Deion Sanders fires back at ESPN analyst calling him a ‘bully’ and ‘disgraceful’ while discussing banned Colorado reporter with RGIII
Deion Sanders does not take criticism lightly.
‘Prime Time’ has fired back at ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum after the former called Sanders’ disgraceful’ for his treatment of Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler.
The outspoken Colorado Buffaloes head coach recently got into a tense exchange with Keeler during a media day.
Two weeks later, Colorado announced it had banned the columnist from asking questions of Sanders or any other members of the football program, something Finebaum thinks is ‘un-American’.
“He did this at Jackson State,” Finebaum said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’. “This is a trait of Deion Sanders. He wants to have it his way and I find him to be a bully and a hypocrite. And quite frankly, as someone who has been a fan of his throughout his entire career, even at Colorado, I am mortified by his actions.”
“Coach Prime is showing he is not ready for prime time Greeny,” Finebaum told Mike Greenberg.
“I find this whole thing to be disgraceful. Deion may want to talk about love and joy, and that’s been the cornerstone of what he seems to be spewing out. But treating reporters like this seems like we’re in some autocratic country. This is not America, and the fact that it’s in his contract is really even more absurd.”
Sanders appeared on Robert Griffin III’s ‘Outta Pocket’ podcast on Tuesday where he responded to Finebaum’s critique.
The 57-year-old essentially said that the ESPN contributor was using Sanders’ name and Colorado’s ongoing drama to keep himself relevant.
“How can we be irrelevant and you talking about me? Like everytime I turn around someone sending me a quote that you talking about me,” the former Dallas Cowboys cornerback said.
“I know what he’s doing and I’m proud of him, that he’s smart enough to understand that this generation and the thought process and the way we communicate in sports is different and he’s a dying breed. So what does he have to do to keep up with this change? Oh I gotta go after the big bad wolf to talk about him.”
“The fan only blows when you hot. So we must be hot.”
This wasn’t the first time Finebaum has thrown shots at the two-time Super Bowl champion and former MLB outfielder.
Earlier this year, he said: “I know that the media loves this story. We fall all over ourselves. But Colorado isn’t important in college football. Deion Sanders is.
“He’s a standalone person. He’s one of the most charismatic people we’ve ever seen. But Colorado is nothing. They don’t matter. They’re irrelevant in the big picture of college football.”
Sanders’ latest controversy occurred on August 9 when he made it clear he wasn’t happy with the Denver Post columnist’s coverage of him and the Buffaloes football program in the past.
“You don’t like us, man. Why do you do this to yourself?” Sanders asked Keeler at one point. “No, I’m serious. Why do you do this? Like you know you don’t. Like, why do you do this?”
The Buffaloes claim that the reporter made “personal attacks” on the program, including using phrases like “false prophet,” “Deposition Deion,” “Planet Prime,” “Bruce Lee of B.S.,” “the Deion Kool-Aid,” and “circus” in his reporting.
Two weeks later, the college released a statement saying Keeler had been given an indefinite ban.
“After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events,” the college’s athletic department said in a statement obtained by ESPN.
“Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players and staff.”
This isn’t the first time ‘Prime Time’ has banned a reporter.
In 2021, a Mississippi Clarion Ledger reporter was barred from covering Sanders’ Jackson State, a day after the newspaper ran a story relating to a court filing about an incoming recruit who had been charged with assaulting a woman.
As for Sanders, he will now turn his attention to the 2024 college football season.
The Buffaloes, who finished with a 4-8 record last season, are now a member of the Big 12 Conference. They kick off their season with a home game against North Dakota State on August 31.
With Sanders at the helm they promise to be absolute box office this season, on and off the field.