- Cleveland Browns. Shedeur Sanders is very rich but not rich enough to buy the Browns jersey he wanted so badly
- Cleveland Browns. Dillon Gabriel already feels the pressure from Shedeur Sanders and makes explosive statement to media
The Cleveland Browns' rookie minicamp was supposed to be a chance for young prospects to showcase their skills and adapt to the NFL pace.
But for third-round quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the focus shifted off the field after a viral moment involving a veteran reporter stirred controversy online.
Gabriel's height mocked at Browns Minicamp
Gabriel, who was drafted 144th overall ahead of the more widely discussed Shedeur Sanders, became the subject of an offhand remark from Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling.
During a media session, Easterling was caught on a hot mic joking, "I'm taller than him," while chuckling in the background, a shot clearly aimed at the 5-foot-11 quarterback's stature.
NFL fans were quick to defend the 24-year-old Gabriel, calling the moment unprofessional and petty.
"He should be fired for this," one fan wrote on social media.
Another pointed out, "Yeah but you are just a reporter," while others noted that the height difference was barely noticeable.
One fan summed it up: "He's basically Russell Wilson's size. People better not be sleeping on Gabriel."
Height skepticism has followed Gabriel since his college days.
His listed measurement dropped an inch at the NFL Scouting Combine, fueling concerns over whether he can succeed behind a pro offensive line.
Still, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry made clear that the team valued Gabriel's on-field production far more than his physical measurables.
"Decorated college career, very accurate, very poised, throws with anticipation, good mobility," Berry said after the draft.
"We just thought he had a really well-rounded game. And the biggest negative that you can say about him is he doesn't have ideal height, but that's not something that we felt like showed up in his film."
Gabriel isn't fazed.
"This whole time, my journey, everyone has focused on limitations," he said Saturday.
"It's a production-based business and producing and getting results is my way of life."
He's currently battling Sanders, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett for a spot in Cleveland's quarterback rotation.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized that the competition is wide open.
"There's a lot of time between now and September," he said.
"It's not just based on the practice reps. There's a lot that goes into it."
If Gabriel continues producing, as he did across 63 college starts, the jokes may fade quickly.