Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders accused of striking fear into media, suppressing Shedeur intel

Deion Sanders helped immediately rehabilitate a Colorado program desperate for an identity, taking the Buffs from college football's basement dweller to a fringe Big 12 contender within two years.

After Deion's squad doubled their win total and Travis Hunter secured the Heisman under his tutelage, the narratives should've been overwhelmingly positive out of Boulder.

Then, he got in his own way again.

His son Shedeur's baffling draft slide sparked rampant online conspiracy theories, but it's clear he botched the pre-draft cycle from his substandard knowledge of the game to a lack of awareness about his standing as a prospect.

Deion has somehow evaded mass criticism for botching Shedeur's NFL transition, with one beat writer finally saying the quiet part out loud.

While speaking on the "Maggie and Perloff" show, draft guru Lance Zierlein shared a stunning truth about how Deion is covered.

"To be honest with you, the media is scared of Deion—at least the national media that deals with television," Zierlein said. "They're afraid of dealing with Deion and the pushback and blowback from people on Twitter."

Zierlein's statement was evident if you paid close enough attention, considering how little Deion's incompetence has been followed up on throughout his time in Colorado.

It's pathetic that "journalists" or talking heads with prominent voices are fearful of upsetting the internet mob that screams into the X echo chamber. They should look for jobs on the Buffs staff rather than be an unbiased beacon of truth.

Deion's spell on the sport is wearing off fast, and a disappointing campaign without a viable escape plan to an SEC power could be rapidly approaching.