Deion Sanders jumps into Mel Kiper-Mario Cristobal feud after Shedeur draft fallout
The Colorado Buffaloes coach showed love for ESPN star and vocal Shedeur Sanders proponent Mel Kiper Jr. on Thursday after the draft analyst's war of words with Miami football coach Mario Cristobal boiled over this week.
'But I Love u my man! You stood on the desk with great balance 10 toes down and said what u doggone said & didn't flinch. You knew what time it was my man & we're blessed to be right where God wanted us to be. 'With OPPORTUNITY' they forgot I was in the tv/entertainment business for 20 years before coaching,' Sanders posted on X.
6 Deion Sanders, the father of new Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, posted a supportive message on X to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper.
AP
6 Mel Kiper Jr., a vocal proponent of Shedeur Sanders, focused much of his draft commentary on the former Buffaloes QB.
ESPN/X
The 57-year-old Sanders was responding to a fiery message written Wednesday by Kiper, who hit back at Cristobal for comments made about the 2025 NFL Draft process, in which the coach said he spoke with an estimated 'million people' about former Miami quarterback Cam Ward — the No. 1 overall selection by the Titans — but the ESPN personality was not one of them.
'Mario Cristobal claims he spoke to a million people about Cam Ward, yet the one he didn't speak to, being me, had Ward ranked higher (6th on my Big Board) than any of the other draft experts. Interesting isn't it. And oh by the way, I didn't speak to Deion about Shedeur either. I need another Orange Crush after this nonsense,' Kiper wrote.
6 Miami football coach Mario Cristobal said he didn't converse with Mel Kiper Jr. about Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
6 Ward is now under center with the Titans.
Getty Images
Kiper's passion for the 23-year-old Shedeur was on full display during last month's NFL draft, when the polarizing prospect stunningly slid to the fifth round and was selected No. 144 overall by the Browns.
Although Ward landing with the Titans had long been a lock, much of Kiper's draft commentary was centered on Shedeur, even after the Giants — who had done the most homework on Sanders' son — traded back into the first round to select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall.
'Surprised he went ahead of Shedeur, not shocked, because [coach Brian] Daboll wants mobility,' Kiper said at the time.
6 Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the fifth round by the Browns in April 2025.
AP
In the days following the draft, Kiper said he wasn't privy to the online chatter centered on his Shedeur-heavy commentary.
'I didn't even know about it,' Kiper said on 'The Adam Schefter Podcast' in late April. 'I was told, [ESPN vice president and executive producer] Seth Markman comes in and says, 'Mel, you're trending on Twitter.' I don't know what they said, I kind of believe it wasn't nice, but I didn't read one of them, but I was told I was trending over Shedeur Sanders.'
6 He joins a crowded QB room that includes fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Getty Images
With the late-round addition of Shedeur, the Browns entered spring practices with five quarterbacks — four if you omit ailing starter Deshaun Watson, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, putting his 2025 availability into question.
He'll compete for the starting job alongside Joe Flacco, now on his second stint in Cleveland, former Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, taken No. 94 overall by the Browns in the third round.
'I feel like the Browns fans they just want something to hope for and they've been wanting it so long and long,' Shedeur recently said. 'And finally, I'm here to change that, I'm here to actually get what they want.'
Shedeur will likely see some preseason action this summer before the Browns' opener on Sept. 7, when Cleveland hosts AFC North rival Cincinnati.
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