What critics of Deion Sanders and son Shedeur don't understand

Since the day Deion Sanders named his son Shedeur the starting quarterback for his team at Jackson State four years ago, there has been no shortage of journalists, commentators and fans who have openly challenged whether the younger Sanders is good enough. 

That didn't change when Shedeur Sanders had his jersey retired at Folsom Field — one of just six in its history — alongside Travis Hunter during Colorado's spring game. Many, including former players at Colorado, found the decision to retire those jerseys either too soon (Hunter) or not worthy (Sanders), given some of the luminaries who have played at CU and have not had their jerseys retired.

The fact is, we wouldn't much care what Colorado decided to do if Deion Sanders were not its head coach. Fewer would question how good Shedeur Sanders is as a QB if he weren't his father's son.

Good enough to start at an FCS program? He became the first player to win the Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation's top freshman, at an HBCU — in history. 

Good enough to lead a team to a championship? He led Jackson State to back-to-back SWAC championships. 

Good enough to start as a Power 4 QB? He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Buffaloes to their first winning season since 2016 and passing for a school-record 4,134 yards with 37 TDs and 10 interceptions. The best player on his team, Hunter, won the Heisman Memorial Trophy in part because Sanders was throwing those passes to him.

Coach Prime has been vocal about his son's achievements each step of the way. In a sport that has seen its fair number of overengaging fathers, especially to quarterbacks, Prime seems to have an uncanny way of getting under the skin of others for doing exactly what we ask