The Cleveland Browns have long been the laughingstock of the NFL for many sports media personalities. And it seems like the cast of The Really Big Show on ESPN Cleveland is quickly growing tired of all of the jokes at the organization’s expense.
On Wednesday, the Unsportsmanlike cast discussed that top draft prospect Shedeur Sanders plays as the Cleveland Browns when he plays the popular NFL video game Madden and whether this meant he potentially wants to be drafted by the organization in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Chris Canty and Evan Cohen in particular didn’t see this as any sign of Sanders’ interests when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, insisting no NFL prospect has ever specifically wanted to be selected by the Browns.
“I don’t think it’s anything,” said Canty. “It feels like this is one of those stunts to create the drumbeat for him to get drafted as high as possible. I don’t think it’s Cleveland or bust for Shedeur Sanders. Said no perspective quarterback prospect ever… I only want to play for the Cleveland Browns or nobody else.”
Cohen replied by saying that the only time anyone has specifically wanted to play for the Cleveland Browns was in the movie Draft Day.
“Vontae Mack, ‘No matter what’,” replied Cohen. “Shedeur is not saying Browns no matter what on a yellow post-it.”
Something or nothing? Shedeur Sanders plays as Browns in Madden 🤔@ESPNCleveland pic.twitter.com/jtpd2MAqfF
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) February 19, 2025
Unsportsmanlike is of course heard nationally across numerous markets. One of which is on ESPN Cleveland, airing immediately before The Really Big Show hosted by Tony Rizzo and Aaron Goldhammer every weekday morning.
On Wednesday’s edition of The Really Big Show, the cast addressed the comments from the Unsportsmanlike crew about the Browns, calling the negative comments “low-hanging fruit” that unnecessarily alienate the Cleveland market.
“Can I just say to Evan (Cohen), (Chris) Canty, and Michelle (Smallmon), Don’t turn into the show that takes the low-hanging fruit when it comes to Cleveland sports,” said Chris Oldach. “Cleveland is probably one of your biggest markets that listens to the show because you lead into The Really Big Show. What does that accomplish for you guys? Nothing.”
“They have got to be careful,” added Aaron Goldhammer. “If they just take the low-hanging fruit all of the time, eventually you are going to turn off the audience so bad. Especially when you don’t have anybody to counterbalance. I’ve got Riz (Tony Rizzo) when I do that yelling right back at me representing the fans sitting in the car. Chris, there was no ‘I feel for Cleveland fans’ in that. Maybe a little bit from Evan. Mostly to me, it was just cruel. And you guys have got to be careful when you are just being cruel to one of the biggest markets that the show is on. Because if you are not careful, the show is not gonna be on here anymore.”
We have a response to @UnSportsESPN and their constant Cleveland slander:
“Don’t turn into the show that takes the low hanging fruit when it comes to Cleveland sports,” – @TheOGPAW. pic.twitter.com/HaxL6ox1hV
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 19, 2025
This response seemingly got the attention of the Unsportsmanlike crew. So much so that they actually had Aaron Goldhammer on Thursday’s edition of the show to further discuss how he believes these unnecessary shots at Cleveland sports teams are a problem.
“I’ve been accused of doing this many times throughout the course of my career,” said Goldhammer of his own negative comments of the Browns in the past. “If someone is an expert in it, it’s definitely me. It sounded like, to a Browns fan, that you were laughing at Browns fans. And this is a sensitive time here in Cleveland sports and Browns fandom. Because I think it’s a new low. It’s actually lower than when they won one game in two years. Because not only are they terrible, but it feels completely hopeless.
“The one person who represents a little sliver of hope, at least to drive the conversation away from Chris Canty devouring low-hanging fruit for four hours on ESPN Radio, is Shedeur Sanders. This was like a Molotov cocktail of a bunch of things mixed together. My point was that every other market is probably laughing along with you and turning you up. A Browns fan might hear that conversation and be more apt to turn you off than want to turn you on. That was our concern.”
The Really Big Show in Cleveland is “looking out” for the Unsportsmanlike crew.
It’s a new low in Cleveland… @HammerNation19 https://t.co/0JXg6ZFPps pic.twitter.com/D8TmD5wsyS
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) February 20, 2025
Only time will tell whether the Unsportmanlike cast will tune down their criticisms of the Browns. But they have at least been warned their their audience in Cleveland will dramatically decline if they opt not to do so.
