When Woody Paige criticized Deion Sanders’ Colorado football media policy about The Denver Post’s Seen Keeler, he played it cool, but he made sure to highlight how he was not accustomed to Coach Prime’s methods based on his interactions with Buffs head coaches in the past.
Paige posted on Twitter, saying, “I had major issues with four former Colorado football coaches over columns I wrote.” “Three declined to speak with me for any future interviews. I had the right to write, and they had the right. The disagreement remained between the parties confidential.
Regarding Sanders’ decision to forbid Keeler from raising questions at CU football games, everyone has an opinion. Almost none of them were as valuable as Paige’s view, which was based on anecdotal evidence.
Paul Finebaum, who called Deion’s Colorado football media policy deplorable, was at the other extreme of the tact spectrum from Woody Paige.
While not providing specifics, Paul Finebaum alluded to Sanders’ prior problems of this kind while overseeing Jackson State’s football team and added a jab that Sanders “is not ready for prime time.”
Finebaum stated, “He did this at Jackson State” (h/t On3). This characterizes Deion Sanders. I think he’s a bully and a hypocrite who just wants to get his way. And to be honest, I am ashamed of his behavior as someone who has supported him my entire career—even while he was at Colorado.
“Greeny, Coach Prime is demonstrating that he is not prepared for prime time. This whole situation is embarrassing, in my opinion. Deion seems to be talking a lot about love and happiness, which is probably what he wants to talk about. But this treatment of reporters gives the impression that we live in an authoritarian nation. This isn’t America, and it’s even more ridiculous that it’s included in his contract.
Not every analyst is made equally. When Around the Horn was one of ESPN’s afternoon mainstays, Paige was a fan favorite. Shock jock Finebaum recently joined the chorus of people who detest everything “Prime Time.”
Their answers reveal a great deal about their status.
Stephen A. Smith has made his views on the Deion Sanders media controversy very clear.
Before the 2024 season, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith expressed surprise at seeing Deion Sanders mentioned in the media. but not for the appropriate motives. Since taking over as head coach of the Colorado football team two years ago, Smith has been unwavering in his support for the coach to be successful. Smith believed that Sanders would show his detractors wrong this season by doing well on the field rather than off it. Sanders showed promise when he led the club to a 3-1 start after victories over nationally ranked teams before the Buffaloes went 4-8 in 2023.
Sadly for Smith, Sanders’s recent actions have deviated from that. The head coach recently revealed that Sean Keeler, a columnist for the Denver Post, was not permitted by the university to interrogate Sanders or any other football player. Smith decided to criticize Sanders’ handling of the incident when he shared his thoughts on it on First Take on Monday morning.
“I’ve known Deion for a long time. He is both a brother and a friend. I’m very fond of him. I disagree with his handling of the circumstance. I disagree with the Colorado program’s approach to handling the circumstance. You have to have tougher skin than that, so to be honest, I’m a little let down,” Smith remarked. “Speak with the reporter only if you are comfortable doing so. It’s absolutely absurd, though, for the show to issue a press statement declaring that it will no longer accept queries from this man.
Sanders and the Buffaloes will be looking forward to their season-opening game against North Dakota State on August 29 at 8 p.m. ET once the controversy fades.
