Pro-Deion Sanders ESPN commentator fired
ESPN fired multiple on-air analysts and reporters on August 15, and among them was Robert Griffin III -- a steady supporter of Deion Sanders throughout the first season of "Prime Time" at the University of Colorado Boulder.
RG3 was one of the few to back Coach Prime after he declared that his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, and Travis Hunter were "going to be an Eli" if they were selected to an undesirable NFL franchise in the 2025 draft.
"The power shift is coming, so everyone needs to buckle up,” Griffin said during the March 25 edition of ESPN's "Get Up" (h/t On SI). “All these college coaches have been running to the NFL because they’re ‘upset’ that the college players have a little bit more power and a little bit more say.
"Well, guess what? Those same kids that they’re running away from are gonna be the ones coming up the ranks and coming into the NFL in the next few years. So, Deion’s saying that either Shedeur or Travis are going to pull an Eli doesn’t surprise me at all. Without the players, all of these sports leagues are nothing. This is the player empowerment age, and you’re seeing it come into the NFL.”
Griffin has also touted Sanders for the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job in 2025 and beyond; a sign that RG3 is pro-Deion and not pro-Colorado.
ESPN has both pro-Deion Sanders and anti-Deion Sanders voices
Certainly, even with the loss of RG3, there are pro-Prime voices at the World Wide Leader. Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe come to mind. Though both can show tough love, they are always trying to speak respectfully of Sanders.
Paul Finebaum sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. Finebaum has called Sanders a "celebrity coach" and labeled the Buffs' 2023 season illegitimate. He also has written off Colorado as a player in college football from a national perspective.
Whatever your opinion is on Sanders, it will be represented at ESPN. With Griffin gone, though, there's one less pro-Prime voice on ESPN airwaves.
Don't be shocked if Griffin pops up in FOX, though. Then he can be as pro-Prime as the Big 12's network partner will allow.