Deion Sanders Jr. didn’t plan on stepping into the rumor mill this week. But when his brother’s name got dragged through the mud, he couldn’t stay silent. It all traces back to April 2025, the night Shedeur Sanders fell from a projected top-10 pick to Round 5, No. 144 overall. The football world gasped. What went wrong? Six months later, a Cleveland radio host decided to fill in the blanks and that’s when the oldest Sanders kid said enough was enough.

On October 28, Deion Sanders Jr. fired back at a viral X clip by The Cleveland 92.3 The Fan host Anthony Lima questioning Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide, and let’s just say he didn’t sugarcoat a word of it. “That’s a lie. Ask @EricGalko, he runs the shrine bowl,” he wrote on X, calling out what he labeled pure fiction. “Boyz sit there & ignore all the lies yall say, but sometimes yall just go toooooo crazy.” His post was a line in the sand. The Sanders family had heard enough. But what exactly sparked this whole thing? Let’s rewind the tape.

It started on Browns Trade Talk, when The Athletic’s Zac Jackson claimed Shedeur Sanders bailed on the Shrine Bowl after claiming the Browns and Giants told him not to play. “He shows up all of a sudden, nope, not doing anything. And then he makes up this stuff about how the Browns and the Giants told him not to work out or something like this,” he said. His blunt take is “Dude, no one told you that. Stop it.” That’s the narrative Deion Jr. is dismantling point by point. 

Back in January, Shedeur Sanders was in Texas for the Shrine Bowl. Cameras caught him mingling with scouts but not taking a single snap or practice rep. The absence raised eyebrows especially since he was once considered a No. 1 overall prospect. Still, Eric Galko refused to pile on. “We don’t pressure guys to play if they don’t feel comfortable, if they don’t feel healthy, or whatever reason it may be,” he said, brushing off the speculation. The QB, meanwhile, held meetings with top teams like the Titans, Giants, and Browns, all with top-three picks. 

There were whispers that Shedeur Sanders only attended if Colorado teammates got invites too. Seven Buffs ended up in the lineup. But Eric Galko kept it classy saying, “It would’ve been great if he practiced, but him not practicing does not mean that it was all preordained. That was a new development and we still support him.” And that’s the real point. Support. The Sanders name carries weight, but it also draws fire. This time, Bucky wasn’t letting that fire burn unchecked. But while the sons were busy defending their name off the field, their dad had his own storm brewing back in Boulder.

From rumors to Deion Sanders’ reality in Boulder

While Deion Sanders Jr. fought off false narratives online, Deion Sanders is fighting something far heavier on the field. The absence of his star QB son Shedeur Sanders. Colorado, once America’s must-watch story, now sits at 3–5 overall and 1–4 in Big 12 play. The energy that defined Coach Prime’s debut season has fizzled into frustration. Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe recently laid out his stance on The Night Cap. “Colorado doesn’t have the expectations LSU has. Now that doesn’t excuse ‘Time’ for losing games or losing like this. 

“Now, I didn’t have expectations,” the former NFL TE added. Transfers have slowed, the offensive line remains shaky, and the hype train that once felt unstoppable is stuck on the tracks. “They lost their two best players. Well, three of their best players. Jimmy Horn, Travis Hunter, and Shedeur Sanders. So I didn’t have the expectations… Realistically, what did y’all expect Colorado’s record to be?” Is 6-6 realistic? Maybe 5-7? Or back to square one at 4-8? Also, don’t forget to consider the rumors circulating, if it holds any truth. 

You can take a wild guess. Here’s what Colorado’s remaining schedule looks like. Arizona, at West Virginia, Arizona State, and at Kansas State. What are your expectations?