Deion Sanders roasted Hall of Fame criteria years before Belichick got snubbed

Colorado Buffaloes head coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders voiced his frustration over Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub. Sanders was impassioned with his words following the Belichick news.

While Sanders seems almost upset over the Hall of Fame snub, he did ask for this. Two different but related instances of Sanders taking issue with the Hall of Fame induction process and all but demanding more stringent protocols.

Sanders did not ask for Belichick to face stricter criteria, but he has asked for stricter criteria publicly since 2020. Sanders is often asked what he would do or changes he would make to various aspects of sports and he is often willing to provide such answers.

Just in the last year, Sanders suggested fines or suspensions for uniform or pad related violations. He has mentioned the idea of putting college players on contracts and instituting a hard salary cap. He also believes the college game should be officiated more like the NFL game.

Sanders claims the Hall is no longer exclusive, Dan Patrick-2020

Mike Sando of the Athletic via Twitter/X posted about a time Sanders complained about too many less than deserving players making the Hall of Fame. That tweet refers to a segment of the Dan Patrick Show that aired exactly 6 years ago to the day (January 28^th, 2020) Sanders was asked about the Hall of Fame. In that segment, Sanders did not mince words.

“When it comes to the NFL, what is dern a Hall of Famer?” Sanders said. Once upon a time, a Hall of Famer was a guy who changed the dern game! That’s not a Hall of Famer anymore. Every Tom, Dick and Harry… you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer, they let anybody in this thing now. It's not exclusive anymore and I don’t like it.”

Sanders would go on to paint the situation as if the Hall of Fame committee has a yearly quota. The basis of Sanders’ take is if you have to think about it, that player is likely not a Hall of Famer, or at least in this context, not a first ballot Hall of Famer. He would simply claim this does not apply to someone like Coach Belichick. 

Sanders called for an Upper Room in the Hall of Fame-2022

Sanders’ Upper Room idea was widely embraced by many that chose to weigh in. The idea is rather simple. Create a room that houses the best of the best the Hall of Fame has to offer.

According to CBS Sports, one room, 22 players. 11 on offense, 11 on defense that house the very best in the game’s history. Creating a top tier of Hall of Famers as separate from everyone else.

"The Hall of Fame ain't the Hall of Fame no more," Sanders said. "I love it, I respect it, I admire it. I think all the guys who are inducted are definitely deserving, but it needs to be a different color jacket. My jacket's gotta be a different color."

Sanders reaction to Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub was expected from a fellow Hall of Famer and promoter of Belichick. However, Sanders has been asking for a stricter criterion for entrance, if not a new element that separates the greatest from the rest for quite some time. He probably just didn’t think his rants and suggestions would start with Belichick.

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