Deion Sanders does not believe that Nick Saban’s concerns with Name, Image and Likeness apply to him or his college football program. It is not something that impacts his roster at Colorado.
With that being said, he understands why NIL has and can create issues.
Saban, who retired in January, cited money as one of the primary reasons for his decision. Some of his players were most concerned with financial assurances for next season after losing in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. That did not sit well with him.
Sanders actually blamed Saban’s retirement on a lack of authenticity in the NIL era shortly after the greatest college football coach of all-time announced his resignation. He saw the writing on the wall and knew that his Aflac co-star was not stepping down because he cannot win. The game has not passed Saban by. Rather, the things that are taking place off of the field pushed him call it a career.
The transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness (which has really become pay-for-play) combine to create a professional model for what is supposed to be an amateur sport. Many top high school athletes are going to the school that can pay them the most money. Many college athletes are also leaving their initial program to transfer somewhere that can pay them more.
It’s not a secret.
When NIL was first introduced, some of the “horror stories” were front-page news. Now it’s just normal.
Deion Sanders doesn’t share Nick Saban’s concerns.
Coach Prime is not worried. He “doesn’t attract that type of player.” He told Front Office Sports that he doesn’t recruit players that are only worried about money.
I attract the type of player that wants to be great, that understands he has a window of opportunity and he has to have a commitment to excellence.
There are players who are playing for a bag, which growing up in the environment, you can’t blame them, you can’t fault them. If you’re going to give up a bag, you’re gonna have players playing for a bag, so I do understand it. I may not condone that’s your focus because I’ve always thought if you just focus on being great, the bag is gonna find you.
— Deion Sanders
One particular sentence stands out. He said that “if you’re going to give up a bag, you’re going to have players playing for a bag.” That implies that his players are not getting paid.
It would be interesting to know if Deion Sanders’ thoughts on NIL would change if the Buffaloes had a greater NIL fund at their disposal. It would also be curious to know how much his players are making. Unfortunately, those numbers are not public.