The Saints, like all teams, pay attention to what their upcoming opponents are saying.
Earlier this week, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to make some less-than-flattering comments about the New Orleans defense. New Orleans’ defense heard it, loud and clear.
“We will do go in with a chip on your shoulderfor sure,” Saints defensive end Carl Granderson said Friday. “You know, they’re chirping a little bit. We heard what quarterback . . . said. So, you know, we (will) come in hot and ready to play. . . . It will be a good game, for sure. We will come out with (the victory)”.
Asked Wednesday by reporters if he’s had a chance to study the Saints’ defense and explain what he’s seen, Sanders smiled broadly.
“Yeah, I’ve seen a lot,” Sanders said. “When I smile, know it means something. I’m baking. I’m baking. Like, I could have given a good answer, but now I’ll smile every time it’s just a few questions.”
The best approach for Sanders would be to project a poker face and deliver an answer that wouldn’t draw the attention of the Saints’ defense.
So while he says he’s maturing, the final level of maturity would consist of giving the most vanilla answer possible, praising the Saints and explaining that it will be a big challenge to beat them.
Instead, one Browns player has provided the next opponent — for the second week in a row — with a little extra incentive.