ESPN’s Paul Finebaum did not hold back in his critique of Deion Sanders after the Colorado head coach made comments accusing sports journalists of being “jealous” of college players’ earnings.
During Colorado’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, Sanders shifted the spotlight away from the field to take aim at the media. He suggested that sports journalists have become envious of college players due to their financial success in the NIL era. “Once upon a time, you guys never attacked college players,” Sanders said. “Now they’re making more money than y’all, and some of y’all are envious and jealous about that. So you’re on the attack.”
Sanders went on to say that while he understands journalists are doing their job, they should avoid attacking players personally. “If we start flipping the script on y’all, you wouldn’t like it,” he added.
Despite Sanders’ attempt to prevent his comments from going viral, the remarks quickly spread, prompting a heated response from Finebaum the next day on *First Take*. Finebaum, who has been critical of Sanders throughout the season, did not mince words, accusing the Colorado coach of “gaslighting” and calling his accusations unfounded.
“Deion, right there, was purely gaslighting. Really unbecoming of his stature and status,” Finebaum said on the show alongside Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. “He knows that’s not true. The people that cover college football have been fighting for years to get more autonomy for players, so they can make more money. For him to say that is baseless.”
Finebaum took particular issue with Sanders’ use of the term “slander,” pointing out that many in the media have been supportive of players, rather than attacking them. “To use the word ‘slander’? That’s so far beyond the pale. The majority of the media lift these players up, they don’t tear them down… I don’t know where he came up with this. I think it’s desperation and spineless of him to attack the media when they haven’t even attacked his players.”
The back-and-forth between Sanders and Finebaum highlights the tension surrounding media coverage in the NIL era, where players are now able to profit off their name, image, and likeness. Despite the controversy, Sanders’ Buffaloes are 2-1 this season, and they’ll aim for another win when they face Baylor on Sept. 21.
As the exchange between Sanders and Finebaum intensifies, the focus will return to the field, where Colorado’s performance will ultimately speak louder than any off-field remarks.
