NFL Reporter Ed Werder on Awkward Moment with Deion Sanders

In a recent interview, NFL reporter Ed Werder recalled an awkward moment with Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, where Sanders questioned Werder's belief in his team. Werder expressed confusion and frustration over Sanders' remarks.

Veteran NFL reporter Ed Werder has shared details of an uncomfortable interaction with Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders last year. The incident occurred after the Buffaloes upset then-ranked TCU in Sanders' first game with the program.

During a recent appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich," Werder was asked about his relationship with Sanders. He stated that he didn't know what had prompted Sanders' annoyance towards him.

NFL Reporter Ed Werder on Awkward Moment with Deion Sanders

"Do you have to do something to him? Do you have to do something?" Werder questioned. "I don’t know. He and I had an interesting relationship when I covered the NFL. Sometimes good, sometimes bad."

The awkward moment in question took place after the Buffaloes' victory over TCU. Sanders acknowledged Werder in the post-game scrum and asked him, "Do you believe?" Werder responded with, "Believe in what?", to which Sanders simply said, "He doesn’t believe. Next question."

NFL Reporter Ed Werder on Awkward Moment with Deion Sanders

Werder later took to Twitter to clarify his stance, stating that it's not the job of reporters to be cheerleaders for teams.

"The thing that happened last year after the TCU game when I tried to ask him question in his press conference, and he said ‘whoa whoa whoa, do you believe?’ and I just kept to trying to ask him the question, and he said ‘I’ve read all that bulljunk you’ve written’ or whatever, and I wasn’t even a writer," Werder told Dakich.

NFL Reporter Ed Werder on Awkward Moment with Deion Sanders

"I didn’t write, I didn’t cover college football, so I thought he invented all of this in his own mind and was now using it trying to show me up in a professional situation where if Deion knew me at all he would know I would never take an oath or an allegiance to anybody in a situation like that. Even if I was a Colorado man, I’m not going to say, ‘Oh yeah Deion, I believe.’

"In fact, ultimately, what I’ve told people my reaction was: believe in what? Which I thought was very fair and professional and down the line which is the way I like to be. In retrospect and in sort of a humorous way, I wish I had said when he said do you believe, ‘No, and neither should you.’ But I tried to maintain some level of professionalism in the room."

Since that victory over TCU, Sanders' program at Colorado has struggled, collecting only four wins, including the opener this year against North Dakota State. The Buffaloes ended their season on a six-game losing streak, finishing the year 4-8 overall.

Werder's comments highlight the challenges that reporters face when dealing with coaches who may be sensitive to perceived criticism or lack of support. Despite Werder's attempts to maintain a professional demeanor, the incident with Sanders underscores the importance of open and respectful communication between the media and coaches.