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As Shedeur Sanders continues preparing for the 2025 NFL season during the OTAs (Organized Team Activities), he faces direct competition for the starting quarterback role with the Cleveland Browns. However, his past looms large, and after slipping in the Draft, his fall is attributed "99 percent" to criticism directed at his father, Deion Sanders.
In this context, television personality Colin Cowherd s the notion that Coach Prime significantly harmed his son's draft stock.
Deion Sanders at the center of controversy
Once projected as a first-round pick, Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, sparking ongoing discussions.
"Quarterback dad has become pageant mom," Cowherd remarked on his show. "Your heart is in the right place, you have good intent. You are hurting your sons. Shedeur's got it right," he added, reinforcing the idea that Deion negatively impacted his son's prospects.
"They're not going to have dads who tell them where their son's going to play," Cowherd said of NFL franchises. "Get out in the sun and get burned. Deion was in the sun. Deion spent too much time on television talking. Dads, stop talking. Nobody cares."
There's a possibility that Deion's influence did sway team decisions, as he isn't universally liked. As many suggest, if Shedeur's last name were different or his father had a different profession, the outcome might have been different.
It's nearly impossible for "Coach Prime" to stay out of the media spotlight, and that's unlikely to change. As the head coach of Colorado, he constantly engages with the press, and it's part of his essence.
Amid this criticism, Shedeur is focused on competing for a roster spot. He has already signed his contract, but beyond potential earnings, his goal is to meet NFL standards and play as soon as possible.