Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Deion Sanders sends warning to NFL teams over son Shedeur
Deion Sanders (right) with his son Shedeur. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders continues to double down on his demands of NFL teams that might be interested in drafting his son Shedeur.

In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” Friday, Sanders admitted that there were certain teams he had reservations about when it came to them drafting his son. The Colorado coach went a step further, claiming he has met with a few teams to get answers about their plans for Shedeur.

“I’m a dad. I’m a real dad that has a lot of information about the NFL. I know some folks who know some folks who know some folks in the NFL, and I know what’s behind the curtain. Definitely, I’m going to lead him in the right direction,” Sanders said. “I would meet with them behind closed doors. I would not call them out. I would not put them on Front Street and talk about the organization, because people work too hard to make it right instead of a guy like me ignorantly saying something wrong. I would meet with them privately and talk about my concerns so we could have an understanding.”

Sanders confirmed that he had already met with “a few” NFL teams for that exact purpose.

“I just want to know why,” Sanders added. “If you don’t get your whys answered, you’re going to always be curious in life. I like to get my whys answered.”

Sanders has said in the past that he would not be shy about steering Shedeur away from certain teams, though he does not necessarily have a great deal of say in where his son lands in the NFL Draft. He has since objected to that narrative, saying instead that he would voice whatever concerns he had directly to those involved, which is also the line he took in this interview.

Shedeur Sanders is regarded as a near-certainty to be one of the first two quarterbacks off the board in April’s NFL Draft, though he might not be the first. It remains to be seen what influence Deion will have, if any, over that outcome.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Bill Belichick's trademark snark already showing in North Carolina's QB battle
College Football

Bill Belichick's trademark snark already showing in North Carolina's QB battle

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick doesn't want anybody to know anything about the way he does things. He's always been tight-lipped, and that's been especially true as it relates to prying questions from the media. Belichick's "we're onto Cincinnati" is an infamous line in the sports world, as is his disdain for allowing anybody to see how "the sausage is made." Perhaps, then, it's no surprise that Belichick's trademark snarkiness revealed itself in a Wednesday news conference for North Carolina. He was asked by a member of the media when he felt he'd be able to name the Tar Heels' starting quarterback for 2025, and the legendary head coach responded with sarcasm. “We’re getting ready to do that this afternoon — to announce the starting lineups and the play times and how we’ll be substituting everything,” Belichick joked, according to Chandler Vessels of On3. “So Brandon will get that to you as soon as we get done. We want to make sure we get that out there right away.” That's classic Belichick snark right there. North Carolina kicks off its 2025 campaign against TCU on Sept. 1, and Belichick doesn't want the Horned Frogs to have any time to prepare for who will be the starting quarterback. The Tar Heels will, of course, have to release a depth chart eventually, but you can bet that Belichick is going to slow-play his quarterback competition as long as possible. Max Johnson, son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, and South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez are the two players in the running for the job. Johnson missed most of last season with a devastating leg injury he suffered in UNC's first game. He's had previous stops at LSU and Texas A M as a starter. Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions last season for South Alabama. He also rushed for 465 yards and seven touchdowns.

Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason
NFL

Steelers have major injury concern leaving preseason

The No. 1 priority for NFL teams in the preseason is to get out of the games without major injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers may have failed with that one on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had to be carted to the locker room with a knee injury while also looking visibly upset as he was taken back. The team announced almost immediately that he would be out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin provided an update after the game: Defensive line was a top priority for the Steelers this offseason, especially after their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to end their season. Along with Harmon, they also selected Iowa's Yahya Black in this year's class to help try to beef up their line. Harmon is expected to play a major role in this year's defense and was already in a starting position. With star defensive lineman Cameron Heyward holding in as he tries to get a new contract from the team, that puts even more importance on Harmon's ability to make an impact. He has had a strong training camp, and after a quiet first preseason game, he really took a big leap forward in the team's second game, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Heyward returns, and if Harmon's injury is not serious, the Steelers would have the potential to have a really strong defensive line with those two joining rising star Keeanu Benton. Right now, though, those are a lot of "ifs," especially as it relates to the availability for Heyward and Harmon for the team's season opener.

Commanders' Terry McLaurin reportedly wants more money than previously thought
NFL

Commanders' Terry McLaurin reportedly wants more money than previously thought

Previous reports indicated that unsettled Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was looking to land "parts" of the five-year, $150M contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf earlier this year. For an article published on Wednesday morning, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic offered an update regarding why McLaurin and the Commanders haven't come to terms on an extension after the 29-year-old requested a trade on July 31. "One person with knowledge of McLaurin’s contract negotiations said the veteran receiver has asked for more than DK Metcalf," Jhabvala revealed. McLaurin is in the final year of his current deal and will turn 30 years old in September. To compare, Metcalf will turn 28 in December. That said, McLaurin emerged last season as the favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels as Daniels guided the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. "McLaurin believes he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL," Jhabvala added. "He’s been the Commanders' leading receiver every season since he entered the league (in 2019), and last year had the second-most receiving TDs in the league behind Ja’Marr Chase’s 17. He also ranked third in (expected points added) on targets and seventh in catch rate among receivers with at least 100 targets last year, but among that same group, McLaurin’s total receiving yards (1,096) ranked 12th and his average yards after the catch ranked 25th." Daniels seemed optimistic while speaking about the ongoing contract standoff during the ESPN broadcast of Monday's preseason game between the Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals when he said he knew McLaurin would "be coming through the door soon." However, Jhabvala noted that "it wouldn’t be a surprise if the [Commanders have] set a maximum range of $27M to $28M a year in average annual value for McLaurin." That seems to suggest the two sides aren't all that close to coming to terms on an agreement. It's unclear if McLaurin is willing to forfeit money by sitting out Washington's Week 1 game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7 amid his desire for a pay raise. If he isn't, he may have to soon accept the offer that's on the table to guarantee himself future earnings beyond the upcoming season.

Red Sox promote prospect who has incredible nickname
MLB

Red Sox promote prospect who has incredible nickname

The Boston Red Sox are expected to call up a prospect who will quickly become known to fans because of his amazing nickname. Ian Browne of MLB.com reported on Thursday that the Red Sox have decided to promote outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, who is the No. 3 prospect in Boston's system. Garcia has yet to play in an MLB game, but many baseball fans are already familiar with the 22-year-old because he has one of the best nicknames of all time: "The Password." How did Garcia end up with that nickname? Because his first name, which is pronounced "JOES-tin-son," is incredibly difficult to spell. Garcia's first name features such a rare structure and combination of letters that it would make an incredibly strong computer password. The Red Sox signed Garcia out of Venezuela in 2019. They signed his brother, Johanfran Garcia, three years later. As Browne notes, Johanfran is the No. 28 prospect in Boston's system, and he also has a great nickname that plays off his brother's. Johanfran's nickname is "The Username." Jhostynxon Garcia has split time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season. He has batted .303 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI in 66 Triple-A games.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!