The ‘entitled’ QB, ‘venomous’ attacks and ‘worst interview ever’ behind surprise NFL Draft slide

In some ways, Shedeur Sanders is like any other draft prospect.

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He has his strengths, namely his accuracy and toughness. He is willing to take big hits to make big plays.

But sometimes he holds onto the ball too long. It is one of his weaknesses, along with average arm strength and athleticism which some say limit him to an NFL starter and not much more.

All of it is standard, exactly the kind of discourse you would come to expect from one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.

But standard isn’t the word you would use to describe everything else about Sanders and his story of how he got to Lambeau Field in Green Bay for Friday’s draft.

Although Sanders won’t be there. He confirmed back in February that he wouldn’t be at the draft in person, instead wanting to spend the day with the people who have supported him on his journey to the NFL.

Friends. Family. Specifically, his dad and coach Deion, also known as ‘Prime Time’, who spent four seasons at Florida State before being drafted into the NFL in 1989 as a first-round pick.

He went on to enjoy a 14-season career in the NFL, being named into the Pro Bowl team eight times while winning two Super Bowls in the process. Then came his coaching career.

And Shedeur has been there every step of the way.

It started in his father’s youth football league, Truth Sports, at six years old and then Trinity Christian School, where Deion was his offensive coordinator. He led the team to three-straight state titles.

Two seasons at Jackson State, with father Deion as his head coach, followed along with just as many Southwest Athletic Conference championships. Then came Colorado.

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As a two-year starter with the Buffaloes, Shedeur helped turn Colorado’s fortunes around with a combined 13-11 winning record after the team finished 1-11 the year prior in 2022, while he set school single-season records for passing yards (4,134), passing touchdowns (37) and total touchdowns (41).

Last week, Colorado memorialised his number at Folsom Field by retiring his jersey.

But even that decision was met with some backlash and throughout his entire college career, no matter what it was that he did, Shedeur’s every move was judged by the court of public opinion.

That has continued in the days leading up to the draft and no doubt will only intensify once Shedeur steps onto an NFL field.

Although it will be hard to top what one longtime NFL assistant coach told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero earlier this week, claiming Sanders was “the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life”.

“He’s so entitled,” the coach added.

“He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates... but the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”

While easily the most scathing criticism of Shedeur, he was far from the only one to have personality concerns when it came to the Colorado quarterback.

“It didn’t go great in our interview,” one longtime AFC executive told Pelissero.

“He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.”

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Deion Sanders, left, talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Source: AP

An AFC coordinator, meanwhile, said that “when things go wrong” Sanders is quick to blame anybody but himself. “He takes a sack, he blames the O-line,” the coordinator told Pelissero.

Meanwhile, any team who may consider drafting Shedeur will also know picking him means inviting all the headlines that come with his last name.

That includes the possibility of Deion taking over as head coach should things go south.

“It’s going to be different than any other circumstances because of his dad and who his dad is,” an AFC GM told Pelissero.

“But you’d like to think (things will be different) once he gets outside of that. I don’t think it’ll be a problem. The guy wants to be really good. Sometimes you don’t overthink it. It’s complicated just because of the circumstance. He hasn’t helped himself in some of the interviews.”

It isn’t the first time the topic of Shedeur’s interviews has been in the spotlight. In March, one quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top seven said he came off as “brash” and “arrogant” in his interview.

Deion called out that claim as “lies” at the time and was just as strong in his response to the latest attacks on his son, calling them “venomous” in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.

“It’s to the point where it ain’t even cute no more. It’s so predictable,” he said.

“I’m flipping the channel today, listening. ‘Jaxson Dart is special; Shedeur Sanders ain’t…’ Y’all c’mon. Stop.

“It’s like just because they come from me, people take unsolicited shots at them. That’s not fair. Just say you don’t like me. Just say you’re tired of me winning, you’re tired of me being the light, tired of me being up, just consistently provoking change wherever I go. Just say that.

“But don’t attack my kids because of that.”

It is not the only reason though. It is a reason, the main reason, but not the only reason.

There is also the fact Shedeur doesn’t act like an NFL quarterback, or at least what some people think an NFL quarterback should act like.

He certainly doesn’t lack confidence, as was evident when he flexed his custom Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500 watch before playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2023.

Shedeur can afford to do it when he had the highest player valuation in college football ($4.7 million) at the start of last season, only behind Bronny James among all college athletes.

He has also been surrounded by the NFL elite from an early age, having worked out with Tom Brady while Deion is good friends with commissioner Roger Goodell.

All of the above doesn’t necessarily mean that Shedeur is going to be a toxic influence inside the locker room. As one NFC scouting director told Pelissero: “It’s not that he’s a bad kid”.

“He has been so insulated,” they added.

“It’s going to be a culture shock when he really learns how a locker room really operates and how it really works inside a building.

“He’s had so much input on the offensive game plan and who the coach is, and everything’s been catered to him. When you walk in one of these (NFL) buildings, no one’s going to give a s--- about that. No one cares who your dad is.

“You’re going to have to end up fighting through some adversity. The plays aren’t going to be called to exactly what you want to run.”

Sanders is a contentious prospect. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Source: AP

Further to that point, multiple scouts told ESPN that since Deion is in charge of the program, they don’t know whether they are getting the full story on Shedeur from Colorado sources.

“It’s very hard to leave a visit at Colorado with a true understanding of who this guy is,” one veteran scout said, while Buffaloes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur told ESPN he has constantly been asked “tell me what he’s really like?”.

One NFL executive who has met with Shedeur, meanwhile, told ESPN that the Colorado quarterback is simply “different”.

“He’s very much a thoughtful person,” they added.

“Sometimes that comes off a little bit combative because he’s going to ask questions, and he really wants to think through what you’re saying. He’s not really a yes-man person.

“He’s going to really have his own thoughts.”

Just like everyone else has their thoughts on Shedeur, both the prospect and the person and, soon, the NFL player.

He will be drafted, regardless of what Daniel Kelly — a former pro scout for the New York Jets and Shedeur’s biggest critic — has said in the lead-up to the draft.

As for how high he could go? There was talk of the Giants taking him at No.3, or at least the Steelers at No.21; but amid ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr’s constant complaints, he was snubbed entirely and dropped out of the first round.

He should go early in the second round with QB-needy Cleveland picking first on Saturday, while New Orleans could also make a play.

Regardless of what happens, all eyes will be on him. Not like he or Deion would expect anything less.

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