Yo, let’s talk about the NFL Draft — not just the picks and the highlight reels, but the *real* game behind the scenes. You know, where headlines hit different depending on your last name and the color of your skin. Right now, Deion “Prime” Sanders and his son Shedeur are at the center of it — and if you’ve been watching, you’ve definitely seen those red flags around media bias waving high.
Let’s break this all the way down. The league is saying it’s about “merit,” but the narratives? They’re about *everything* but.
Manning Moves vs. Sanders Swagger
Let’s take it back to 2004. Eli Manning, son of Archie, brother of Peyton — pure football royalty. Eli straight up said, “Nah, I’m not playing for the Chargers.” Pops got on the phone, demanded the Giants, and guess what? Giants it was. The media? All praises:
"The Mannings have always done what’s best for Eli, leveraging their deep NFL knowledge to find the perfect team fit."
— [Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nfl/2004/04/25/eli-manning)
No one called him spoiled. No “entitled” talk. Just “savvy,” “legacy-defining,” “knows his worth.” A quarterback who makes big moves is a “leader”—but only if he looks the part.
Now look at 2024. Enter Shedeur Sanders, with *prime* stats: 3,230 passing yards, 27 TDs, only 3 picks on a Colorado team with a paper-thin O-line. His pops Deion is loud and proud, telling the league:
“We ain’t going just anywhere. You got to have an offensive line.”
— [Deion Sanders, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/deion-sanders-draws-backlash-for-saying-son-shedeur-wont-just-play-for-any-nfl-team/)
And what’s the media say?
“Are Deion and Shedeur Sanders biting the hand that feeds them?”
>— [Fox Sports](https://www.foxsports.com)
“Is this modern empowerment, or entitlement run amok?”
— [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/deion-sanders-draws-backlash-for-saying-son-shedeur-wont-just-play-for-any-nfl-team/)
Shedeur’s being painted as a “problem” for knowing his value — let’s call it what it is: the double standard’s doing wind sprints and the finish line keeps moving.
Stereotypes Still Running the Playbook
You hear ’em every draft season. For a white QB? It’s “football IQ”…“poise”…“student of the game.” Black quarterbacks? “Tremendous athlete”…“raw talent.” That code is old, but it still gets thrown like a Hail Mary.
Eli Manning’s scouting report? :
“Exceptional field general… advanced football IQ due to upbringing… destined for leadership.”
— [NFL.com Draft Profile](https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eli-manning/32004341-4c55-5607-4a7a-7b6bca06dae6/)
Shedeur Sanders’?
“Athletic, mobile, but needs to prove he can handle NFL complexity outside his father’s system.”
— [Paraphrased, The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/)
Stats don’t lie: Black quarterbacks accounted for 14 of 32 NFL starters last season—*the most ever*—and the league’s top MVP candidates (Mahomes, Lamar, Jalen Hurts) keep shattering “can’t read defenses” myths. Yet the language lags behind, like it’s still the ‘90s.
Nepotism or Legacy? The Family Name Game
Football’s got dynasties— but who gets the crown?
Mannings? “Pedigree,” “Football royalty.” *No questions. No smoke.*
Sanders? “Is he only good because of his pops? Is Deion too involved?”
> “You wonder if Shedeur can handle not being the coach’s son anymore, or if it’s been too easy for him.”
> — [Anonymous NFL Scout, The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/)
Why is one family’s legacy “lineage” and the other’s “nepotism”?
It’s Time for a New Playbook
This isn’t just about Shedeur. It’s about how Black players—still, in 2024—have to outrun not just safeties, but the shade from fans and the media. Let’s flip the script:
- When a brother calls his shot, say he’s smart, not “cocky.”
- When a family protects their own, call it legacy, not “entitlement.”
- Don’t let scouting reports slip into “athletic, but…” — acknowledge the *mental* game, too.
Let’s keep it real: Eli played chess, and they crowned him king. Shedeur’s doing the same? He’s “difficult.” It’s the same game, different rules.
Join The Conversation
Want more history? Want receipts? Hit the links and sound off in the comments—tell me what *you* see:
- [Eli Manning’s Draft Power Move – ESPN Archive](https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft04/index.html)
- [Shedeur & Deion Sanders Shake Up the Draft – CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/deion-sanders-draws-backlash-for-saying-son-shedeur-wont-just-play-for-any-nfl-team/)
- [Black QBs: By the Numbers – The Undefeated](https://theundefeated.com/features/the-nfl-black-quarterback/)
Sub here for more no-BS sports talk, where the stats matter but the *story* matters more.
#DoubleStandardDraft #LetPlayersBePlayers
Share this post