In a moment that captured the raw tension between athletes and the media, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders confronted ESPN Cleveland reporter Tony Grossi after a stellar preseason debut on August 8, 2025. Sanders, the fifth-round pick from Colorado, lit up the Carolina Panthers in a 30-10 win, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. But the real fireworks came post-game, as captured by Deion Sanders Jr.’s Well Off Media.
Sanders approached Grossi in the stadium tunnels, keeping a light tone but pointedly calling out the reporter’s negativity. “Tony, I be hoping you have something positive to say about me,” Sanders said. “You only say negative stuff about me. And I’m like, ‘I ain’t do nothing to you.'” Grossi disputed the claim, but Sanders doubled down: “I ain’t hear nothing positive you’ve ever said.” The exchange ended with laughter and a shoulder pat, but Sanders quipped, “What I do to you, Tony?” as he walked away. Surprisingly, Grossi later praised Sanders on ESPN Cleveland, calling his performance “outstanding”—a shift from his prior skepticism, including questioning Sanders’ arm soreness earlier that week.
Shedeur Sanders addresses Cleveland-based sports journalist and Browns analyst Tony Grossi, who’s known for being critical and biased toward him.
“You always say negative stuff about me. I didn’t do nothing to you. I’ve never seen you say anything positive about me.”
(🎥: Well… pic.twitter.com/SGpmmyXF74
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) August 9, 2025
This good-natured jab highlights Sanders’ awareness of media narratives, but it’s far from unprecedented for Grossi, a veteran Browns beat writer since 1984 known for his sharp critiques. Grossi’s history of clashes with players underscores why confronting him has become a “rite of passage” for Browns quarterbacks.
Grossi’s most infamous feud was with Baker Mayfield, the Browns’ former quarterback. In October 2019, during a frustrating 2-6 season start, Mayfield stormed out of a press conference after Grossi pressed him on a failed fourth-down play against the Patriots. Mayfield snapped, “Jesus, Tony,” before abruptly leaving, frustrated by what he saw as repetitive negativity. The tension escalated in February 2020 when Grossi, on a hot mic at the NFL Combine, used a derogatory slur to describe Mayfield, leading to his indefinite suspension from ESPN Cleveland. Grossi apologized, citing frustration over the team’s direction, and was reinstated weeks later.
But Mayfield wasn’t Grossi’s first target. In 2012, Grossi was pulled from the Browns beat by the Cleveland Plain Dealer after tweeting that owner Randy Lerner was “pathetic” and “irrelevant,” criticizing his hands-off approach amid the team’s struggles. Though not a player, it showed Grossi’s willingness to ruffle feathers at the top. He’s also sparred with co-host Tony Rizzo on air, including heated debates over quarterback evaluations, like recent ones on Sanders himself.
More recently, Grossi has commented on tensions involving Myles Garrett, amid rumors of the star defender’s dissatisfaction with the team, though not direct confrontations. His critical style—debating arm injuries or draft picks—often sparks backlash, but Grossi defends it as honest journalism.
Sanders’ approach was playful, unlike Mayfield’s heated exits, suggesting a new generation handling media scrutiny with charisma. In a league where opinions fly fast, these moments remind us: reporters like Grossi get paid to provoke thought, and players like Sanders aren’t afraid to push back. As the Browns eye a turnaround, this could be the spark Sanders needs—or just another chapter in Grossi’s contentious legacy.
