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Browns Drop Sorsby Over Gambling; Watson, Sanders Remain

6/2/2026

44 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Browns Reject Sorsby

Todd Monken said the Browns will not pursue quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the NFL draft because of gambling.
The NCAA ruled Sorsby ineligible after he placed thousands of bets on college sports, including his team.
Sorsby’s lawyers are seeking an injunction by June 15 to allow him to play the 2026 season.
Monken’s remarks keep quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in contention for the starter role.

Summary

Sorsby Recovery

Judge Ken Curry held a two-hour Lubbock hearing Monday, asked for more documents, and will rule on the injunction soon.
Sorsby finished a 35-day Arizona inpatient rehab for gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.
President Lawrence Schovanec said Texas Tech’s addiction center makes Lubbock ideal for Sorsby’s recovery.
Lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows claim the NCAA ignored Sorsby’s mental-health condition.

Summary

Sorsby Betting Ban

Sorsby placed at least 40 wagers on Indiana football between Sept 2 and Oct 22 2022.
The bets ranged from $1 to $114, totaling over $850, though Sorsby never appeared in those games.
The NCAA ruled Sorsby permanently ineligible because betting on his own program is serious.
Sorsby filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction, with a hearing set for June 1, a move analysts say could affect his supplemental-draft eligibility for 2027.

Summary

Sorsby Draft Options

The 2026 draft order will be set by a weighted lottery.
Selecting a player costs team its 2027 pick, barring Packers and Colts from bidding first-rounders because they traded them.
New York Jets hold three 2027 picks they could use in supplemental draft.
The shallow 2026 class led Cardinals, Jets and Browns to make moves, leaving options for quarterback Sorsby, who could be suspended as quarterback Terrelle Pryor in 2011.

History

Historical Context

On December 22 2010 the NCAA suspended five Ohio State players—including quarterback Terrelle Pryor—for the first five games of 2011 after they traded memorabilia for tattoos at Fine Line Tattoo. The scandal forced Ohio State to vacate all 12 wins from the 2010 season and led to a $250,000 fine for coach Jim Tressel. Those sanctions established a precedent that today shapes legal and policy debates over athlete misconduct.

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Browns Reject Sorsby

Todd Monken said the Browns will not pursue quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the NFL draft because of gambling.
The NCAA ruled Sorsby ineligible after he placed thousands of bets on college sports, including his team.
Sorsby’s lawyers are seeking an injunction by June 15 to allow him to play the 2026 season.
Monken’s remarks keep quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in contention for the starter role.

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