Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made quite the impression last week in the team’s opening exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers.
And we’re not just talking about what he did on the field!
Sanders created a buzz on social media with a video of his entrance into Bank of America Stadium, which was filmed by his social media team.
It wasn’t just Sanders that caught everyone’s eye, however, as cornerback Tony Brown was right there carrying a bamboo scepter.
Brown shared the meaning of the scepter during an appearance on NFL Network on Wednesday, explaining that it began with a trip to Ghana with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah for JOK’s annual football camp:
“We traveled through Ghana, visited the king in the western region, and visited the Cape Coast, a very historically relevant dungeon as it relates to the transatlantic slave trade. So, as I’m going through the tour learning about how the slaves were held, he explained to me how you can try to calm your emotions by speaking with the ancestors as we walk through this dungeon.
“So during the last part of the tour, I asked the ancestors to grant me the wisdom, guidance, and strength that I can use to make you proud. As we left the dungeon castle, it is along the shores of the Cape Coast, I walked into the water to clear my mind. This staff washed ashore at my feet, and I picked it up and thought it was pretty cool. Jeremiah was about 10-15 feet behind me, and when I turned around, they looked at me in awe. The Ghana chiefs we traveled with imparted their wisdom on what it means and explained the meaning behind obtaining this in the way I did.
“I carry this with pride and honor as it connects me to something greater than myself. I want people to rise with me, and I will continue to empower others with my word and help people shine by being my authentic self.”
Brown went into greater detail about his experiences in Ghana in a guest blog post at Matt Lombardo’s site — check it out here.
Brown is in his second season with Cleveland, having signed as a free agent in 2024. He played in six games with the Browns last season, all on special teams, before being placed on injured reserve in late October after suffering a foot injury.
