In a press conference that felt less like a standard briefing and more like a confession, Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees finally pulled back the curtain on the most baffling quarterback controversy in the NFL. For weeks, fans have clamored for answers: Why is Shedeur Sanders, the fifth-round pick with first-round talent, languishing on the bench while the offense sputters at a historic low? Rees didn’t just answer the question; he confirmed the fanbase’s worst fears with a level of raw honesty rarely seen in the guarded world of professional football.

The revelation was stark. Rees admitted that Sanders is not receiving first-team repetitions. He isn’t running the actual offense against the starting defense, nor is he building chemistry with the starting receivers. Instead, the Browns have concocted what Rees termed a “unique situation” involving “creative extra reps.”

What does that mean in plain English? It means Shedeur Sanders is getting the scraps.

According to Rees, and corroborated by reports from CBS Sports analyst Ross Tucker, the team has instituted special post-practice periods specifically for Sanders. While the rest of the team hits the showers or heads to meetings, Sanders is left on the field for “supplemental” work—tutoring sessions designed to keep him engaged because the coaching staff has decided there simply aren’t enough snaps in regular practice to go around. He is effectively being treated like a redshirt freshman in college, not a potential savior for a franchise desperate for a spark.

The logic, or lack thereof, is infuriating to those watching the product on the field. The Browns’ offense is currently a disaster zone. Under the stewardship of rookie starter Dylan Gabriel, the unit is averaging a pathetic 15.2 points per game—the second-worst mark in the entire league. Gabriel’s individual statistics are equally grim: a QBR of 26.8, also second-worst in the NFL, with nearly as many sacks taken as completions made in some games. In the recent loss to the Jets, Gabriel was sacked six times and struggled to move the ball against a team with only one prior win.

Yet, despite this glaring evidence that the current plan is failing, the organization remains stubbornly committed to it. Rees tried to frame the lack of reps for Sanders as a logistical issue, claiming that with a young starter like Gabriel, you “have to” give him every possible rep to develop. But this explanation falls apart when the “development” looks more like regression. By pouring all their resources into a quarterback who is clearly drowning, the Browns are simultaneously wasting the development of the one player who might actually be able to swim.

Rees’ comments also hinted at the internal politics likely driving this decision. He spoke extensively about his loyalty to Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, stating he came to Cleveland specifically to work for him. This “organizational soldier” mentality suggests that even if Rees—who has coached elite offenses at Alabama and Notre Dame—sees the potential in Sanders, he is unlikely to challenge Stefanski’s hierarchy. If the head coach wants to ride or die with Gabriel to prove a point about his draft strategy, his coordinator is going to fall in line, even as the ship takes on water.

Perhaps the most frustrating—and impressive—aspect of this entire saga is Shedeur Sanders’ response. In a situation that would cause many high-profile rookies to pout or demand a trade, Sanders has remained the consummate professional. He has accepted his “scout team” role without complaint, telling reporters that he views the lack of reps not as a negative, but as a challenge to be “proactive.” He is active in the community, giving away cars to single mothers and visiting schools, winning the hearts of the city even as the coaching staff refuses to let him win games on the field.

Tommy Rees may have intended to calm the waters with his explanation of “creative reps,” but he accomplished the exact opposite. He exposed a rigid, unimaginative approach that prioritizes process over performance. He confirmed that the team is aware of Sanders’ talent—acknowledging that he is “bought in” and working hard—but is actively choosing to suppress it in favor of a failing status quo.

The “unique situation” Rees described is indeed unique, but not for the reasons he thinks. It is unique because rarely has an NFL team worked so hard to ignore the obvious solution staring them in the face. As the losses pile up and the offense remains historically inept, those “creative extra reps” are looking less like a development plan and more like an indictment of a front office too stubborn to admit they might be playing the wrong guy. The tea has been spilled, and in Cleveland, it tastes bitter.