“I’m Not Happy”: Stephen A. Smith Sounds Off on Deion Sanders’ Contract Extension as Shannon Sharpe Responds With $100M Dig

On or off the field, Deion Sanders turned the Buffs from a lost story to a headline machine since 2022. Now, thirteen wins in two seasons? Solid. But that 9-win run last season, cracking up the playoff rankings, producing a Heisman winner, and turning Boulder into NIL heaven? That’s a whole saga. And just when the NFL chatter got loud, Colorado hit the panic button and offered him a massive contract extension. Crazy, right? But it looks like it’s giving Stephen A. Smith a headache, as he is not satisfied with Prime Time’s contract extension.

Well, Deion Sanders just struck gold when the bank teller didn’t even flinch as he secured a five-year, $54 million extension through 2029. Initially signing a five-year, $29.5 million deal, Sanders quickly outgrew it, landing the largest head coach contract in CU history. His base salary nearly doubled to $10 million, crowning him as the highest-paid coach in the Big 12. The figures continue to rise: $10 million in 2026, $11 million in 2027 and 2028, and a cool $12 million to close the deal. Now, while the entire nation is talking about Coach Prime’s massive deal, Stephen A. Smith made a bold statement on the ESPN YT channel, saying:

“I’m not happy. Five years, 54 million—Deion Sanders deserves more. I’m happy for him; it seems like a really good contract. I applauded it last week. But upon further thinking, reminding myself of how irrelevant Colorado was until he brought them national—not just national attention, but national prominence.” That’s a classic Stephen style to put a little twist in his words.

He further explains the kind of money he wants Deion Sanders to get, saying, “I think the brother’s worth at least 25 million more myself. But I’m happy for him. He’s happy, so I’m happy for him. But let me be very clear to America—Prime Time, Deion Sanders, specifically at the University of Colorado, with what he has done for that program, that brother is underpaid.” Now, Stephen A. Smith isn’t wrong when he says Deion Sanders deserves more than this. As the University of Colorado’s revenue is on the rise, home games have generated a significant economic impact of $93.9 million in Boulder and $146.5 million regionally.

Furthermore, the football team has achieved a milestone by achieving their highest-ever GPA of 3.11 last semester. Coach Prime’s influence extends beyond the football field, as demonstrated by a 20% increase in CU applications and a remarkable 50.5% surge in applications from Black/African American students. And it’s worth noting that Deion Sanders is the reason behind the growing interest in attracting top recruits.

Players have confidence in Coach Prime’s long-term commitment to Boulder. “It definitely makes me comfortable,” Lone Star (Texas) four-star safety Jordan Deck said. “The big question was, ‘Is he going to be there the whole time I’m there?’ Knowing that he’s going to be there longer is definitely a big step in the recruiting process.” Some recruits are taking it a step further. Four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. from Newnan, Georgia, has scheduled official visits to seven schools: SMU (May 2), UCLA (May 16), Penn State (May 30), Missouri (June 6), Tennessee (June 13), Colorado (June 20), and Florida State (October 4).

Despite his busy schedule, the nation’s 14th-ranked linebacker says Deion Sanders’ contract extension is a significant factor in his recruitment. “That it’s a possibility of me going (there),” he said. When pressed to clarify, he confirmed that the extension opened up the possibility of a future commitment to Colorado. No wonder Stephen is rooting for Sanders to get a higher salary. But is it because of what Deion Sanders achieved in Colorado, or is there another tea behind it?

Shannon Sharpe’s sarcastic take on Stephen A. Smith’s remarks on Deion Sanders’ contract

Stephen A. Smith’s recent opposition to Deion Sanders’ contract extension wasn’t a random move – he had just signed a lucrative five-year, $100 million deal with ESPN. This makes him one of the highest-paid personalities in sports media, solidifying his influence within the network. Yes, that’s a massive contract.

At 57, Smith remains a prominent figure at ESPN, particularly known for his NBA coverage and spirited pregame discussions. ESPN is now reportedly paying him $20 million annually, a significant increase from his previous $12 million per year. To put it in perspective, his new salary surpasses that of NBA stars like Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, and Chris Paul. So while he’s out here questioning Colorado’s spending, his own pockets just got a whole lot deeper.

And poking fun at him, Shannon Sharpe says, “You see what happens Canty when you get these deals is worth north of a hundred million you get to say somebody else is being underpaid i I wouldn’t know anything about.” Looks like the entire football world is cashing in massive deals.

Now, even Stephen A. Smith is pretty satisfied with his lucrative deal as he says, “I’m happy and honoured to remain a member of the Disney/ESPN family for, at least, the next five years.” Well, we all now live in a world where people are finally getting what they deserve.

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