Stephen A. Smith's assertion that racism could have been a factor in Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft snub prompts harsh critique from Dave Portnoy, who deems Smith's claim as outrageous.
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Shedeur Sanders, the promising quarterback and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, faced a surprising draft struggle in the 2025 NFL Draft.INITIAL PROJECTION TO TOP PICK DERAILS
Once projected as a high first-round pick, Sanders endured a rollercoaster ride as he slipped down the draft boards, with teams apparently turning their backs on him in the first four rounds.FINALLY SELECTED BY THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
This slide, one of the most astonishing in NFL history, sent shockwaves among fans, analysts, players, and even current coaches. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith voiced a passionate response, suggesting it could stem from teams’ dislike of Sanders' father Deion, while likening the situation to that of Colin Kaepernick.
But Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy fiercely denied the racism narrative in Smith's comments, insisting NFL executive teams were merely acting in the best interests of their franchises.
"Crazy talk! All these race takes are crazy," Portnoy fiercely responded on social media. SPORTS DRAMA UNFOLDS ON CSUMeanwhile, fans and pundits are glued to their screens as the drama unfolds, with some 245.7k viewers tuning in for the Chris Eubank vs Conor Benn fight, 6.7k viewers eagerly following Wrexham's promotion story, and 62.2k viewers catching up on Ian Wright's response to Eni Aluko's apology.
PORTNOY'S FURIOUS REACTION TO SMITH'S REMARKS
Portnoy passionately defended the NFL teams' decisions, pointing out that NFL executives would do anything to win games and secure their jobs.
"I love Deion. And I've been saying for 2 years that Shedeur would be my first quarterback off the board," he stated. "But NFL GM's, coaches, and owners will do anything to win games, save jobs. The NFL is ruthless. Owners would trample on each other to win."
PORTNOY'S TAKE ON SMITH'S COLLUSION CLAIMS
In a striking contrast to Smith's assertions of collusion, Portnoy emphasized that there was no collusion and that the first pick was a black quarterback.
"If teams thought Shedeur could help them win more games than the players available on the board, they'd draft him... That's it. Case closed," he explained.
SMITH ON THE NFL OWNERS' COLLUSION
Smith had claimed that NFL owners had colluded to keep Sanders out of the first four rounds, stating that this oversight would forever tarnish this year's draft picks.
"Someone just texted me this message, and they are absolutely correct: 'This is a bad look for the NFL. This feels like Kaepernick-level collusion'; he wrote on X. "All the hard work the NFL League Office puts in to eradicate these kinds of perceptions, only to turn around and watch as the OWNERS look like they're colluding, messing up everything."
DEVELOPMENTS ON THE DRAFT DAY
Sanders was considered a top-five pick by many, including his father, but didn't receive a call on Thursday. His agony continued on Friday as he watched three other quarterbacks selected before him, with Dillon Gabriel eventually being chosen by the Browns that Saturday, putting an end to the extraordinary saga.BOUNCING BACK AFTER A NIGHTMARE DRAFT
Now that Sanders has been drafted, he has the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and show that his touchdown passes and strong arm are worthy of the NFL stage. We can't wait to see what the future holds for this promising young quarterback.
- Despite the confusion and controversies surrounding Shedeur Sanders' draft struggles, Portnoy asserted that NFL teams were simply prioritizing winning games and securing their jobs.
- In an interview, Dave Portnoy expressed his admiration for Deion Sanders and stated that Shedeur would have been his first quarterback pick had he been an NFL executive.
- In sharp contrast to Smith's claims of collusion, Portnoy argued that if teams believed Sanders could help them win more games, they would have drafted him regardless.
- Despite a tumultuous journey in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders eventually got drafted by the Cleveland Browns, giving him a chance to silence his critics and prove his worth on the NFL stage.
- As the dust settles on the 2025 NFL Draft, sports analysts and fans are eagerly awaiting Sanders' performance, anticipating whether he will live up to the hype or face another slide down the rankings.
