WOW: ESPN's Paul Finebaum BLASTS Deion Sanders, Tells Him "Stick to Coaching," More Prime Disrespect
WOW: ESPN's Paul Finebaum BLASTS Deion Sanders, Tells Him "Stick to Coaching," More Prime Disrespect  
Podcast: Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
Published On: Thu Jul 24 2025
Description: Paul Finebaum, a prominent ESPN analyst and a well-known voice in SEC football, recently offered blunt advice to Colorado head coach Deion Sanders: "stick to coaching." This came after Sanders' remarks at Big 12 Media Days where he called for a college football salary cap to address the escalating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) spending.  Finebaum's comments, delivered on ESPN's "Get Up," highlighted several points of contention:Hypocrisy Perception: Finebaum suggested that Sanders' stance on a salary cap was self-serving and ironic, especially given that Colorado's success in 2024 was heavily reliant on high-profile transfers like his son Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, who reportedly commanded significant NIL deals. Finebaum questioned if Sanders would have advocated for a cap when those "generational" talents were being lured to Boulder.  Changing Narratives: Finebaum accused Sanders of changing his narrative depending on his team's roster. With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter now heading to the NFL, Finebaum implied that Deion's focus shifted from attracting top NIL earners to wanting to limit spending, which might benefit Colorado more in the current transfer landscape.Bigger Problems: Finebaum argued that college football has "more basic problems" to solve than implementing a salary cap, suggesting that Sanders should focus on building his team and winning games rather than trying to shape policy for the entire sport. He essentially told Sanders to "let the college football leaders screw up the game the way they have already.""Politician" Label: Finebaum went as far as to call Sanders a "politician," suggesting his comments were calculated rather than purely driven by a desire for fairness.  This isn't the first time Finebaum has been critical of Sanders' outspoken nature or his methods. Finebaum's "stick to coaching" message underscores the ongoing tension between Deion Sanders' high-profile, often unconventional approach to coaching and the traditional media's expectations of how college football coaches should operate, particularly as the sport navigates its evolving business side.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.