“I should've kept my mouth shut”: Paul Finebaum backtracks on harsh Deion Sanders criticism

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum has backtracked his criticism toward Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders. Finebaum has been critical of Sanders this season and throughout his time as a college coach.

Finebaum has previously taken aim at Sanders, but following Colorado's upset win over UCF last week to improve to 4-1, the analyst is backtracking his comments.

"This is where I say to you that I should've kept my mouth shut a couple weeks ago. But I came after you, I came after Prime and here I am, scraping the egg off of my face," Finebaum said on First Take on Tuesday. "And I’m glad to be doing it because this is a fascinating story.

"And what happened last week down in Florida was really the first time I think since Prime has been at Colorado that this looked like a legitimate football team.

"They didn’t beat a great team, but they beat a good team… if they can continue on this path — I’m not issuing qualifiers, I’m just saying if — then Stephen A., I think your story about Coach of the Year is dead on," Finebaum added.

Finebaum previously called Sanders a "hypocrite" after the coach banned a reporter from asking.

Deion Sanders Jr.'s reply to Paul Finebaum

Deion Sanders has coached Colorado to a 4-1 record. Source: Imagn

Paul Finebaum has been one of the biggest critics of Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes for the past two years.

But, after Colorado upset UCF, Finebaum took back some of his criticism but still took a subtle shot at Sanders.

"As someone who has been very critical of Deion Sanders, I have to say he has managed this team quite well in spite of all the bullets, all the attacks, and all the criticism — some of it coming from me," he said.

"I give him enormous credit. I don't think many people thought this was possible, outside of a group of sycophants in Boulder." [via Athlon Sports]

Following Finebaum's comments, Deion Sanders Jr. took to social media to call out the analyst.

"You know bro had to throw a lil shade in there with 'managed' instead of 'coached,'" Sanders wrote on his Well Off Forever account.

Deion Sanders and Colorado are on their off week before playing Kansas State on October 12.