“He’s a bully and a hypocrite.”
Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back on Monday, speaking about Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and his proverbial readiness for prime time, despite Sanders’ moniker. After much discussion around Sanders’ unwillingness to speak to certain reporters ahead of Colorado’s season debut, Finebaum spoke out about what many are likely thinking.
“Deion Sanders Isn’t Ready for Prime Time”
Here’s where we stand: Sanders is entering his second year as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football program, coming off a 4-8 record, and fresh off the heels of another nationally-scrutinized exchange with a reporter.
SIMULATE COLORADO’S SEASON NOW
Sanders, who has legitimate language in his contract at Colorado that all but explains he can approve or disprove of who he speaks to from the media, stated that he will not address questions from several different reporters including local CBS affiliates.
“I’m not negative to anybody in here,” Sanders said about his reporter ban. “I will challenge you and ask where (the question) is coming from. I’m not built like that, I’m not built to hate.”
Despite that, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum had some choice words following Sanders’ latest activity over the weekend.
“Coach Prime is showing he’s not ready for prime time,” Finebaum said on ESPN’s Get Up morning show. “I find this whole thing to be disgraceful. Deion may want to talk about love and joy, and that’s the cornerstone of what he’s 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 even more absurd.”
An autocratic country is harsh words, but Finebaum pointed out this is not the first time that Sanders has proven to “rule” like this as the head coach of a football program.
“Don’t forget, he did this at Jackson State,” Finebaum continued. “This is a trait of Deion Sanders. He wants to have it this way. And I find him to be a bully and a hypocrite.”
Sanders, who took the Colorado job after putting Jackson State in the national spotlight, famously has dealt with his fair share of criticism with how he handles coaching at the major college football level. From his ability to use the transfer portal or his inability to manage his roster, there is no stone unturned when it comes to the national attention and criticism of his ways.
However, as he is the only one of the 134 major college football head coaches with language in his contract and documented behavior of banning reporters, Finebaum doubled down on the harsh words towards Coach Prime.
“Quite frankly, as someone who has been a fan of his, I am mortified by his actions,” Finebaum said.
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