Latest news with #Deion
Fox Sports
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
While Shedeur battles for Browns' starting job, Deion remains 'hurt' about NFL Draft
Deion Sanders doesn't believe the rumors of the reasoning behind his son's unexpected fall down the NFL Draft boards in April. Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, many reports surfaced that Shedeur Sanders – who was projected to be a first-round pick - came 'unprepared' to one-on-one meetings and interviews with teams. Even with those reports, though, nobody thought he'd end up being selected where he ultimately was. The Cleveland Browns took Sanders in the fifth round, as their second quarterback in the draft. With all 32 NFL teams passing on him at some point, the validity of the theory that he was unimpressive in those interviews grew. His father, though, still sees those claims simply, as rumors, words that stung him. "It did hurt," Deion Sanders said on the most recent episode of former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel's podcast, "Say What Needs To Be Said". "But the Bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. There was some foolish stuff that went on, but that gave them something that they needed." "When you sit up there and say something like he went into a meeting unprepared, like, dude," the Colorado coach added, "Shedeur Sanders? Who has had six different [offensive] coordinators, who has still functioned and leveled up every time we brought somebody new in, and you're going to tell me he was unprepared? You're going to tell me he had on headphones? Anybody who knows my son understands he's a professional. He's going to go into a meeting with headphones on? Y'all, come on now." While Deion is refusing to accept the rumors regarding his son's level of preparation are entirely true. He believes they can be used as a source of motivation, comparing it to the edge that seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady built by facing criticism head on. Shedeur is, seemingly, looking at the criticism in that way, too, opting to wear No. 12, the number Brady sported throughout his career. Deion, though, may have made a good point — that Shedeur's draft-day plummet didn't occur solely because of the impression he left on teams. The other potential reason for his son's fall, however, may not be one Deion wants to hear. "It's the beginning of June, and Deion is already complaining about his son, and what went down at the draft," Jason McIntyre said Monday on Fox Sports' "The Herd." "This, my friends, is why Shedeur Sanders fell in the draft. Front offices were just like, 'No, thank you on Shedeur Sanders,' precisely because of this." Essentially, McIntyre's saying that NFL teams didn't want to deal with Deion's constant media presence and that's why they were dissuaded from drafting his son. His external criticism of the NFL and its teams, which is constant and recently happened on Samuel's podcast, justifies McIntyre's take further. Instead of reflecting internally about how he and his son could have changed their approach, or things they did in the lead up to Shedeur's draft-day fall, he blamed everyone else. No matter the heavy amount of post-analysis, that part of Shedeur's journey is done. He's been drafted, and signed a rookie contract with the Browns. Instead of living in and critiquing the past, he and his father can look to the future as he competes to become the Browns' starting quarterback. "Hey Deion, Shedeur's now 23 years old," McIntyre added, "I'm not telling a grown man what to do, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, Deion, if next time you're asked about it, you say, 'I wish my son the best. I will be rooting for him hard. I'm a Cleveland Browns fan. Go Browns!' Just stop. All you're doing is hurting Shedeur." The Browns' quarterback battle is wide open and there's a real chance for Shedeur to get the starting job. Whether he earns it or not is, though, is completely dependent on his performance in training camp, no matter how much Deion wants to impact the outcomes of his son's future or opine about the past. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
NBC Sports
02-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Deion Sanders: Pre-draft attacks on Shedeur and Shilo "hurt"
Colorado coach Deion Sanders witnessed both of his sons plummet through the draft order. Shedeur lasted until found five. Shilo wasn't drafted at all. Appearing recently on Asante Samuel's Say What Needs To Be Said podcast, Deion explained the impact of witnessing what his sons endured. 'It hurt,' Deion said, via Jack Carlough of 'But the bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. There was some foolish stuff that went on, but that gave them something that they needed. . . . That edge that Tom (Brady) had, it gave them the edge that you had, it gave them the edge that I have. Folks said we weren't gonna be nothing. But we had to prove that. It gave them the edge that they needed. Both of them.' Deion took issue with reports that Shedeur was not properly prepared for pre-draft meetings, with teams like the Giants. 'When you sit up there and say something like he went into a meeting unprepared, like, dude,' Deion said. 'Shedeur Sanders? Who has had six different [offensive] coordinators, who has still functioned and leveled-up every time we brought somebody new in, and you're gonna tell me he was unprepared? You're gonna tell me he had on headphones? Anybody who knows my son understands he's a professional. He's gonna go into a meeting with headphones on? Y'all, come on now.' Still, credible sources have explained the perception that Shedeur was behaving as if he was being recruited, not interviewed. With other quarterbacks creating a much different impression, Shedeur's draft stock suffered relative to his competition. Deion nevertheless regards the incessant chatter about Shedeur to be 'lying.' And he believes both Shedeur and Shilo (who wasn't invited to the Combine and wasn't expected to be drafted) will be better for the experience. 'You got to understand my kids are built for everything,' Deion said. 'We had two TV shows, we had shows in high school with playing football junior and senior years. We've always been in front of the camera, so they know how to navigate, they know how to handle themselves. You're not going to catch them in no foolery or no mess. You're not going to do that whatsoever.' Both Shedeur and Shilo are getting an opportunity. Both will have a fair chance to earn a Week 1 roster spot. And if they can turn draft-day disappointment into motivation, they'll be better for it in the long run.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders Blames Older Folks ‘Hatred' of His Dad for His Own Negative Coverage
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders believes that 99% of the criticism he faces is directed at his father, Deion Sanders, rather than himself. In his view, a majority of the 'hatred' he faces comes from older generations who are familiar with his father's legacy. Advertisement Critics have suggested that Shedeur is continuing a family tradition of lacking humility. You may recall Deion dumping ice water on late sports broadcaster Tim McCarver – repeatedly – when the latter criticized him for abandoning the Atlanta Braves in the middle of a playoff series to play for the Falcons. Deion's son now thinks the disdain for his Dad's behavior is carrying over to him. 'They don't care about other people's opinion of you,' the younger Sanders told 'They go based off their own. 99% of hatred (directed at me) is toward Pops. And then I'm just his son.' 'It's just the older generation that does it to me rather than the younger people,' he continued. 'Because when I come in person, there's no negativity I see. But it's all over online.' Shedeur Sanders Blames His Dad I'm not sure if Shedeur Sanders' comments are entirely legitimate. A lot of teams happily overlooked Deion's obnoxious personality when he played because he was the best cornerback in the game and frequently provided a spark with dazzling plays on special teams. Advertisement He won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. So, for those teams, taking a chance with the theatrics certainly paid off. However, to his assertion, much of the negativity surrounding Shedeur stemmed from his own attitude. Teams didn't want to take a chance on an unproven commodity that might wind up being a locker room cancer. It's a lot easier taking a chance on a perennial Pro Bowl talent in Deion than it would have been taking that chance on Shedeur. Sanders might be gunning to bring Cleveland a Super Bowl championship, but it comes off as unwarranted bragadocio from a fifth-string quarterback who wasn't even the Browns' first choice in the latest NFL draft. RELATED: Tom Brady Shares Words of Wisdom for Shedeur Sanders' After Draft Slide Brought it Upon Himself? Despite being a highly touted quarterback prospect from Colorado, Shedeur Sanders experienced a dramatic slide in the draft, falling to the fifth round before being selected by the Browns at pick No. 144. Advertisement Sanders was drafted into an organization with a crowded locker full of quarterbacks, including veterans like Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, and the recently acquired Kenny Pickett. Additionally, he was drafted behind another quarterback two rounds earlier in Dillon Gabriel. Some NFL legends have attributed Sanders' cockiness for his fall in the draft. Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter said the Browns quarterback's over-inflated self-worth cost him $50 million with his very public slide. 'You're going for a job interview,' Carter said. 'So, for his job interview, he was so concerned about what his outfit was, his necklace was over a hundred grand. Like, he hadn't even convinced people that you're the face of our franchise.' The issue seems to be with him, not his Dad. But, as Tom Brady explains, all he has to do is perform on the field, and the rest will take care of itself. Also Read:: Legendary Coach Nick Saban to Shape Future of College Athletics in Presidential Commission
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Deion Sanders shows unwavering support for son Shedeur Sanders following NFL Draft slide
The NFL Draft is supposed to be a celebration of talent and potential, a night when dreams come true. But for Shedeur Sanders , it turned into an uncomfortable wait that stunned fans and family alike. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Once projected as a first-round hopeful, the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback inexplicably plummeted to the fifth round—taken 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns . Cameras didn't catch many tears, but the silence was deafening. And in that silence, questions echoed: was this just about performance, or was Shedeur carrying the baggage of his famous last name? Was Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft fall due to league politics? Shedeur Sanders isn't your average college quarterback. He threw for over 3,200 yards last season, showcased elite poise under pressure, and carried the Buffaloes through adversity with a mix of grit and leadership. Yet somehow, over 140 names were called before his. Not one team in the first four rounds thought he was worth the investment. Not even as a backup. Not even with Deion Sanders—Coach Prime himself—vouching for him. The NFL has never been shy about politics, and this felt personal. Critics whisper that teams were reluctant to deal with the perceived 'Prime Time circus' that follows Deion everywhere he goes. But why punish Shedeur for his father's spotlight? Deion Sanders' fatherly support for son Shedeur via Instagram post Meanwhile, Shedeur's older brother Shilo went undrafted entirely, only to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers soon after. It was a bittersweet victory celebrated in a family photo alongside Deion, their mother Pilar, and sister Shelomi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Still, Shedeur arrived at rookie minicamp early, in a crisp 'Legendary' fit, bringing class and humility. His first move was donating gear to a local high school team. That's not for cameras, that's character. Also Read: Deion took to social media to say, 'Thank You JESUS! We can take whatever hand we're dealt.' And true to that, Shedeur is now battling veterans like Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Cody Pickett for a chance to prove his worth. He's switching from his iconic college No. 2 jersey to No. 12 in Cleveland, maybe a fresh number for a fresh start. The NFL may have passed him over early, but if this chip on Shedeur's shoulder turns into fire on the field, the league might soon regret ever doubting Coach Prime's son.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft 2025: Everything you need to know about Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns' fifth-round draft pick
Shedeur Sanders is no stranger to the spotlight. Both his football ability and famous father put Sanders on NFL teams' radars years ago. But the hype didn't match the result, as Sanders fell into the fifth round fo the draft, where he was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. After starring at Colorado, Sanders was considered one of the elite quarterback prospects in the draft. If he can live up to the hype, Sanders could be a franchise cornerstone who drastically alters the fate of a downtrodden team for years to come. Given his name, production and the fact that a fan base is going to put all its hopes and dreams into his success, here's everything fans need to know about Sanders. Football fans are well aware Sanders comes from an athletic family. His father, Deion Sanders, made the NFL Hall of Fame after 14 seasons in the league. Deion was known as a shutdown corner who could completely take away a team's best weapon. Over his career, Deion was named to six All-Pro teams, won the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year award and took home two Super Bowl titles. Deion played with five different teams over his career: the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens. Deion was known for his tremendous athleticism. He saw time as both a kick returner and receiver in the NFL, and played nine seasons in MLB during the NFL offseason. Deion went into coaching following his playing career. He spent three seasons coaching Jackson State, where he coached Shedeur and two-way star Travis Hunter. Deion left Jackson State for Colorado ahead of the 2023 season, bringing both Shedeur and Hunter along. While both Shedeur and Hunter are leaving for the NFL Draft, Deion will remain at Colorado and coach the Buffaloes next season — he recently signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension. Shedeur's older brother, Shilo Sanders, could also be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shilo and Shedeur played together at Colorado the past two seasons. While Shedeur excelled on the offensive side of the ball, Shilo played safety. As a senior, Shilo, 25, played in 10 games with the Buffaloes. He tallied 67 combined tackles, with one sack and one forced fumble. Shilo is unlikely to be picked in the early rounds of the draft. He did not get invited to the NFL scouting combine and battled injuries in college. Given his name, Shilo could draw increased interest in the draft despite some limitations. Sanders first made a name for himself at Jackson State. After his freshman year was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanders was quickly named the starting quarterback for his father's team. Sanders was outstanding in his first year, throwing for 30 touchdowns against eight interceptions. That performance earned Sanders the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the most outstanding freshman in college football. He was the first player from an HBCU to win the award. Sanders improved on those numbers as a sophomore, throwing for 40 touchdowns against six interceptions. After the season ended, Sanders entered the transfer program and eventually joined his father at Colorado. Sanders may have transferred to a new school, but his stats remained excellent. Sanders excelled immediately, averaging 356.2 passing yards per game in his first five starts with the Buffaloes. While the team finished a disappointing 4-8, Shedeur had 27 passing touchdowns and three interceptions. He was even better as a senior. Sanders led the Big 12 in completions, attempts, completion percentage and passing touchdowns and helped Colorado to a 9-4 record. He ended the season with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That performance earned Sanders an eighth-place finish in the Heisman voting. Hunter, Sanders' teammate, won the award. In 2024, Deion made comments suggesting he would try to control where Shedeur and Hunter went in the NFL Draft. Deion said he knew where he wanted both players to go in the draft, and claimed "certain cities" were going to be out of play. Deion added, "It's going to be an Eli," a reference to former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who informed the San Diego Chargers he would not play for the franchise ahead of the 2004 NFL Draft. The Chargers, who held the No. 1 overall pick, did take Manning, but quickly traded him to the Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers, who went No. 4 overall. In March, however, Deion reversed course, saying he would not try to "orchestrate" Shedeur's landing spot. Deion said he'd comfortable with wherever Shedeur is drafted because he knows Shedeur will excel with any team. Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice lauded Sanders for his toughness, arm and ball placement. Sanders will need to work on his timing and feel in the pocket, but was able to improve his pocket movement as a senior. Tice believes Sanders will need to land in a good situation to take that next step forward. Sanders ranked No. 32 on Yahoo Sports' 2025 NFL Draft big board, and it was believed he could go higher than that due to his position. But that didn't happen, and questions remain about Sanders' ultimate upside. All eyes will be on him in Cleveland to see how he responds to his draft slide.
