Former NFL star Deion Sanders is paid handsomely for his football opinions by NFL Network, but that job apparently involves dropping hot takes rather than knowing who’s actually in the NFL. At least, that’s the appearance from Sanders’ behavior this week, where he called new Houston Texans’ safety Tyrann Mathieu “the best safety in the game” on air Monday.
That brought some criticism, which Sanders tried to brush off with a typical “I played and you’re just a fan” response. The only problem? The particular criticism he brushed off that way came from Tennessee Titans’ All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, who Sanders didn’t appear to recognize:
.@DeionSanders is a big fan of the @HoustonTexans' latest DB addition 👀
📺: 21st & Prime pic.twitter.com/yodMhTJ9hF
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 20, 2018
How do you make this statement and not include the two first team AP All Pro safeties?? 🤔 @DeionSanders #INeedAnswers https://t.co/HzRaV3h85g
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
You're looking at who writers tell u who's the best I know who players and former players feel is the best. I rest my case. You continue to be a fan and i will continue being the man. #Truth https://t.co/gnpwJHjxEK
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) March 20, 2018
Woof. That’s a bad miss from Sanders, considering that he should be aware of who Byard is. It’s not like this is a particularly obscure NFL player; while Byard doesn’t have the name recognition of some players, he recorded a league-leading eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season (his second in the league), and was named a first-team All-Pro (plus selected to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement). If Sanders wants to argue that Mathieu is a better player, that’s fine, but maybe use some logic beyond “I played and you’re a fan” when talking to another high-level NFL player?
Byard went on to demolish Sanders pretty effectively:
But the numbers nor film add up. How do you overlook guys like Harrison Smith, Earl Thomas, and Eric Berry as not being the best in the game? I never said I was the best but I’m on my way. You continue to be a fan and I will continue going to the pro bowl and being great #Truth https://t.co/s099lNjiq2
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
@KB31_Era we'll print this out for you. pic.twitter.com/g6aSkomp4W
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 20, 2018
No need you guys.. It’s already screenshot on my lock screen #Motivation https://t.co/NTAmMytjwg
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
And if you didn’t know, I am a CURRENT player who watches a ton of film so trust me, I know who’s balling and who is not. Talking about be a fan 😂 https://t.co/s099lNjiq2
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
Yeah @KB31_Era talk that talk. All gas no breaks. Facts>opinions
— Casey Hayward (@show_case29) March 20, 2018
He called me a fan tho bro 😂 #triedme https://t.co/G0E9RjWyih
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
Byard even said he has plenty of respect for Mathieu, and even Sanders:
@Mathieu_Era is a beast and @DeionSanders a legend…but to make a statement like this shows you Deion has no regard for #Truth Everyone has their own opinions and I get that, but Deion’s seem to sway with the days hot topic. https://t.co/AeFyUDU9jJ
— David Mulugheta (@DavidMulugheta) March 20, 2018
Nothing but respect for both of them ✊🏾 https://t.co/ixqLOGvo4Q
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 20, 2018
.@DeionSanders was an indisputably spectacular player. He’s not close to same level as an analyst. #Titans fans and @KB31_Era shouldn’t have gotten sucked into his side of nonsensical “debate. “
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 21, 2018
We all know Deion is the 🐐 but it was never a debate because he didn’t answer the question that I asked Paul. Instead he called me a fan which further proved that he doesn’t watch enough film to make that statement but hey 🤷🏾♂️, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion https://t.co/J3WFG8YR6F
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 21, 2018
And Byard went off on Sanders further in an ESPN interview:
“I asked him a simple question of how he came up with the information on the best safety. He threw me aside like I was a nobody,” Byard told ESPN on Wednesday morning. “It just puts a bigger chip on my shoulder. I come from a situation where I’ve been ignored my whole life. Being a two-star prospect, having maybe five offers coming out, broke every school record at my school, and I was still talked about being a Day 3 or undrafted guy. In two years, I’m an All-Pro and Pro Bowler.”
At any rate, this led to a widespread roasting of Sanders, including from other NFL players:
Ignorance bro. Just have to keep showing em
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) March 20, 2018
Man bump that! Talk that talk KB! You know you a beast, a whole lot of others know it too Trust me! You supposed to believe you the best! & You got the film to back it up! Everybody got opinions but just keep giving facts bro! https://t.co/dIegdgAnWi
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 20, 2018
dude trippin bro! We respect the greats but the greats don’t wanna respect us.. shit crazy!
— Nino (@qdiggs6) March 20, 2018
You gonna get that respect my boy @KB31_Era don’t worry ✊🏽✊🏽 #KnowYourWorth
— Avery Williamson (@AWilliamson54) March 21, 2018
This all started when @KB31_Era Balled (5 picks in 2games) and never got the call lol!! @DeionSanders I guess it’s gonna take a ring I’m good w that!! No safety had a better year last year that’s just facts 🤷🏽♀️ Does Kb go on @nflnetwork and hash this out 🤔🤔 Must see TV!!
— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) March 21, 2018
Other media members blasted Sanders, too:
Next time someone tries to tell you that former players are the best analysts no matter what because "you have to have played the game to know it," remember that Deion Sanders didn't know who Kevin Byard is.
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/JulieDiCaro/status/976541945534255104
Many women would be laughed out of the NFL for not knowing Kevin Byard. Of course the women that know and can analyze Byard are laughed at for many football jobs b/c they didn't "play the game" like Deion. #sigh https://t.co/iEeKuuvW8k
— Melissa Jacobs 💙 (@thefootballgirl) March 21, 2018
For his part, Sanders doesn’t appear to have corrected his tweet or apologized for it. His social media feed has gone back to motivational postings and retweets of his son. And maybe it should stay that way; his tweet at Byard certainly wasn’t ready for Prime Time.
