Latest news with #NFLShowcase
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders Prank Callers Facing Backlash After New Video Released
Shedeur Sanders' long wait to be drafted mercifully ended with the 144th overall pick on Saturday, when the Cleveland Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. His unexpected slide may have ended there, but the damage from Thursday and Friday could not be undone. In fact, it got even worse on Saturday when a new video emerged of the brutal prank call Sanders received while he was waiting to be drafted. Advertisement In a video posted by Deion Sanders Jr. on Friday, it was revealed that some internet pranksters fooled the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback prospect — who was projected before the draft to be a first-round pick — by calling him on a private number and impersonating a member of the New Orleans Saints organization telling him he was going to be drafted. The pranksters succeeded in getting Sanders' hopes up, but after realizing the ruse, the 23-year-old responded with great maturity. "Nobody got that number but coaches, strictly for that reason," Sanders said. "Why get mad... They want you to have a certain type of reaction." Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) talks to ESPN after the University of Colorado NFL Showcase at the CU Indoor Practice Ciaglo-Imagn Images It turned out that the trolls were seeking more than just a reaction from Sanders. They inexplicably posted the full video of the prank to an anonymous account on X around noon on Saturday as Day 3 of the draft began, showing their faces as they made the call. Advertisement Fans delivered extreme backlash to the perpetrators of the joke, taking Sanders' side amid his publicly embarrassing draft experience. "Imagine releasing this thinking people are going to laugh with you," wrote a response on X. "Now hopefully the internet does what it does and traces them to the coach that gave that number away to be pranked, so that coach can be fired," said a reply with more than 2,000 likes. "This is cruel (expletive) even if you feel Shedeur is being humbled, you don't kick a man while he's down." "These (expletive) are the low of the low," said another disgusted fan. "They havent accomplished anything so far in life so they try and mess with someone else's dream! Garbage!" "Not a Sanders fan at all and was enjoying the fall in the draft, but now I find myself hoping he puts in the work and is good in the league," one X user wrote. "This prank ain't it and they probably made a huge mistake releasing this video." Advertisement Related: Shedeur Sanders' Fall in NFL Draft Draws Big Admission from Brother Shilo Related: Russell Wilson's Sudden Change in Behavior After Giants Draft Jaxson Dart
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee Titans cancel private work out with Shedeur Sanders after pro day
After Colorado's pro day, at which all 32 NFL teams were represented, including the Tennessee Titans, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, the team and quarterback Shedeur Sanders mutually agreed to cancel their previously scheduled private workout. The Titans had already conducted a private session with Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who is viewed as the favorite for the top pick. However, following a strong showing in Boulder, the team felt confident enough in Sanders' performance that no private workout was necessary. According to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website, the Titans have seen enough to decide on the Buffaloes' signal-caller Advertisement Sanders impressed scouts by completing 58 of his 63 passes during the NFL Showcase, displaying his accuracy and deep-ball strength in drills. The Titans' brass left Boulder not only impressed by Sanders but also by his teammate, Travis Hunter. "Shedeur threw the ball well, and we got to see him out there with Travis," Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi told Wyatt. "And Travis, everything you see on film – he is one of the twitchiest athletes I've ever seen. He's impressive. It was good to see Shedeur go through the whole workout, and the two-minute drill after. It just confirms a lot of stuff you saw on tape – he can drive the deep ball, you saw that here today." In 2024, Sanders passed for over 4,000 yards with 37 touchdowns and ten interceptions on 74% completion. While some scouts still have questions about his fit and the next level, his mechanics at the pro day offered encouraging signs in front of 31 other teams besides the Titans. The Titans' decision to skip a private workout with Sanders suggests they are narrowing their options ahead of the draft and have seen enough to be confident in Sanders. However, the fact that they sent a large contingent to Boulder means that Sanders is likely still firmly in play for the top overall pick. Advertisement Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Shedeur Sanders and Tennessee Titans agree to cancel private workout
USA Today
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Deion Sanders shares pointed commentary on Saints drafting Shedeur Sanders
Deion Sanders shares pointed commentary on Saints drafting Shedeur Sanders The New Orleans Saints didn't have a big presence at Colorado's "NFL Showcase" pro day on Friday, but you could say they were conspicuously absent. While all eyes were locked on top-five 2025 draft prospects Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders didn't shy away some pointed commentary on the Black and Gold. After field work wrapped up and the coach took the podium, Sanders was asked by Saints Block Party host Adam West how he felt about his son potentially playing quarterback for first-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore, who previously coached passers like Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert. "I like the colors," Sanders grinned. "I like the colors, I like the city, I like the food. I like the people. I like the possibility." So that may not be the most schematically complex answer, but it does go to show New Orleans has his approval. Sanders has previously said he wouldn't dictate where his son would be drafted, and that he knew if a team like the Saints picked Shedeur, they'd both be happy for the opportunity. But later, Sanders made a pointed reference to the Saints when signing off from an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter, having been asked again whether he'd be involved with choosing where his son would turn pro. "What would I be involved for? This is my show. I'm the band director here," Sanders said, tossing a thumb over his shoulder at the busy Colorado indoor practice facility. Then he pointed at his black and gold sweatshirt carrying CU's logo. "I've gotta end with this, I like these colors, though. Don't you like these colors? I like these colors." It's a funny moment, helped by Louis Riddick's sudden turn to the camera and half-joking "Winky wink, wink." You can't help but feel like Sanders may have been blowing up Moore's spot after the Saints head coach declined to attend Colorado's pro day, which some fans have speculated was a smokescreen to hide just how highly Moore thinks of the young QB. It might say a lot that the team was only represented at Colorado's pro day by their quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien and wide receivers coach Keith Williams. Last week, head coach Kellen Moore took Gayle Benson's private jet to go see pro day throwing sessions for Cam Ward (Miami), Quinn Ewers (Georgia), Will Howard (Ohio State), and Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss). But could Sanders really end up in New Orleans? It feels unlikely he'll make it to the No. 9 pick, but the Saints could always trade up for him. Maybe it says something that Moore skipped Sanders' time in the spotlight. Maybe it doesn't. We'll find out in just a few weeks.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders: The choice the NY Giants might have to make at No. 3
Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders: The choice the NY Giants might have to make at No. 3 The questions came up countless times this week at the NFL Annual Meeting, and from all corners of the league. Team executives. Coaches. Agents. Media. Even the most respected insiders in this business were working the rooms seeking out intel of which only an extremely intimate circle around Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll truly have the knowledge. Advertisement If Colorado teammates Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are on the board in three weeks when the New York Giants are on the clock in the NFL Draft, what will they do? What's best for the long-term success of the franchise, and who can have the biggest impact now? Which player - the quarterback with the famous last name and a history of lifting two programs to new heights or the record-setting, two-way Heisman Trophy-winning star intent on dominating both sides of the ball - would the Giants choose with the No. 3 selection of the first round? In some ways, the answer is simple. It's also admittedly complicated. And this reality is also true for Giants brass: it's far from decided. Advertisement Here's the well-timed catch (and pitch) for Hunter and Sanders: their time in the Pro Day spotlight comes Friday afternoon in Boulder during what Colorado is billing as its "NFL Showcase," which will be attended by a significant contingent of Giants decision makers, including Schoen. Miami quarterback Cam Ward has been widely projected to go to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall, while the Cleveland Browns - despite also searching for a quarterback of the future - are believed to be eyeing Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 2. Jul 21, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shadeur Sanders (left) and receiver Travis Hunter during Pac-12 Media Day at Resorts World Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports That would leave the Giants in position to take the 23-year-old Sanders if they see him as their quarterback of the future, or the 21-year-old Hunter, the Heisman Trophy-winning two-way star who some scouts believe is the best cornerback and the best wide receiver in the Class of 2025. Advertisement The entire league continues to guess on what the Browns and Giants will do at Nos. 2 and 3. Both teams are doing their best to not be completely transparent, despite what so many think they know. The same three players have been mentioned for both teams for months, but in speaking with numerous sources in recent days, nobody knows for certain. Sanders is coming off a season where he led Colorado to its first nine-win season since 2016, broke the program record for passing yards in a season (4,134), finished with the highest single-season completion percentage (74%) and threw the most touchdowns in a single season (37). He is not going to draw oohs and aahs with his arm like Justin Herbert or his wheels like Lamar Jackson, or run people over like Josh Allen. That should not allow what Sanders can't do to lead you away from what he does really well. In some ways, Sanders is a quarterback from a different age of the NFL. He's a pocket passer who, because of his DNA, is downgraded in part because he is not QB Prime despite being the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Advertisement That should still play in today's game, even if teams spend so much time drooling over unicorns at the position with physical talent to drool over. Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) with wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the Giants and a pairing with Shedeur makes sense in the Big Apple. Among the reasons: it could work in a similar way things just clicked for Eli Manning with Big Blue and another famous NFL father in Archie who was also a big part of his journey. "You can still win from the pocket," Kiper said. "So, I think, that's still something that Shedeur knows how to do and he does very effectively. Shedeur, also, with Deion, and same thing when you think about Eli with Archie, I think being able to handle pressure and expectations, he does that very well. This whole circus atmosphere people think will come with Shedeur is ridiculous, it's not gonna happen." Advertisement The Giants see Hunter as a prospect who can change the both sides of the ball, likely with his top priority at corner and an uncommon ability to contribute right away on offense, those familiar with the team's thinking throughout the evaluation process told and The Record. The difference here would be not just a physical challenge but a mental one for Hunter to learn the defense AND the offense as a rookie, as Daboll noted earlier this week. That has nothing to do with a lack of intelligence, because by most accounts, Hunter is very sharp. It's not a talent issue, either, with NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah saying: "Travis Hunter is like someone went to the Philadelphia Eagles and took Devonta Smith and Darius Slay, spun him around in a circle and they came out as the same human being." Only three NFL players have started at WR and CB in the same game since 1980: Antonio Cromartie (2012), Champ Bailey (2000) and Deion Sanders (1996), the latter two having been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only player to do so more than once was Sanders, the head coach for Hunter and Shedeur at both Colorado and Jackson State. Regardless of position, just three players have played 10 or more snaps of both offense and defense in the same game since 2012, per NFL Research. Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter (12) during the second quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images "I would say that the player that you want to take when you're selecting that high is, does he have to help you right away? I think you just have to have a great plan for that player and you think that player is really going to help your organization," Daboll said. "If that's being a backup for a little while, then that's being a backup for a little while. If you think that's where you want to take that player - If it's to come in and start and play a bunch of plays - that's great too." Advertisement The Giants have done extensive homework on all the quarterbacks, including Sanders, with Schoen and his top personnel aides spending time on campus in Boulder at practice. They'll be back Friday and again once more for their private workout with Sanders. "The thing that I love about Shedeur is the poise that he plays with and the accuracy and the ball placement – those are two things that I think really translate in his game," ESPN analyst Jordan Reid told and The Record. This is also an opportunity to be on site with Hunter. The Giants have met with him previously, and until recently, the thought was that he would be off the board earlier. That could still be the case. Nothing is settled. "You want to put the player in there [on the team] and say, 'Hey, here is our franchise quarterback for the next 15 years,'" Schoen said. "There's got to be one available and they've got to check a lot of boxes. ... if [the player] matches up and the value is right, we can look at many positions and take that guy." Advertisement The two likeliest will be on the field Friday where they became first-round picks together. Giants brass will be watching closely from the sideline, gaining more clarity so that when the clock is ticking, Schoen and Daboll will be ready to turn in the name and embrace the biggest addition to the franchise this offseason. Will it be Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders, or an unforeseen curveball? Only time will tell. This article originally appeared on Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders: The choice Giants might have to make
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Shedeur Sanders working out for two teams ahead of NFL draft
Shedeur Sanders working out for two teams ahead of NFL draft Shedeur Sanders is one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL draft and projects as a top-5 pick. Sanders will work out at Colorado's pro day on April 4, but now he will also work out for a few NFL teams. NFL Network's Ian Rapaport reported Wednesday that Sanders will work out for the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns. The Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and have been seen as the likelist destination for Miami quarterback Cam Ward. The Browns follow with the No. 2 overall pick, confirming that Sanders is not out of contention for the top overall pick. Rapaport also reported that Ward worked out for the Browns on Wednesday and will do so with the Titans later this week. It sure seems like the Titans and Browns are the two teams looking hard at the top two quarterbacks, but perhaps neither has decided which one they will select. Sanders played two seasons at Colorado under his father, and head coach Deion Sanders has not showcased his skills in front of NFL scouts yet as he did not participate in the NFL scouting combine or the Big 12 Pro Day. Before Sanders works out with NFL teams, he will throw at CU's "NFL Showcase" where fellow NFL draft hopefuls and Colorado receivers Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard will catch passes. Sixteen total Buffaloes will participate in the day-long pro day, with the NFL Network broadcasting two hours of the event. ESPN will also report live from Boulder throughout the day. Rapoport's report confirms recent speculation that the New York Giants are out of the rookie quarterback market. The Giants signed Russell Wilson earlier this week after adding Jameis Winston last week, perhaps pointing to the fact they either plan to draft a defensive player such as Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or think the top two quarterbacks will be gone by No. 3. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
