“Set Up to Fail?”: The Shocking Saga of Shedeur Sanders, the NFL Draft, and Allegations Against Tom Brady

In one of the most bizarre and controversial NFL draft sagas in recent memory, Shedeur Sanders—the talented son of Hall of Famer Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders—went from projected first-rounder to a shocking fifth-round pick. Selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns, Sanders’ descent wasn’t just unexpected—it’s now fueling full-blown conspiracy theories involving race, legacy, sabotage, and even NFL royalty Tom Brady. What the hell is really going on?

Let’s break it down.

From Training With a GOAT to a Fifth-Round Ghost

Before the 2025 NFL Draft, the media was buzzing. Shedeur Sanders had trained with Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. The assumption was clear: Brady saw something in him. And Sanders himself gushed about having Brady as a mentor—a legendary figure he could call and consult anytime.

But then, draft day came—and silence. Days of silence.

Then the phone rang… in the fifth round. Pick 144. The Cleveland Browns.

For many, that moment wasn’t just a shock. It felt like a coordinated takedown. And soon after, the internet erupted with whispers of betrayal, starting with Tom Brady.

Did Brady Play Both Sides?

Let’s be honest. Tom Brady’s influence in the NFL didn’t disappear when he hung up his cleats. He’s now a minority owner in the Las Vegas Raiders and has serious relationships with league executives. That’s why the suggestion that Brady may have helped block Shedeur from going higher in the draft hit so hard.

According to rumors, Brady not only trained with Sanders but may have given NFL teams behind-the-scenes advice that led to Shedeur’s slide. Was it mentorship? Or was it a scouting mission disguised as mentorship?

One theory? Legacy protection.

Shedeur Sanders has “it”—that rare combo of arm talent, charisma, leadership, and the ability to shine under pressure. If developed properly, he could become a generational star. Could Brady have viewed him as a future threat to his legacy?

Far-fetched? Maybe. But when Skip Bayless, Brady’s loudest cheerleader, posted a tweet publicly questioning why Brady’s Raiders and others repeatedly passed on Sanders, people took notice. “How could Tom Brady’s team pass on Shedeur… again and again?” he wrote.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just Twitter sleuths and barbershop talk. The question was mainstream: Did Brady play Shedeur?

The NFL’s Alleged Fear of Coach Prime

There’s another layer to this scandal: Deion Sanders himself.

Coach Prime isn’t your typical college coach. He’s loud, confident, Black, successful, and unapologetically himself. When he named Shedeur his starting quarterback the day he arrived at Colorado, it sent a message: This is my show.

And for NFL executives—many of whom are old-school and rigid in how they expect things to be done—that was threatening.

If Shedeur succeeds, so does Deion. And that success could open the door to something the NFL establishment clearly fears: Deion Sanders as an NFL head coach.

You think that’s a stretch? Just listen to the paranoia. NFL insiders were reportedly saying things like, “If we draft Shedeur, do we get Deion too?” That’s not concern—it’s fear. Fear that Deion might walk into a locker room and turn the entire power structure upside down. Fear that owners might look at Coach Prime and start wondering if their current coach should be replaced.

That’s why some believe Shedeur wasn’t just passed over. He was blackballed. Not because of his skill, but because of what he represents: a new school takeover of an old school league.

Diva Rumors and Draft Day Humiliation

NFL teams also reportedly weren’t happy with how Shedeur came across in interviews. Some said he gave off “diva” energy—too confident, too bold. Three teams allegedly scratched him off their boards entirely because of his attitude.

But here’s the double standard: Quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams have shown similar confidence, but didn’t get dinged for it. Shedeur, meanwhile, had to apologize for being himself.

That stinks of something deeper.

And if that weren’t enough, draft day itself turned into a clown show. Someone prank called Sanders, pretending to be the Saints GM Mickey Loomis, pretending to draft him. That’s not just a prank—it’s humiliation.

A Bad Fit in Cleveland—or a Setup?

Let’s talk about where he landed: the Cleveland Browns. The same franchise Deion Sanders once publicly said no young quarterback should ever join. In 2018, he tweeted that he’d advise QBs to “pull an Eli Manning” if Cleveland ever called.

And now Shedeur is there. Come on. You really think the Browns didn’t see that tweet?

Some fans believe this isn’t a “blessing in disguise”—it’s a trap in disguise.

Deshaun Watson is out for the season. That should be Shedeur’s moment to shine. But word on the street is that the Browns are going to toss him out there with no support and let him fail spectacularly—fueling a narrative that he’s not ready, not focused, not the leader people hoped for.

Others say it might get even worse. He might not even get the chance to play. The Browns drafted two QBs this year, including Oregon star Dillon Gabriel. Add in veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, and you’ve got a QB room that looks more like a reality TV show: “Quarterback Hunger Games: Cleveland Edition.”

Tom Brady Responds—Kind Of

After all the backlash, Brady finally responded—through a source.

According to The Daily Mail, Tom allegedly told people close to him that Skip Bayless is “an idiot” for blaming him for Shedeur’s draft-day fall. The source also claimed Brady has “limited say” in the Raiders’ draft decisions.

But let’s not be naïve. Tom Brady might not be calling every pick, but he has the ear of people who do. He’s not powerless. And the optics? They’re bad.

Dr. Umar Weighs In—And Brings the Heat

When even Dr. Umar enters the chat, you know it’s officially cultural. The activist and scholar blamed the situation on systemic racism, saying the NFL orchestrated Shedeur’s downfall to humiliate both him and Deion Sanders.

He argued it was never about talent. It was about keeping Shedeur, a Black QB molded by a Black father, out of the club—especially one who didn’t come up through the traditional channels.

Again, you don’t have to believe every theory, but the consistency of the suspicions tells you one thing: People smell something foul.

Final Thoughts: A Pawn in a Bigger Game?

So what are we left with? On the surface, Shedeur Sanders was drafted by an NFL team. But peel back the layers, and it starts to look like something more sinister.

A superstar college QB slides inexplicably down the board. NFL owners and executives allegedly fear the influence of his father. A GOAT quarterback trains him, then allegedly turns around and quietly lets him fall. And now he’s headed to the very team his father once warned every QB to avoid.

This isn’t just a story about football.

This is a story about legacy, race, control, sabotage—and how far powerful people will go to protect their thrones.

Was Shedeur Sanders set up to fail?

You tell me.

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