“I’m Not Happy”: Stephen A. Smith Sounds Off on Deion Sanders’ Contract Extension as Shannon Sharpe Responds With $100M Dig

While Deion Sanders initially signed a $29.5 million deal, he quickly outgrew it. This was followed by months of speculations about his NFL move as his son, Shedeur Sanders, moves forward in his football career. All these speculations shut down after ‘Coach Prime’ inked a new five-year, $54 million agreement. This massive deal will witness him earn $10.8 million per year (the highest-paid head coach in the Big 12 Conference).

Athletic director Rick George and other higher-ups have complete confidence in the coach. After all, the team won just four games in 2023, but in 2024, they showcased a 9-4 record, which happened to be the best since a 10-win season in 2016. That’s enough reason for George to keep Sanders in Boulder through 2029. They really wanted to retain him. You see, reports suggest the HC would have to pay the Buffs $12 million if he left for a different job before January 1. The amount reduces to $10 million next year and keeps dropping. It looks like Colorado has been doing everything to keep Sanders there, but Stephen A. Smith isn’t satisfied. Why?

He made a bold statement on the ESPN YT channel, saying: “I’m not happy. Five years, 54 million—Deion Sanders deserves more. I’m happy for him; it seems like a really good contract. I applauded it last week. But upon further thinking, reminding myself of how irrelevant Colorado was until he brought them national—not just national attention, but national prominence.

“I think the brother’s worth at least 25 million more myself. But I’m happy for him. He’s happy, so I’m happy for him. But let me be very clear to America—Prime Time, Deion Sanders, specifically at the University of Colorado, with what he has done for that program, that brother is underpaid.” Now, Stephen A. Smith isn’t wrong when he says Deion Sanders deserves more than this. As the University of Colorado’s revenue is on the rise, home games have generated a significant economic impact of $93.9 million in Boulder and $146.5 million regionally.

Furthermore, the football team has achieved a milestone by achieving their highest-ever GPA of 3.011 last semester. Coach Prime’s influence extends beyond the football field, as demonstrated by a 20% increase in CU applications and a remarkable 50.5% surge in applications from Black/African American students. And it’s worth noting that Deion Sanders is the reason behind the growing interest in attracting top recruits.

Players have confidence in Coach Prime’s long-term commitment to Boulder. “It definitely makes me comfortable,” Lone Star (Texas) four-star safety Jordan Deck said. “The big question was, ‘Is he going to be there the whole time I’m there?’ Knowing that he’s going to be there longer is definitely a big step in the recruiting process.” Some recruits are taking it a step further. Four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. from Newnan, Georgia, has scheduled official visits to seven schools: SMU (May 2), UCLA (May 16), Penn State (May 30), Missouri (June 6), Tennessee (June 13), Colorado (June 20), and Florida State (October 4).

Despite his busy schedule, the nation’s 14th-ranked linebacker stated Deion Sanders’ contract extension was a significant factor in his recruitment. “That it’s a possibility of me going (there),” he said. When pressed to clarify, he confirmed that the extension opened up the possibility of a future commitment to Colorado. No wonder Stephen A. Smith is rooting for Sanders to get a higher salary. But is it because of what Deion Sanders achieved in Colorado, or is there another reason behind it?

Top Comment by Mrlaneous

I have t Agree with S.A.S on this on Colorado was deep in the abyss before Coach Prime now they...more

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Shannon Sharpe’s sarcastic take on Stephen A. Smith’s remarks about Deion Sanders’ contract!

Stephen A. Smith’s opposition to Deion Sanders’ contract extension wasn’t a random move; The former signed a lucrative five-year, $100 million deal with ESPN earlier this month. This makes him one of the highest-paid personalities in sports media, solidifying his influence within the network. Yes, that’s a massive contract.

At 57, Smith remains a prominent figure at ESPN, particularly known for his NBA coverage and spirited pregame discussions. ESPN is now reportedly paying him $20 million annually, a significant increase from his previous $12 million per year. To put it in perspective, his new salary surpasses that of NBA stars like Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, and Chris Paul. No wonder he believes Sanders deserved more.

So while he’s out here questioning Colorado’s spending, his own pockets just got a whole lot deeper.

And poking fun at him, Shannon Sharpe says, “You see what happens Canty, when you get these deals is worth north of a hundred million, you get to say somebody else is being underpaid. I wouldn’t know anything about.”

Now, even Stephen A. Smith is pretty satisfied with his lucrative deal as he said last month, “I’m happy and honoured to remain a member of the Disney/ESPN family for, at least, the next five years.” Well, we all now live in a world where people are finally getting what they deserve. What do you think?