Shannon Sharpe isn’t buying into Deion Sanders’ old-school approach when it comes to punishing players for hitting the quarterback in practice.
Back in the day, that kind of tough-love discipline was common, but Sharpe argues the game has changed because of the NIL era.
Today’s college athletes aren’t just players; they’re business brands with real money tied to their names. That shift gives them leverage coaches never had to deal with before.
If a player doesn’t like how he’s being treated, he can easily explore better offers elsewhere. And that’s exactly why Sharpe believes the old methods no longer work.
In his view, coaches can’t afford to run programs like it’s the 90s when athletes now hold the power to dictate their own futures.
Deion Sanders’ Strict Rule on QB Protection
How Deion has set up punishment for hitting the quarterback during practice drills shows exactly how much value he places on his signal-callers.
In practice, players are not allowed to hit the QB unless the drill is specifically designed for contact. This rule is simple: protect the quarterback at all costs. Injuries at that position can derail a season, and with quarterbacks being the most expensive and hardest players to replace, Sanders treats their safety like gold.
Coach Prime has also made the consequences crystal clear. Any player who violates the rule immediately faces punishment, which can include up-downs, stadium runs, or other grueling conditioning drills.
It’s not just about discipline. It’s about reinforcing the belief that an injury to the starting quarterback means the season going down the drain for the entire team. Under Sanders, quarterbacks are untouchable unless it’s game day or a drill demands it.
Shannon Sharpe Questions Deion’s Punishment Style
Speaking on the Nightcap recently, Shannon Sharpe said: “I don’t know if this style of punishment worked because I think some guys are already looking.”
He pointed to how quickly players move schools in the NIL era. “Now you coach a kid hard, hell jump in the transfer portal. Uh, somebody offering him $50 more than what you’re paying him and you ticked him off, or he didn’t get as many reps as he thought, he didn’t get as many targets as he thought, he didn’t play as many plays as he thought, they jump in the portal,” added Sharpe.
Sharpe compared it to any modern workplace. “Like I’m on a job and I don’t like my boss. I quit and go find me another job. Leave you high and dry. And that’s just the era that we’re living in now.”
Still, he acknowledged Sanders’ intentions: “But Coach Prime is he’s trying to get his point across. The last thing you want to do is have your players hurt one another.”
Shannon Sharpe believes Deion Sanders’ old-school punishment style doesn’t fit the NIL era, where players can easily transfer if unhappy. While he respects Coach Prime’s intentions, Sharpe warns that discipline methods should avoid causing harm and pushing players away.