Dallas Cowboys Ex Deion Sanders Leading New Era: 'Buckle Up!' - RGIII

Robert Griffin III praised Dallas Cowboys legend Deion Sanders for potentially placing power in the hands of his players when it comes to their NFL fate.

Jan 13, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sander dances in / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Griffin III believes that Deion Sanders' latest gambit can be summarized in two words: "Buckle up."

Sanders, the Dallas Cowboys legend-turned-Colorado football head coach, is back in the gridiron headlines after forecasting the future for his prized Buffalo prospects Travis Hunter and his son Shedeur Sanders. The Hall-of-Famer not only believes that both are destined to hear their names called early at the 2025 NFL Draft but that he'll be able to have a say in their eventual destinations.

“I know where I want them to go. So, it’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen. It’s going to be an Eli,” Sanders remarked during an appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game, referring to Eli Manning's rejection of the San Diego Chargers at the partial behest of his father Archie.

Addressing the plan on ESPN's "Get Up!," the former quarterback Griffin believes that college coach/star tandems could follow in the Sanders' footsteps.

Jan 13, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sander dances in / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

"The power shift is coming, so everyone needs to buckle up,” Griffin said. “All these college coaches have been running to the NFL because they’re ‘upset’ that the college players have a little bit more power and a little bit more say."

"Well, guess what? Those same kids that they’re running away from are gonna be the ones coming up the ranks and coming into the NFL in the next few years. So, Deion’s saying that either Shedeur or Travis are going to pull an Eli doesn’t surprise me at all."

Griffin said that the aftershocks of Sanders' plan were already on display through potential 2024 top picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Caleb Williams, each of whom took on muted roles in their respective pro day and NFL Scouting Combine outings.

Without the players, all of these sports leagues are nothing," Griffin said. "This is the player empowerment age, and you’re seeing it come into the NFL.”