Stephen A. Smith has blasted the narrative around Shedeur Sanders coming out of the NFL Combine.
The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback is expected to be one of the top picks at next month’s draft, thanks to a stellar collage career.
Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns as he led his programme to a 9-4 record in 2024 – their best season since 2016.
As other top prospects have done in years gone by, the 23-year-old chose not to workout in front of scouts at this year’s combine, but it has been reported that he still made waves with some teams.
NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that an assistant coach on a franchise with a top-seven pick in the 2025 draft viewed Sanders as ‘brash’ and ‘arrogant’ during his interviews and meetings.
Other reports also suggested some teams felt the prospect ‘did not take a professional approach to his interviews’ or did not ‘care too much’ how he was being perceived.
The Athletic’s NFL Draft Analyst, Dane Brugler, suggested the issue with Sanders is not that he’s a ‘good guy or a bad guy’ – but that he’s a ‘not for everyone’ guy.
The young quarterback is now sliding down the board in mocks after originally being tipped as the potential No.1 draft pick, even if that perception of him is not a consensus around the league.
Following those reports, many members of the media have come out to defend Sanders, including NFL legends Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.
And on Wednesday, ESPN’s Smith explained why he was ‘furious’ that Shedeur’s character has been questioned.
“I’m trying to remain composed and not really be as angry as I want to be,” Stephen A. began, speaking on First Take.
“I’m fuming inside right now. What is he supposed to be as a quarterback entering the NFL? You can’t be insecure and succeed as a quarterback.
“You can’t have doubts about your abilities and succeed as a quarterback in the NFL.
“If I know that, every single executive knows that. He has a resume that validates and backs up his confidence.”
Smith then called out reports about Sanders’ attitude, adding there is nothing to suggest he would be an issue for any team in the league.
“I’m getting angry because a young black man – highly successful, highly accomplished, with incomparable and impeccable pedigree – is entering the NFL,” he continued.
“He is considered easily one of the top two quarterbacks entering the NFL Draft. We’re not hearing about his lack of mobility, lack of arm strength, whether or not he can make the throws.
“Oh no, we’re hearing about his attitude. Has he ever found himself in any kind of trouble? Is there anything that has besmirched or stained his resume, his name, in any way?
“The closest thing this brother has come to a crime is when Colorado State was talking smack to them and he refused to shake the quarterback’s hand.”
Ultimately, Smith concluded that the criticism of Shedeur comes from people’s feelings towards his father, NFL legend Deion Sanders.
Nicknamed Primetime, Deion has been in the spotlight for more than three decades, thanks to a Hall of Fame career that saw him win two Super Bowls and establish himself as arguably the greatest cornerback of all time.
Despite all his success, the doubters have followed Sanders throughout his career and even perhaps through to his family, as Smith has implied.
He said: “Why are we having this conversation about (Shedeur’s) character? I’ll tell you why, because we’ve got people hating on his daddy, and they want any excuse they can come up with.
“Let me remind America why Deion Sanders is hated by some people. Because he was the greatest, and he told you so, and then went out there and showed you so, and you were helpless to do anything about it.
“So, since you couldn’t touch him, now you’re trying to touch his son. This is low. The fact that this is a story, the fact that people are putting this out there… is low.
“It’s low but that’s alright because this is 2025 and Deion Sanders has got cover all day, every day. Right here, with me and with any of us on any damn network that covers the NFL.
“We know who the hell Primetime is. The brother is so primetime, it’s sacrilegious to talk about him in the daytime.
“That’s how big-time Primetime is, and now his son is coming and they’re going to use this as an excuse. Sorry a**es. You all make me sick.”
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