Jay Norvell offers flimsy explanation for his criticism of Deion Sanders

It’s a cleanup on Aisle Prime.

Colorado State’s Jay Norvell made his own trap and walked into it earlier this week, gratuitously criticizing Hall of Fame cornerback and personality of the moment, Deion Sanders, for wearing a hat and sunglasses during the interviews. On Friday, long after the situation took on a life of its own, Norvell attempted to justify the comments.

“With all the media involved in this game, No journalist asked me about my comments.” Norvell tweeted. “One boy understood it. He wanted to send a message to our players and how we run our program.”

Norvell’s tweet came with a video of ESPN.com’s Rece Davis, who apparently said this to a group of reporters: “When you talk to the media in a press conference as a head coach, or you’re talking to the media, you’re talking to the fans or you’re talking to your players. Jay Norvell, who I know he wasn’t talking to anyone in Colorado (I know he said he didn’t care if he was overheard in Boulder), who do you think he’s talking to?

“Their players. He is talking to his players. That they are not afraid. Who is going to go in there? Who are not intimidated by all the attention they receive or by the strength of their personality or the talent of Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders. None of that intimidates us. . . . He’s talking to his players. You know, Colorado should respond like they did and use it and all that. That’s part of the game. But I didn’t think about it for a second: that’s not the case, you guys probably know Jay Norvell better than I do, but that’s not really in his wheelhouse. He’s talking to his players. He wasn’t trying to shoot. And I’m sorry to take all the fun out of saying that, but that’s what I thought.”

First of all, why would anyone ask Norvell about these comments? Did they require interpretation or questioning, beyond saying, “Have you lost your damn mind?”

Secondly, if Norvell had anything else to say about it, he could have done so on Twitter. She which she did. Criticizing the journalists who cover his show for not asking him, he says, “Have you lost your fucking mind?” It doesn’t really help.

Third, Davis’s explanation makes sense in theory. Yes, coaches send messages to players through press conferences. But this seems like a message that would be better sent more directly. You know, like when he talks directly to his players, in a meeting or in the locker room. without the message reaching the person criticized by him.

Fourth, Norvell’s tweet doesn’t really fit with Davis’ assist. Norvell said he was sending a message to his players about “how we run our program” (which is definitely an opportunity for someone). Davis said Norvell was sending a message to his players that Colorado will not intimidate them. They are two very different messages.

Even if there was a method to this madness, a cost-benefit analysis needs to be done. What do I gain by saying this and what do I lose? Frankly, I used to do it all the time when I was a kid, when I was preparing to make a clever comment to my mother.

“They could get beat up for this. Is it worth it?” (Very often it was.)

Norvell will find out tonight if it was worth it.