Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse criticized his teammates for not standing up for him after Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick took him down during a point-after attempt in their Week 8 game. Verse had made fiery comments about the Steelers before the matchup, but none of his teammates came to his defense when McCormick, who was penalized, swept his legs and sent him falling awkwardly. NFL icon Shannon Sharpe also weighed in on Verse’s comments, adding to the debate among fans and analysts.

Shannon Sharpe Rips Jared Verse for Calling Out His Teammates

While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Verse did not mince his words about how he felt when his teammates did not back him up in a tense AFC North game in Pittsburgh. The two-time Pro Bowler admitted he did not let his teammates know he would trash-talk the Steelers, including saying the Browns intended to “make Pittsburgh ours.”

“The lack of reaction by those around me upset me a lot,” Verse admitted. “A similar play happened to Derek Barnett, I think, on the next field goal, and I lost it because it was my brothers and my teammates. And when you do something like that to him, it upsets me very deeply,” he said.

During Thursday’s segment of the “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe was adamant that Verse’s off-field actions towards his teammates contributed to their reaction when he was body-slammed in Pittsburgh.

“I know this ain’t the guy talking about he mad at his teammates,” Sharpe said. “I know this ain’t the same guy that didn’t show up to Deshaun Watson’s victory party that he had at his house because he said it was an hour away. That ain’t that Jared Verse. Oh, we a team. But when a teammate has a get-together, ‘I ain’t driving no hour.’ Really? Guess what, when you run your mouth, and a dude power bombs you, that ain’t got nothing to do with me.”

“You out here running your mouth, talking all this fake tough stuff before the game, and then when Mason McCormick body-slams you on your head, nobody moves. Not one of your teammates stepped up.”

“Not one person came over to back you up. You can’t go around picking fights. Guys in a group will pick a fight, but when they’re by themselves, they’re quieter than church mice. You ain’t got your group with you. Run your mouth now,” he added.

“In the NFL, if you’re gonna talk like a big dawg, you’d better play like a big dawg. You can’t run your mouth all week and then get handled like that without your own team having your back,” Sharpe concluded.

Verse was traded to the Browns as part of the blockbuster deal that saw two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett move to the Rams earlier this year.

The Rams selected Verse No. 19 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after a stellar college football career representing the Albany Great Danes and Florida State Seminoles. Verse won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and established himself as one of the league’s most exciting defensive prospects in Los Angeles.

After two stellar seasons in Los Angeles, he was traded along with a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick to acquire Garrett. Verse has amassed 18 total tackles (10 solo) and 3.5 stuffs for the surging Browns this season, earning a PFN Edge Rusher Impact score of 71.9 (No. 85 in the NFL).

With Verse on the roster, the Browns have posted a PFN Defense Impact score of 74.7, ranking No. 17 in the league. As a result, Verse may think twice before calling out his teammates again, as doing so could put them in an uncomfortable position.