Deion Sanders

Todd Gurley is going to wear No. 21 with the Atlanta Falcons, even without the approval of Deion Sanders.

The running back told 92.9 The Game on Friday that Sanders didn't want him taking the number worn by the cornerback from 1989 to '93 with Atlanta, the first five seasons of his eventual Hall of Fame career.

"Prime was hatin' on me. He told me don't wear it," Gurley said, via ESPN.

He also understood the simple reasoning.

"Cuz it's Prime," he added. "If I was Prime, I wouldn't want nobody wearing my number either."

Sanders wore No. 21 throughout the first 12 years of his career across four organizations, a run that featured two Super Bowl titles, six first-team All-Pro selections and one Defensive Player of the Year award. He briefly wore No. 37 after coming out of retirement with the Baltimore Ravens.

Still, the Falcons don't officially retire numbers, and cornerback Desmond Trufant spent the past seven years wearing the number in Atlanta.

It means Gurley is sticking with 21 after wearing No. 30 during his entire career with the Rams.

New number for @TG3II 🔥 https://t.co/wXKlr3sOMw

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 10, 2020

The good news is Sanders is one of the few who like the new Falcons uniforms after their recent release.

Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback/returner Deion Sanders, who played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1989 to 1993, told Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network that he "absolutely loves" his old team's new uniforms.

The Falcons dropped images and video of their new look Wednesday:

New day, new drip. pic.twitter.com/Lvc74QgJgh

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 8, 2020

The uniforms have received mixed reviews, with the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers notably offering their take:

https://t.co/p3KLugxW1o pic.twitter.com/KJAzCARsUT

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 8, 2020

On the flip side, Will Brinson of CBS Sports offered a mostly positive outlook:

Not a fan of the red/black combo but the all black and all white Falcons uniforms are tight. Black/white very sharp too. pic.twitter.com/3lpGqxA5hH

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) April 8, 2020

The Falcons have featured a few different uniform sets since the team's 1966 NFL debut, with their most recent wholesale change occurring early on in the Michael Vick era prior to the 2003 season.

Sanders saw the Falcons also go through a uniform change in 1990, when the team ditched its old-school red uniforms and helmets in favor of a nearly all-black look for the remainder of the decade.

Deion Sanders doesn't think the Pro Football Hall of Fame is exclusive enough. 

While speaking on the Dan Patrick Show radio show, the 2011 inductee said the Hall is letting too many players in these days (h/t/ Pro Football Talk):

"What is a Hall of Famer now? Is it a guy who played a long time? It's so skewed now. Once upon a time, a Hall of Famer was a player who changed the darn game, who made you want to reach in your pocket and pay your admission to see that guy play. That's not a Hall of Famer anymore. Every Tom, Dick and Harry, you're a Hall of Famer, you're a Hall of Famer, you're a Hall of Famer. They let everybody in this thing. It's not exclusive anymore. And I don't like it."

When Patrick asked if Sanders thought the recently retired Eli Manning deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame, the former cornerback simply responded by saying: "You get the point." 

As of 2019, the Pro Football Hall of Fame boast 326 members. By comparison, the Basketball Hall of Fame has 407 members, the Baseball Hall of Fame has 333 members and the Hockey Hall of Fame has 411 members. 

The NFL has inducted at least six new members in each class since 2006. That's where Sanders feels things have gone too far.

"It should be based on, 'Are you that guy?'" Sanders said. "Not just because we have to meet a quota." 

While Sanders isn't necessarily wrong there, looking at the seven members of the NFL Hall of Fame who were inducted alongside him in 2011—Marshall Faulk, Richard Dent, Shannon Sharpe, Ed Sabol, Les Richter and Chris Hanburger—it's hard to argue any of them aren't worthy of induction.

The case of Manning, of course, is a bit more complicated.

While his regular-season success isn't as notable, the resume Manning put together in the playoffs is hard to understate. He executed two miraculous plays in two separate Super Bowl games to beat the New England Patriots. 

The debate over whether or not Manning belongs in Canton, Ohio, will rage on in perpetuity, regardless of if he gets in or not. 

Sanders has drawn his line in the sand in that battle already—and the battles of all future Hall of Fame classes to come.  

Deion Sanders has gained coaching experience at the high school level, but the Pro Football Hall of Famer sounds confident about becoming a head coach in college very soon.

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show (starting around the 7:20 mark), Sanders said he's "going to be a head coach in college football...next year."

In November, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Sanders emerged as a candidate for Florida State after Willie Taggart was fired. The Seminoles wound up hiring Mike Norvell for the job in December. 

When asked about why he was not hired by Florida State, Sanders said there were "several reasons" involved. Though he declined to get into specifics, he noted that "it got interesting. It was interesting."

He also revealed that he interviewed with another unnamed school, adding he reached the second interview stage.

Interestingly, the former Seminoles star added he would not have a problem coaching for the rival Miami Hurricanes, a team his son, 4-star quarterback recruit Shedeur Sanders, intends to visit over the weekend.

"Why not?" Sanders said when asked if he would coach at The U.

Since retiring from the NFL in January 2006, Sanders has primarily worked as an NFL Network television analyst. 

In 2017, Sanders was hired as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Texas. He helped transform a program that finished under .500 the year before his arrival into a powerhouse that has won three straight TAPPS Division II state titles. 

Florida State would have seemed like a natural fit for Sanders. He played three sports at the school from 1985-88 and had his No. 2 football jersey retired in 1995. 

There are a number of ways Sanders could end up as a college head coach by next year. There will likely be plenty of turnover at the FBS level by the end of 2020. He could also get his feet wet by looking at schools in the FCS or lower divisions of college football. 

If Sanders is serious about becoming a head coach in college, there are hundreds of schools across the country that could seemingly use his presence to build their reputation. 

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has given Deion Sanders a ringing endorsement to become Florida State's next head football coach amid rumors the school is looking at the Pro Football Hall of Famer. 

Appearing on 105.3 The Fan's The K&C Masterpiece, Jones explained why Sanders has what it takes to become a successful head coach: 

"I've actually watched him coach. I've watched him work with younger players in the pros and he's outstanding. He has all the credibility that you could ever imagine, both from knowing what he's talking about, plus the sensitivity or the perception that he has with people skills. 

"He's really good and he generates excitement. So, with that energy package he's got, along with his understanding of how to maximize your talent ... I think he can coach that. He'd be a great coach."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Sanders has "emerged as a candidate" to become Florida State's next coach. 

The Seminoles are in the market for a permanent head coach after firing Willie Taggart, who went 9-12 since the start of 2018. Their 5-7 record last season ended the school's 36-year streak of playing in a bowl game. 

Sanders is a significant part of that bowl legacy at Florida State. He was a star athlete at the university from 1985-88 in football, baseball and track. The school retired his No. 2 football jersey, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Jones has a relationship with Sanders from Primetime's five seasons with the Cowboys from 1995-99 that includes a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. 

Since retiring from the NFL, Sanders has worked as a television analyst for the NFL Network and has spent the past two years working as an offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill in Texas, where his sons play football. 

  

Amid rumors that Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is a candidate for the vacant head coaching job at Florida State, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James threw his support behind Prime Time.

On the heels of NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reporting that Sanders is under consideration at his alma mater of FSU, LeBron tweeted the following:

Man it would be so dope and just seems PERFECT for Prime Time @DeionSanders to be the HC of FSU! I mean right?? One thing about it he would get in any household on the planet to talk with a kid/parent/s. #ItsTimeforPrime

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 8, 2019

The Seminoles are on the hunt for a new head coach after firing Willie Taggart on Sunday. Florida State was off to a 4-5 start under Taggart this season, and it went just 9-12 during Taggart's 21-game tenure.

Taggart was chosen as the replacement for Jimbo Fisher, who took the head coaching job at Texas A&M. He was unable to build on the strong foundation laid by Fisher and Bobby Bowden, though, as the Noles did not qualify for a bowl last season, which ended a 36-year bowl streak.

The Seminoles were perennial national title contenders under Fisher, and they won a national championship in 2013, but they are nowhere near that level currently.

While Sanders has no coaching experience above the high school ranks, he is one of the greatest players in Florida State history, and he could be a major coup in terms of helping the Seminoles recruit top-end talent.

If the Seminoles hire Sanders, pairing him with an assistant who has more extensive coaching experience could allow him to learn on the job.

Odell Haggins is the interim coach currently after going 2-0 in an interim role in 2017. He was Sanders' teammate at Florida State in 1988 and has been part of the Seminoles' staff since 1994.

If Florida State doesn't give Haggins the head coaching job, his presence could be key in helping Sanders develop into a quality head coach should the school opt to go in that direction.

Florida State could turn to one of the most iconic football players in school history to serve as its next head coach.    

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Deion Sanders has emerged as a candidate to lead the Seminoles. 

Florida State is seeking a permanent head coach after Willie Taggart was fired Sunday following a 27-10 loss to Miami. 

Odell Haggins, who has worked as a defensive line coach for the Seminoles since 1996, replaced Taggart on an interim basis. The team was 9-12 under Taggart, who was hired as Jimbo Fisher's replacement in December 2017. 

Sanders is one of the greatest athletes in the history of Florida State University. He played football, baseball and ran track during his four years at the school from 1985 to '88. Prime Time won the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best multisport athlete and had his No. 2 Florida State jersey retired. 

Since he retired for good in 2006, Sanders has primarily worked as a television analyst for NFL Network. He's also been the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill High School since 2017. The school won back-to-back TAPPS Division II state championships in his first two seasons with the program.

No. 21 is staying in the Sanders family. 

Thursday, Deion Sanders' son Shilo shared on Instagram that he has switched to his father's former number for the South Carolina Gamecocks:

Number Change: Gamecock DB @ShiloSanders will be switching from No. 12 to No. 21, with the departure of Jamyest Williams. Shilo’s father @DeionSanders wore the same number during most of his 14-year NFL career @wachfox pic.twitter.com/dcwL3pRA2t

— Mike Uva (@Mike_Uva) September 26, 2019

Shilo, a freshman, plays defensive back, as his father did. The younger Sanders previously wore No. 12 and even wore a gold "12" chain earlier this season that will have to be remedied:

@ShiloSanders pic.twitter.com/kmfwvb3bYG

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) September 18, 2019

Swag runs in the family. @ShiloSanders makes his way through Gamecock Park. pic.twitter.com/CrZY0GTX6T

— Josh Hyber (@JoshHyber) September 14, 2019

Deion earned AP Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1994 with the San Francisco 49ers. In his 14-year NFL career, Sanders notched 53 interceptions—tied with Ty Law for 24th all-time. He was affectionally known as Prime Time and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Shilo was 3-star prospect, according to 247Sports.   

Deion Sanders received the key to the city in Fort Myers, Florida, on Saturday, and the Hall of Fame cornerback used the occasion to make amends with his hometown.

Sanders gave a heartfelt speech upon receiving the honor, per the Fort Myers News-Press' Melissa Montoya:

"This is long overdue. This is like a reconciliation for me. The reason it hurt so bad was because I don't give a damn what they say about me in Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York. I don't care because it was my job. ... When you talk about me, some things I let slide, but you are all family. You only get one shot at calling the place home. ...

"I apologize to you as well. You have no idea what you all did to me this particular weekend. The best is yet to come."

David Dorsey of the News-Press highlighted the sources for some of the past friction between Sanders and the city of Fort Myers. Local police arrested him twice—the first in 1988 while he was playing for Florida State, and the second in 1996.

"Those incidents, among others, have soured Sanders on his hometown," Dorsey wrote.

The eight-time Pro Bowler also grew frustrated when negotiations to help build affordable housing in Fort Myers fell through.

Dorsey also noted Fort Myers hadn't officially recognized Sanders' legendary football career by featuring his likeness on local billboards or naming a street in his honor.

Perhaps that can change now that the two sides have worked out their differences.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is a man of his word.

In the days leading up to Super Bowl LIII, Edelman promised NFL Network's Deion Sanders he would shave his beard if the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 3. Well, a 13-3 victory and a Super Bowl MVP award later, Edelman made good on his promise on The Ellen DeGeneres Show:

While New England fans may be sad to see the beard go, it was done for a good cause. Both Edelman and DeGeneres (courtesy of Shutterfly) are donating $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Boston.

Edelman was not the only Patriot to be groomed after the Super Bowl. Quarterback Tom Brady got cleaned up Thursday for charity as well, although his playoff beard was not quite as full as Edelman's.