NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is recognized as one of the top NFL insiders, but his reporting on Shedeur Sanders faced scrutiny from sports media on Sunday due to the unusually favorable tone of his report.
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, many are curious about which players will showcase their skills at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. Sanders made his announcement on Sunday, as covered by Rapoport, but the peculiar nature of Rapoport’s reporting raised eyebrows.
“Colorado QB and potential top pick Shedeur Sanders plans to focus on his interviews with teams at the NFL Scouting Combine, helping them continue to learn him as a person,” Rapoport wrote on X. He further explained that Sanders would let his four years of film speak for itself and would throw at his Pro Day alongside four draftable CU WRs.
#Colorado QB and potential top pick Shedeur Sanders plans to focus on his interviews with teams at the NFL Scouting Combine, helping them continue to learn him as a person.
He’ll allow his four years of film to speak loudly, then throw at his Pro Day with four draftable CU WRs. pic.twitter.com/Ai1Ul6I4lV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 23, 2025
The report implies that Sanders intends to abstain from throwing at the Combine, albeit without stating it outright. Additionally, Rapoport’s phrasing about Sanders’ choice to prioritize team interviews raised questions, particularly the phrase “continue to learn him as a person.” Many speculated that Rapoport may have been relaying a message from Sanders’ camp rather than reporting independently, with some alleging he simply rephrased statements from Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and former coach, which cast the decision in a positive light.
“One of the funnier agent(ish) copy-paste tweets in a while,” commented Tennessee Titans beat writer Easton Freeze on X.
One of the funnier agent(ish) copy-paste tweets in a while https://t.co/EDV5L5Jl9I
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) February 23, 2025
WEEI radio host Andy Hart remarked, “This is a PR-packaged way of saying he won’t work out/compete at the Combine.” Meanwhile, Jared Mueller of SB Nation pointed out, “Interesting agent speak,” in response to the phrase “speak loudly.”
This is a PR packaged way of saying he won’t work out/compete at the Combine. https://t.co/bm4hEFWEJe
— Andy Hart (@JumboHart) February 23, 2025
“Speak loudly”
Interesting agent speak https://t.co/qaf7j0NM3C
— Jared Mueller (@JaredKMueller) February 23, 2025
Social media analyst Joe A humorously questioned, “How many drafts of this tweet did it take Deion and their management team to draft this love letter? Over/Under set at 3.5.”
How many drafts of this tweet did it take Deion and their management team to draft this love letter?
Over/Under set at 3.5 https://t.co/wJQm8xPHrn— Joe (@JoeA_NFL) February 23, 2025
This isn’t the first instance where Rapoport has been accused of using “agent speak” in his reporting. He previously drew criticism from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio over his reporting on free agent contracts last offseason.
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