Everyone craves speed and the thrill of the chase—the temptation to slam the accelerator without guilt or fear of consequence is hard to resist. But most of us hold back, whether out of respect for the law or fear of the fallout we simply can’t afford. For professional athletes, however, the rules often feel different, think the NFL fans. And Shedeur Sanders is no exception. Police clocked the Colorado alum—known for his impressive car collection—driving at 101 mph, well above the legal speed limit, and issued him a speeding ticket and not for the first time this month.
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However, someone released footage of the second incident, ensuring the public saw Shedeur receive what many consider a trivial speeding ticket. It’s something that happens every day—almost everyone has received a citation for driving too fast at some point, including Shannon Sharpe.
The Hall of Famer could relate to Shedeur’s situation. Back in his third year in the NFL, cops caught Shannon driving 108 mph and 92 mph in a 60 mph zone—just ten minutes apart. They issued him two tickets in rapid succession. Shannon understands the thrill and temptation of speeding, especially when you’re young and behind the wheel of a flashy car.
” It’s hard for me to be because I got stopped. I wasn’t a rookie. I got stopped going 108 in a 60, and I got stopped at 92. So I got two tickets in a matter of ten minutes. So, speeding, I get it. It’s something about speeding and young people. You got a lead foot. I got a lead foot,” Shannon recalled.
Former NBA star Joe Johnson also shared a similar experience from his time in Atlanta. He and some teammates were speeding down the highway in newly released Dodge Challengers, all going well over 100 mph. But when the police intervened, only Joe was pulled over. Rather than arresting him—as is common in Georgia for such high speeds—the officer showed mercy.
The officer, a Black man who recognized Joe, appreciated that Johnson had pulled over while his teammates fled. Joe actively avoided involving himself in a dangerous, high-speed chase in the middle of the night. He, too, understands what it’s like to be young, wealthy, and driving high-performance cars.
“I was playing here in Atlanta. Them Challengers had just come out. I had one, Jeff Teague had one, and Josh Smith had one. So we get back to Atlanta one night off the road, about 2 a.m. in the morning. We’re on 285, tan and rolled up. Man, I’m the only one who gets pulled over. We always over 100. I had a black police officer pull me over, and he knew who I was. He gave me some grace. I was very respectful,” he said.
Still, both Shannon and Joe emphasized a bigger point: Shedeur must recognize that being a Sanders comes with added visibility and scrutiny. He has a name to uphold and high expectations to meet. That means it’s time to slow down—literally and figuratively. Two speeding tickets in a single month is more than enough. He may not be so lucky next time, and continuing on this path could eventually end in disaster.
