If you don’t think Deion Sanders should be able to guide his son Shedeur’s draft process, then you don’t know Jack. Or Archie.
In 1983, Jack Elway advised John to refuse to play for the Baltimore Colts, owners of the No. 1 overall pick. The Elways were wary of hard-driving Colts coach Frank Kush and maintained a dim view of Baltimore winning a Super Bowl. With the help of John’s professional baseball leverage from the New York Yankees, they strong-armed a trade to the Broncos.
In 2004, Archie Manning told Eli to consider not going to the San Diego Chargers. It had not exactly been a fertile ground for developing young quarterbacks Ryan Leaf and Drew Brees. Eli shared similar concerns, so he became the first 23-year-old millionaire to not want to live in San Diego.
Why bring this up now? Because of the echoes in Colorado.
Every 21 years, a father knows best. Deion Sanders has served as mentor for Shedeur since his Pop Warner days. Shedeur was questioned about his dad’s influence over the draft process while attending the East-West Shrine Bowl this week.
“I didn’t know your parents being involved and wanting the best for you is a problem,” Sanders said.
It is not. Because of what Jack and Archie did, you should have no issue with what Deion might do.
Accusations of “Daddy Ball” and “helicopter parent” have followed Sanders since he decided to coach Shedeur and Shilo. It has not been without controversy, whether it was the coach throwing offensive linemen under the bus or his sons avoiding consequences for throwing late in a game (Shedeur) or throwing his body late into receivers (Shilo).
In this case, however, Shedeur has a point. A parent helping can be a good thing. Especially Deion. He is an NFL Hall of Famer. He knows people. And he knows people who know people. So why shouldn’t he provide advice?
I fully support it.
But Shedeur does not need it, at least not publicly. He can handle his business. He made this clear during an NFL Network sideline interview this week when explaining a face time interruption during his meeting with the Tennessee Titans, owners of the draft’s top pick.
“The thing was my dad was calling me. That was the funniest,” Shedeur said with a laugh. “You know, he has separation anxiety. I said, ‘Pops, it’s over with. It’s time for me to soar.’ The coaches enjoyed that.”
Does that mean Deion should have zero concerns about Shedeur going to the Titans and Browns? Heck no. The Titans have not developed a star since Steve McNair and Cleveland is to quarterbacks what Spinal Tap is to drummers. Since 1999, the Browns have used 40 starting quarterbacks and they are hoping the highest paid one in franchise history — Deshaun Watson — never plays for them again.
If Deion tells Shedeur to avoid Cleveland, who would blame him? Thus far, Deion does not seem to have an issue with the Titans or Browns. But if he does, I would suggest he do it in private, and not let the cameras record his thought process for Amazon or anyone else.
Deion also must understand that steering his son is fraught with more danger than his predecessors. Simply put, Shedeur is not John Elway or Eli Manning. He is a solid prospect with a high football IQ who throws a beautiful ball. There are more than a few NFL scouts who insist Sanders would not have been drafted before any of the first-rounders a year ago, a list that includes the Broncos’ Bo Nix.
Elway is considered the greatest quarterback prospect ever. Manning was viewed as a can’t-miss pick because of his game and name.
It is more complicated for Shedeur. Take off the horned headband and you can see his flaws. He holds onto the ball too long, takes too many sacks and does not possess physical size that widens eyes. If you don’t realize the first two things are a concern, you did not watch Caleb Williams’ rookie season. It is why most mocks have Miami’s Cam Ward getting picked before Shedeur.
The young Sanders got here through his excellence at Jackson State and CU. He is tough and smart. Tell people that his dad protected him, and they get angry and defensive. But it is not wrong to wonder how Shedeur will take to pro coaching.
For all the hand-wringing about Shedeur’s future, he believes everything will work out. In his mind, he is headed to the New York Giants, who have the third pick and a ready-made favorite target in Malik Nabers.
If I had to guess today, he is not wrong. If Deion wants to drop hints behind the scenes that Tennessee and Cleveland don’t make sense, have at it. It is better for Shedeur to wind up with the Giants, Raiders or Jets.
But Deion should know this: He has prepared his son well. Shedeur no longer needs a bodyguard, just an Uber to whisk him around Manhattan.
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