“Every player speeds”: Former NFL player Asante Samuel defends Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders amid speeding controversies

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is in the sights after being cited for two separate speeding infractions in June, calling his maturity and readiness for the NFL into question.

But amid the criticism, one-time vocal critic of Deion Sanders and former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel stepped forward to openly defend the young quarterback, saying that Sanders is being targeted simply because of his surname.

Shedeur Sanders' off-field problems ignite backlash—and surprising backing

The month of June has not been working out well for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but not for anything on the gridiron. Shedeur Sanders was cited twice for two different speeding offenses: once for driving 91 mph in a 65 zone on June 5 and again for going 101 mph in a 60 zone just days after.

To make things worse, Shedeur Sanders allegedly failed to show up for the first offense court hearing. But amid all the criticism, there was one voice that emerged in defense of Sanders: ex-NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel.On social media, Asante Samuel delivered a simple refutation of the criticism levied at Shedeur Sanders. "Every player speeds," Asante Samuel wrote. "This is normal athlete behavior, but because his last name is Sanders, the haters want to bring as much negative attention as possible.

I never seen a community want to tear a player down like we are witnessing."

Samuel's comments are especially compelling with his own past public feud with Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. The two had a digital falling out in previous years but have since made amends, making Samuel's speaking out on Shedeur's behalf especially significant. Shedeur Sanders himself has already pushed back against the criticism, admitting his transgressions in an interview at tight end David Njoku's charity softball game. "I made some wrong choices personally, and I can own up to them," Sanders was heard saying on video, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I made some, you know, not great choices… I learned."Also read: Cam Newton rips Saints’ quarterback strategy, urges the team to chase Aaron Rodgers Shedeur Sanders' driving offenses have been a distraction in what is already a stressful first year with the Cleveland Browns. But they don't define his future. His duty and the surprising populist support of a player such as Asante Samuel show that Sanders does not lack his fans. It is to be seen how he handles adversity outside the game, which may be just as crucial to his long-term NFL career.