On Tuesday, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders sent his latest shot at the media during a press conference in a season that has had countless feuds between Sanders and select media members.
Whether it be the University of Colorado banning Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler from asking questions, Sanders directly calling out ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, or Sanders’ short-lived dustup with a local CBS affiliate, it’s clear that Sanders’ frustrations with the media are quite pronounced.
Sanders yet again aired his grievances with the media on Tuesday, this time calling out those who are “envious and jealous” of players who are benefitting from the widespread growth of NIL in the sport.
“When I say I genuinely love these kids, I genuinely really do,” said Sanders in a video shared by Fox College Football on X. “It’s not about what they can do for me on the football field. It’s about what I can help them with in life. The landscape has changed in football. Once upon a time, you guys never attacked college players. Now they’re making more money than y’all. And some of y’all are envious and jealous about that so you’re on the attack.
“It was hands-off for a college player because they were an amateur. You remember that guys? Now it’s hands-on, go at them. Any kind of way you want. ‘They are making more money than me and I’m mad about it.’
“When you attack ’em, attack ’em, attack ’em, these guys are sensitive. They’ve never been attacked. They haven’t gone through what a grown man… What I’ve been going through with y’all for years. They haven’t done that. So it is what it is.
“I know you’re going to do your job and what you must do. But your job does not say to attack the personal stuff. Leave it to be personal. Because if we start flipping the script on y’all, you wouldn’t like it.”
“Once upon a time you guys never attacked college players, now they’re making more money than y’all and some of y’all are envious and jealous about that so you’re on the attack.”
Deion Sanders had some words for CFB reporters in today’s press conference 😳 pic.twitter.com/AYqsTAv7yl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 17, 2024
It’s not entirely clear from this clip what reporters Sanders is referring to in terms of “attacking” college players. Or even what players are being attacked.
But he perhaps could be referring to the backlash that his son, Shedeur Sanders, has received after the team’s Week 3 win over rival Colorado State. After the game, a clip emerged showing Shedeur seemingly refusing to shake hands with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
Shedeur Sanders and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi full exchange😱
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/uRuUSXtcVE@deionsandersjr pic.twitter.com/mraNKbAKXu
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) September 15, 2024
This of course stemmed from a clip of Fowler-Nicolosi and a teammate trash-talking Sanders and Colorado on social media in the lead-up to the game.
Was Shedeur Sanders being petty to not shake hands with Colorado State QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi?
Or was it the perfect retaliation to his off-season comments saying “we will see how far Instagram followers gets them” 👀 pic.twitter.com/S39KkeTMJk
— Wunderfan (@wunderfan) September 16, 2024
Regardless of whether this is the reason Deion Sanders is perturbed with the media this time or not, he clearly believes that his players, and perhaps others around college football, are not being covered fairly as student-athletes.