CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Deion Sanders has his own football team to coach at the University of Colorado. So, the Pro Football Hall of Famer won’t be in Charlotte for his son Shedeur’s NFL preseason debut with the Cleveland Browns against the Carolina Panthers.
However, speaking to reporters in Boulder, Colo., at the Colorado football media day Aug. 8, the elder Sanders made it known he’s following what his son does in his first start.
“We’ve already spoken like 3 times today … it’s going to be strange for both of us,” Deion told Colorado reporters, according to DNVR’s Scott Proctor.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told the team’s radio network on Aug. 7 he expected Sanders to play in “a majority of the game.” Stefanski elaborated by saying, “50 plays of game work, which I think will be great for him.”
Shedeur Sanders won’t necessarily be working with many, if any, of the Browns’ No. 1 offensive players against Carolina. Stefanski said many of the starters would rest, including “most” of the offensive line and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman.
Deion Sanders isn’t concerned about what his son may or may not have around. He’s also confident in what’s been done to get
“He’s so prepared right now … he’s approaching it like a (regular season) game,” Deion Sanders said. “… He’s thankful and appreciative of the opportunity.”
Deion Sanders coached Shedeur throughout both high school and college. That included both collegiate stops: FCS Division I Jackson State for two season and FBS Division I Colorado.
However, Shedeur Sanders acknowledged earlier in the week told his father to not come to Browns training camp. Deion Sanders had first mentioned that while appearing on a podcast with his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin.
“I mean, I look at it at my own point of view,” Shedeur Sanders said Aug. 4. “I don’t want him coming to see me right now because I want to get to where I want to go, then for him to see me. I don’t want him to come and see me get a couple reps and he’s cheering like a good dad. Like, nah, you can’t be proud of me right now. I got to get to where I’m going. And I know it’s a lot I got to do to get there.
“So, it’s kind of like I just want everything that I’m doing, is just focus on this time and I don’t want no distractions because we know out of media, we know how everybody would take it and take away from the team just from him being my own dad showing up. So, it’s a gift and a curse at the same time.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘He’s so prepared now’: Deion Sanders weighs in on son Shedeur’s 1st NFL start for Browns
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
