‘Deion Sanders Is 100% Justified’ — Heisman Winner Supports Colorado HC’s Controversial Decision to Cut Ties With Several Players
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Deion Sanders is taking a hard line on accountability at Colorado after the Buffaloes suffered a brutal 41-7 loss to Northwestern.
The Colorado head coach announced roster changes during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, saying several players had been cut from the program for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
The decision came after Sanders saw some players laughing and joking in the locker room following the 34-point loss. For Coach Prime, that kind of reaction crossed the line. While the move has sparked debate, Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III believes Sanders was completely justified.
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Griffin did not hold back when discussing Sanders’ decision.
The former NFL quarterback said “Deion Sanders is 100% justified” in removing players who laughed after Colorado’s 41-7 loss to Northwestern.
Griffin explained that most athletes have experienced the frustration of seeing a teammate laugh after a tough loss. To him, the issue goes beyond simply laughing; it sends a message about how much the player cares about the team.
“If it don’t mean something to you, then why are you there? Losing is not funny,” Griffin said.
He added that seeing players laugh after a loss can make teammates feel like they do not care about what just happened. “It never makes anybody feel good because it makes it look like you don’t care,” Griffin said. “I can tell you right now, if you don’t care, you shouldn’t be on the team.”
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The 2011 Heisman winner said Sanders needed to make it clear that players who do not take losing seriously have no place in the program. “I’m with Deion on this one,” Griffin said. “You don’t got to put your foot on it and stomp it out. You got to put your foot in it and kick those guys out.”
The Colorado athletic department has indicated that the roster changes have not yet been finalized.
Still, the situation has put Sanders’ approach to discipline and team culture back in the spotlight.
Coach Prime has made accountability a major part of his program, and the latest move shows he is willing to make difficult decisions when he feels players are not meeting his standards.
Colorado is 2-1 heading into its Big 12 opener against Baylor. After the disappointing loss to Northwestern, Sanders and the Buffaloes will now look to reset and respond when they take the field against the Bears.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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