Desmond Howard explains the good reason Deion Sanders banned negative Colorado football reporter
ESPN College GameDay host Desmond Howard had the most important response of any media member who responded to Deion Sanders' banning of The Denver Post's Sean Keeler from asking any questions at Colorado football events: Coach Prime is human, and as a survivor of a suicide attempt, his mental health deserves to be protected.
“When I first heard the story, the first thing that popped into my head was how we talk about protecting your mental health,” Howard said (h/t On3). “I don’t know if people realize that Deion Sanders is a human being who has spoken openly about trying to commit suicide before. So, when you have a person who is an advocate for mental health, who not only wants to protect his mental health, but the number one job of a coach is to protect the mental health of his players too because you always want to treat all of your players like they’re your sons."
Keeler used specific phrases that set Sanders off; “false prophet, Deposition Deion, Planet Prime, Bruce Lee of B.S., the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.” Keeler, the long-time Denver-area columnist and reporter, is more entrenched in the area than Coach Prime is. He's been around longer and could have a longer tenure left than Sanders in Colorado, which could be just another five years according to the Buffs head coach.
Being boxed out by the biggest media outlet and town, and seeing baseless accusations catch on as meme material, all while a mostly oppositional hive mind joins in on the scrutiny, could be a massive mental hurdle to clear. Even for a man accustomed to, and simultaneously, constantly seeking the spotlight.
Deion Sanders' Colorado football media blackout policy has divided sports world
Reporters have largely sided with Keeler in this media blackout debate. Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich, and most of the CBS Colorado and 9News staff included. Players, meanwhile, have taken Sanders' side. Shannon Sharpe and Howard understand Coach Prime, and Robert Griffin III even had Sanders on his podcast to respond to Finebaum.
It's a predictable split. But it's nonetheless had the sports world divided about media etiquette and completely unfocused on the Buffs ahead of their Week 1 clash with North Dakota State.