After leaving the NFL Network earlier this year, NFL legend Deion Sanders announced on Barstool Sports’ flagship podcast Pardon My Take on Wednesday that he would be joining Barstool and hosting a podcast called 21st and Prime. This is a big move for both Sanders and Barstool where Sanders will be able to reach a new audience on the Barstool platform and build his own brand. Barstool seems to be in a constant state of controversy with their owner Dave Portnoy tending to rile up the sports community periodically.
Sanders, who was on PMT earlier last week, said on Wednesday’s podcast, “I had no idea when I went on with you guys last time that this would transpire so quickly.”
The move also surprised many people who were speculating that Sanders leaving the NFL Network signaled that he would pursue a coaching career. Sanders reportedly refused to take a pay cut from the NFL Network after his contract expired, which likely means that he got the payday that he wanted from Barstool or at least sees the opportunities that the company offers him to build his own brand.
Sanders is also no stranger to controversy, especially when he took to Twitter earlier this year and criticized players who were opting out of the 2020 NFL season. “All Players OPTING out in all sports PLEASE BELIEVE the game will go on without u,” he tweeted. “This is a business & don’t u EVER forget that. There’s NO ONE that’s bigger than the game itself. Only the ref, umps & officials are that important that u can’t play without them. NOT YOU! #Truth.”
