Paul Finebaum expressed displeasure with Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ decision not to answer any more questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler, even calling Sanders a “bully” during an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
The news that Keeler had been barred from asking questions sent ripples through the journalism world, and unsurprisingly, it was covered in the Worldwide Leader.
Colorado, in a statement last week, alleged that Keller had written “a sustained series of personal attacks against our football program, and specifically Coach Prime.”
Finebaum saw the situation a little differently.
“The prime director is showing he’s not ready for prime time, Greenie,” Finebaum told host Mike Greenberg during the show. “This is a disgrace. Dion may want to talk about love and joy, and that’s the basis of what he seems to be spewing. But treating a reporter like this feels like being in some dictatorship. This is not America. And the fact that it’s written into his contract makes it even more ridiculous.”
“But let’s not forget he did the same thing at Jackson State. This is typical of Deion Sanders. He wants to have his way, but I view him as arrogant and a hypocrite. And frankly, as someone who was a fan of his throughout his career, including at Colorado, I’m embarrassed by his behavior.”
Sanders did not appear to address the controversy directly, but spoke generally to reporters on Saturday about how he would handle criticism.
The Colorado coach and former NFL star also said he’s “not a hateful person” and “I come with love,” a comment Finebaum seemed to reference during his appearance on ESPN Monday morning.
While Finebaum criticized Sanders, his ESPN colleague Dan Orlovsky defended the decision and expressed understanding for the program and coach’s position.
“I don’t mind the fact that he’s trying to control a little bit of the narrative, both his own and the organization’s.” Orlovsky said. “We can sit here and say, ‘That’s the seat you have, so you’ve just got to sit there and accept it,’ but we also live in a time where at some point some of these people need to be allowed to stand up for themselves and not just be dragged down all the time.”
The Buffaloes open their season on Thursday against North Dakota State.
