Deion Sanders blasted by Stephen A. Smith after Colorado bans local reporter

Stephen A. Smith has called out his long-time friend Deion Sanders for 'overreacting' by banning a local columnist from press conference questioning, slamming the decision as a sign of thin skin and urging for a reversal.

After a 'personal attack' on the football program, the University of Colorado confirmed that Denver Post writer Sean Keeler will no longer be permitted to ask questions - a move that Smith finds ridiculous.

Smith remarked: "I've known Deion for years. He's a friend and a brother. Got a lot of love for him... But I do not agree with how he's handled the situation.

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"If you don't want to talk to the reporter, don't talk to the reporter. But to have the program putting out a release announcing that we're not going to take questions as a program from this guy, it's utterly ridiculous."

Despite their friendship and Sanders making numerous appearances on Smith's 'First Take' show over the years, Smith insists his friend deserves criticism for the controversial decision.

He remarked: "This is my brother, I love him and I believe in him and I know where he is coming from. But there's evidence where you've gone against the media. There's evidence where you've been negative towards the media because they've been negative towards you.

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"Maybe not as a head coach of Colorado, but as a player, you were that way. Over the years, you were that way. Last year when you beat TCU and you were shunning folks off, you were that way."

The Buffaloes, who had been in the spotlight last year after Deion and his star quarterback son Shedeur Sanders joined the team, started strong with a 3-0 record.

However, they struggled for the rest of the season, finishing 4-8, though expectations are high for them to hit around a. 0.500 record this upcoming season, which will be Shedeur's final one before entering the NFL - where many expect him to be the first overall draft pick should he continue to build off of his impressive 2023 season, throwing for 27 touchdowns with just three interceptions behind a struggling offensive line.