Key Takeaways
- Deion Sanders denied offering critics $50,000 to stop mentioning him, calling the alleged proposal “a joke” about people profiting from his name and brand.
- Longtime videographer Christopher “Uncle Neely” Neely, who first described the supposed challenge, said people misinterpreted his comments.
- The dispute comes as Colorado sits at 2-5 with five straight losses, while Sanders holds an 18-26 record and a contract carrying a reported $25.5 million buyout after the season.
Deion Sanders is clearing up reports that he offered critics $50,000 to stop talking about him, insisting the whole situation was nothing more than a joke.
During a press conference Tuesday (Oct. 27), the Colorado Buffaloes head coach addressed allegations that he offered media personalities money to go an entire year without mentioning his name. According to ESPN, Sanders dismissed the story and explained that his comments were meant to poke fun at people who benefit from discussing him.
"I would never offer a man money. I don't give a darn what you say about me. That was really a joke about someone prospering off of your name and your brand," Sanders said.
"I'm unapologetic about things I say and how I live my life," he added.
The controversy began after Sanders' longtime videographer, Christopher "Uncle Neely" Neely, discussed the alleged offer on BuffBoys Live.
Sanders also tweeted in response to a report about the offer.
“This is a lie but God bless u all,” he wrote. “Y’all know me and have known me for years. When has it appeared that I’ve EVER cared what a man or woman has said about me? My son does my Videos and Neely is a friend.”
Neely claimed Sanders had challenged some of his biggest critics to stop mentioning him in exchange for $50,000.
"Hey man, let's just do this. I give you $50,000 to not mention my name for a year," Neely recalled Sanders saying.
According to Neely, nobody accepted the supposed offer. However, when the topic came up during Tuesday's press conference, Neely clarified that his comments had been misunderstood.
"Oh no, no, no! I think you misinterpreted that," Neely said. "I said, like some of y'all in here sitting right now, 'I would love to give you money and not mention my name, and I want to see how far that goes.'"
Sanders added, "Some people live on your name."
The controversy comes as Colorado continues to struggle on the football field.
The Buffaloes currently hold a 2-5 record and remain the only Big 12 team without a conference victory. They've lost five consecutive games, including a 57-24 defeat to Oklahoma State after leading at halftime.
Now in his fourth season at Colorado, Sanders has struggled to replicate the Buffaloes' 9-4 campaign led by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.
Since that season, Colorado has gone 5-14, bringing Sanders' overall record with the program to 18-26.
Sanders remains under contract after signing a five-year, $54 million extension. If Colorado fires him after this season, the university would reportedly owe him $25.5 million. Colorado will look to end its losing streak against Kansas State.
