Deion Sanders reacts to Paul Finebaum criticism: 'How can we be irrelevant and you're talking about me'

After criticism from Paul Finebaum on ESPN, Colorado coach Deion Sanders has reacted. He wondered how the Buffs can be “irrelevant” if people are talking about him during an appearance on Robert Griffin III’s podcast, Outta Pocket with RGIII.

Finebaum has been outspoken about Colorado ahead of Coach Prime’s second season as head coach. He called the idea of the Buffaloes winning a Big 12 championship “laughable” and called out Sanders’ decision not to take questions from a Denver Post columnist.

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Sanders told Griffin’s wife, Grete, he doesn’t see how CU can be irrelevant if people are talking about him. When she joked Finebaum must be a fan, Sanders argued the Buffs must be “hot.”

“He’s talking about us,” Sanders said. “How can we be irrelevant and you’re talking about me? Every time I turn around, somebody’s sending me a quote that you’re talking about me. … The thing about a fan, you’ve got to understand. A fan only blows when you’re hot. A fan only blows when we’re hot. So we must be hot.

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“I know what he’s doing, and I’m proud of him, that he’s smart enough to understand that this generation and this thought process and the way we communicate on sports, it’s different. And he’s a dying breed. So what does he have to do to stay and keep up with this change? ‘Oh, I’ve got to go find that big bad wolf and talk about it.’ So now, I keep my relevancy. It’s cool. But I’m not gonna help you. I’m not gonna add to you. I’m not even gonna respond because that’s what you want. Yeah, you just want me to respond. I don’t do that. I’m not gonna help you come up.”

Colorado started the 2023 season red-hot with three straight victories, including one in the season opener against a TCU team fresh off a national title. Deion Sanders and the Buffs were the biggest story in college football after a roster overhaul through the transfer portal, but they struggled mightily in Pac-12 play en route to a 4-8 record.

CU will look to take a leap forward after returning to the Big 12 with multiple key playmakers on offense. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are both back on the roster as potential top NFL Draft picks, and the program has two new coordinators with NFL experience. Pat Shurmur is taking over the offense and Robert Livingston is the new defensive coordinator.