name. Local nonprofits already predict ticket spikes for their upcoming charity events now that a Sanders is in town.

Looking Ahead

Minicamp is only the first checkpoint in a long NFL summer, but Sanders has set an early tone: critics can talk; he’ll work—and work in the community—regardless. The quarterback expects the scrutiny to intensify once veteran mandatory camp begins and preseason depth-chart battles heat up. Yet he insists the plan remains simple: keep visiting schools, keep absorbing the playbook, and keep proving that the energy behind his outreach is real. Cleveland’s young fans, who have traded old jerseys for the new No. 12, are already buying in. If Sanders can translate that goodwill into steady progress on the field, the Browns may have secured more than a potential starter; they may have found a player who turns community involvement into a competitive edge. And for every online hot-take that questions his motives, there’s a classroom of smiling students ready to vouch for the impact he left behind.