Deion Sanders brushes off comment made about offering money to silence critics, says it was a joke

BOULDER - Deion Sanders on Tuesday downplayed comments from a person close to him who suggested the Colorado coach was willing to pay $50,000 to silence his critics.

That was a joke, Sanders told reporters.

Christopher Neely, a YouTube content creator known as Uncle Neely who's been with Sanders since he coached Jackson State, found himself in the spotlight for a comment he recently made on a roundtable internet program.

For the most part, the people that attack him wouldnt be making the money they were making if he wasnt here to attack, Neely said in the video. Which is why he told some of them, Hey man, lets just do this. I give you $50,000 to not mention my name for a year. And aint nobody took the deal yet."

Sanders was confused Tuesday when he was asked about offering money to silence the criticism surrouding his program. He was given a quick background by Neely, who was in the room for the coach's weekly news conference.

Oh no, no, no! I think you misinterpreted that, said Sanders, whose Buffaloes have dropped five in a row heading into their game Saturday against Kansas State. "I said, like some of yall 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. ... Thats what we were saying. Some people live on your name.

He added that he's experienced criticism most of his life as a player and as a coach.

I would never offer a man money. I dont give a darn what you say about me, Sanders said. That was really a joke about someone prospering off of your name and your brand. Its not in my heart to not like anybody in this room. I may not like some things you may do or say, but I dont know you enough to form that opinion.

This is normalcy because Im just different. Im unapologetic about things I say and how I live my life.

Sanders is in his fourth year at Colorado. He has brought the spotlight back to the downtrodden program and his quarterback son, Shedeur, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter helped engineer a 9-4 season that ended with a trip to a bowl game. But Sanders is 18-26 overall and last year's 3-9 finish set up expectations for improvement this season that haven't been met amid a 2-5 start.

Sanders pointed out that during his NFL Hall of Fame playing career he wasn't a talker. Show-boater, sure, but not much into taunting.

I never belittled, downgraded, hated. Never said anything to my opponent, Sanders said. I never talked on the field. I danced, I high-stepped. I never spiked the ball in somebodys face. I I wasnt raised like that. Ive always been very respectful. I would never go with an insult, or I would never say nothing about any of you guys or your kids. I dont I dont get down like that.