Ahead of the 2023 season there was something kind of lovable about Deion Sanders’ trash-talking and brash statements about his team. But the Colorado head coach has lost a lot of respect through his behavior towards a former member of the team and he’s not likely to win it back through his explanation.
Speaking to Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today, Sanders addressed his decision to publicly go after former Colorado safety Xavier Smith over negative comments Smith made. Sanders said that he was “bored” and dismissed the idea that he “attacked” Smith with his comments on social media.
“I gotta do better on that and not ride with it, but I was bored,” Sanders said. “I was bored, and I didn’t say nothing hurtful. I don’t attack people.”
“I try my best to refrain, but like when you posted like stats, I said, ‘Lawd Jesus,’ like dang, he really went at him, like he really shot him. That’s really what I meant, and I think that was taken wrong. I think that was taken sideways or something else.”
That explanation might fly for the University of Colorado administration, but fans have pretty universally declared that the behavior is still embarrassing and unfit for someone who wants to be seen as a leader.
“He’s not a leader of men and isn’t concerned with CU long term best interest . It’s all about his kids and this year , MAYBE 2025 too, but he’ll jump to the NFL with his kids,” one user declared.
“He’s blowing a great opportunity fast, not sure he gets a 2nd chance with a big program,” another wrote.
“He sells himself as a leader & mentor of young men but instead of leading, he got down in the dirt & followed. I don’t think he understands that there’s more to leadership than just being the center of attention,” wrote a third.
Sanders is going to need to do a lot to get back into the good graces of lost fans and some peers.