NEELY CLAIMS SANDERS OFFERED CRITICS $50,000

Christopher Neely, known as Uncle Neely, claimed Colorado coach Deion Sanders offered critics $50,000 to stop mentioning him for a year. Neely, who has served as Sanders’s personal videographer, made the claim on BuffBoys Live on 26 October. He attributed this proposal to Sanders: “Hey man, let’s just do this. I give you $50,000 to not mention my name for a year.” Neely did not identify the critics he said Sanders had approached.

Neely’s comments came during a difficult season for Colorado. The team’s record stood at two wins and five losses after Oklahoma State beat it 57–24. Colorado led by one point during the first half, but Oklahoma State scored 34 unanswered points after half-time. Colorado’s running backs gained 42 yards from 15 attempts, while quarterback Isaac Wilson threw for 222 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Wilson fumbled on a quarterback run to open the second half, and Oklahoma State took the lead.

Neely said people who criticised Sanders earned money by discussing him. He said none of those offered the proposed payment had accepted it. Neely also said no money changed hands. Sanders has not publicly confirmed or denied Neely’s account, and no public record of the offer has surfaced.