"Shedeur Sanders: Victim of The Good Ole Boys Club"

Allow me to start this off by speaking the truth of what transpired during 
the 2025 NFL Draft. This isn't your typical yippee article of sports 
journalism. It's real talk in a manner which everyone reading should be 
disgusted by the events which this young man didn't deserve. If you're 
offended, I don't apologize by any means. 
Now that we got it out the way, back to our regularly scheduled 
program.

Every young athlete dreams of hearing their name selected during pro 
sports drafts. No matter the sport or how you're ranked by position. 
Shedeur Sanders, former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback went from top 
three pick to falling into the fifth round; pick one hundred forty-four. How 
did we get here and why did this occur? Hmm, let's see here folks... You 
know the good ole boys club right? Have you heard of them by any 
chance? You're going to meet them very soon. 

Leading up to the NFL Draft, NFL Hall of Fame player/current coach of 
Colorado Buffaloes Deion Sanders let it be known that his son wouldn't 
play for certain teams. It had to be the right situation for his son to 
succeed. In the background, Sanders was flexing his name and aura in 
telling teams you're getting a ready made quarterback who can change
the trajectory of your franchise. It gets better as time moved along into
the combine. Scouts, executives and future teams who were seeking a
quarterback met with Sanders. Some went pretty good, while others
were "not impressed" as it was reported.

The media was skeptical of Sanders' lack of arm talent and what wins
he established while in college. Some were turned away by him being
the highest paid NIL athlete in college sports. Executives frowned,

shunned and left feeling they had to flip the script. During this moment,
it became obvious the "good ole boys club" made sure to follow their
tracks closely.

From here, the stories followed of entitlement, cocky, arrogant, lack of
leadership spun for several weeks. Teams who were seeking a young
quarterback in the first round, were hesitant in part of the script being
presented. In other words, the old white men who aren't adapted to
social media seen this as "bad press" and directed the blame to Coach
Prime.

The same old white executives who were in front offices when Prime
was drafted back in 1989; where he dominated the draft with swagger
and charisma. History couldn't repeat itself because they couldn't
phantom his son being the headliner. The dog whistle was loud and
clear: "stay away from Shedeur Sanders and send him a message."

In a twist of events, Sanders wasn't invited to the draft held in Green
Bay, Wisconsin. Cool, he had a draft party with family and friends by his
side. Dressed for the event, and anticipating his name being called
within the first five picks. Teammate Travis Hunter went second to
Jacksonville in a bold move which Cleveland traded down. Everyone
waited, pick after pick and player... Shedeur Sanders wasn't drafted in
round one by any team. He released a video and explained why it didn't
happen and stayed optimistic.

The next two days became nerve-racking; as fans watched their phones
in seeing if Sanders would get drafted by any team. Five rounds and
one hundred forty-three picks later, Sanders was selected by the
Cleveland Browns. A team whose quarterback purgatory is very well
known of roughly twenty-eight failed attempts in securing a franchise
cornerstone. Fans sat back and asked: "Is this how a young player gets

treated by the good ole boys club?" You're correct folks, it was set-up by
design to avoid Sanders in the first four rounds.

Shedeur Sanders is the victim of a young black man whose confidence
was mistaken for arrogance. Aura, charisma, leadership tangibles were
questioned and used against him. It's the same song and verse every
year with black athletes. When a young black millionaire has more
knowledge in how it works scares old white men. They were turned off
by him not being the mold of "who we want him to be."

Meaning, stand before the press and be a robot for good public
relations. Do as we say and keep your spot as quarterback number one.
Sanders is wired differently in how his father raised him. Being a
confident, strong black man builds character and morale for success.
Don't conform to what people want you to be and stand out. It's the
same confidence elder Sanders had during his NFL playing days.

The "good ole boys club" still has a disdain for Prime and wanted to
make his son look like a fool with their false narratives. The word fans
heard: "humble" without reasoning. Old white men judging a young
black man off his last name and putting out false reports of stuff which
didn't amount to anything. Sadly, Sanders isn't the only athlete who's
dealt with media scrutiny.

Coach Prime was doing what any successful father would do and help
give his son the keys to NFL success. Building up his son and telling
people you're going to draft a great young man. Instead, it backfired and
the results came with laughter from grown black men in the content
space. Yes, I'm talking to about the ones who continue to spew "honest
content creating and changing the narrative."

We've seen black fathers in sports be called every name but the right
name. Levar Ball was a victim of this in promoting his three sons Lonzo,
LiAngelo and LaMelo. LeBron James faced the most scrutiny in helping
Bronny James secure his NBA future. Coach Prime fell into that
category of "boastful black fathers who want to live their heyday all
over."

Now, here's where I get upset and you should as well. With all the talk
of potential first round pick Arch Manning, nephew of the first
quarterback family of NFL greats Peyton and Eli, will the media return
the same energy if grandfather Archie Manning dictates where he wants
his grandson to play? If you recall, this incident happened with Eli back
in 2004 when the San Diego Chargers held the first pick. Due to their
history of failed quarterbacks, the elder Manning said his son wouldn't
play for them.

The same NFL media referred to this as a "bold move" and Manning
went on to have a successful NFL career with the New York Giants.
Those same old white executives didn't flinch or mince negative press
about Manning like they did with Sanders. It's okay if you're the same
complexion as them; if you're a shade darker, "stay clear and move on."

To bring my article home, Sanders was at the wrong place in time as a
young black man. No matter how good your stats are, tangibles and last
name; somebody will have reason to hold it against your father. We've
seen it in various sports and never ceases to end. If you're too confident
and know how the league works, "blackballed" lingers over your career.

Believing in yourself comes with a price; Sanders stood on business
and will remind thirty-one other teams why he should've went top three
in this draft. I don't care about how much money Cleveland saved in
drafting him for a fifth round pick versus going second. Forty-two million

dollars is nothing in a rookie contract; which he likely accumulated in
NIL deals.

To the upcoming young black athletes, be mindful and continue to stay
true to yourself. Don't allow another race of people change and
manipulate critical thinking. These old white men don't care about your
talent; but will throw character issues in your face. Even if it hurts your
draft stock, they'll find wiggle room to discredit your legacy. All it takes is
one person to say it and others will follow.