The NFL held its own version of the Oscars on Thursday night. In fact, considering the white-hot popularity of the NFL these days, the NFL's version of the Oscars might draw a bigger TV audience than the actual Oscars.
Anyway, Deion Sanders made an appearance as an awards presenter. It was a perfect juxtaposition of his place in the football world right now. On one hand, he's one of the best players in football history -- a Pro and College Football Hall of Famer, a 2-time Super Bowl champion, a 6-time First Team All-Pro, an NFL 100th Anniversary Team Member, every bit the peer of Lawrence Taylor, of Jerry Rice, of Tom Brady.
On the other, he's a fledgling Pac-12 head coach trying desperately to beat Jedd Fisch and Jonathan Smith.
In his brief time on the stage, Coach Prime and Prime Time collided in a funny way.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to recruit,” Sanders said. “I need all your cousins … your nephews, send ‘em right to Colorado. We good? We don’t have no NIL money, either, by the way.”
It was somehow self-appreciating and self-depreciating at the same time.
Deion's always recruiting 😂 @DeionSanders
— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2023
📺: #NFLHonors on NBC pic.twitter.com/XMzRnvMe6B
Time will tell how Sanders fares at Colorado, but Karl Dorrell, Mel Tucker, Mike MacIntyre, and the others never repped the Buffaloes during the NFL Oscars, so there's a start.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.