Ryan Clark Calls Out ‘Double Standard’ Around Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders With Archie Manning Comparison

Ryan Clark finds nothing wrong with Deion Sanders visiting the Browns training camp to watch his son, Shedeur Sanders practice.

Ryan Clark Calls Out ‘Double Standard’ Around Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders With Archie Manning Comparison

Archie Manning and Shedeur Sanders (Image via Marca)

Deion Sanders‘ visit to the Cleveland Browns training camp generated both positive and negative reactions on social media. Sanders saw his son, the Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, practice and spoke with the Browns coaching staff before leaving.

Super Bowl winner Ryan Clark argued in favor of Deion Sanders while drawing parallels to former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, who frequented college and NFL stadiums to cheer for his sons Peyton and Eli Manning. That tradition has continued even during his grandson Arch Manning’s era.

Clark noted that if Archie Manning should be applauded for supporting his family, then the same respect should be given to Deion Sanders, who is a Hall of Famer in his own right. Clark said on the Pivot Podcast:

And not only just a present father, but a father that poured into his sons and allowed them to be what they are, as is Deion Sanders. Deion [Sanders] is doing exactly what you’re supposed to do when you have a level of cachet that allows your sons or allows your children to receive a platform and then take advantage of it in the ways that they should.

Clark further batted in favor of Deion Sanders. He noted that the 58-year-old has every right to attend his son’s practices regardless of his status in the football world. Clark added:

Just because I’m an extremely successful human doesn’t mean I should support my children any less… When you think about parenting, when you think about pouring into your seeds, that’s what it’s supposed to look like. That would be the epitome of what it’s supposed to be.

Shedeur has learned the basics of football from his father from a very young age. Even at college, Coach Prime coached Shedeur at both Jackson State and Colorado. There were rumors that the Cowboys could consider drafting Shedeur to lure Prime to Dallas as head coach. It did not happen, but Prime has admitted he would only accept an NFL offer if it involved coaching his son.

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Browns legend shared an interesting story about Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders‘ visit to the Browns camp did not go unnoticed. However, he wasn’t in Cleveland just to meet his son. He also chatted with a Browns legend, Hanford Dixon.

Ryan Clark Calls Out 'Double Standard' Around Coach Prime and Shedeur Sanders With Archie Manning Comparison
Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

During an appearance with Nick Pedone on BIGPLAY Cleveland LIVE on the BIGPLAY Sports Network, Dixon revealed that Sanders called him while he was in town.

I got a call from Deion [Sanders]. He just called me and said he was in town. And he wanted to reach out to me and just say what I meant to his career, how he watched the way Frank and I played bump-and-run…

The Pro Bowl corner revealed that he could sense the pride in Deion’s voice about his son Shedeur’s achievements. He added:

You could tell just listening to it in his voice how proud he is of him. Obviously, for him to take the time to come down here and watch him shows how much he appreciates him.

NFL analyst backs Shedeur Sanders to get the Browns’ starting quarterback job ahead of Deshaun Watson

The Browns began the 2026 offseason with Sanders and Deshaun Watson as the primary contenders for the starting quarterback job. So far, Sanders has been better at spring camp, but fans will learn the starter after the camp.

FOX Sports analyst Chris Broussard believes Sanders should earn the job over Watson despite the gulf in experience between the two players. Broussard said on First Things First:

Shedeur is clearly the better QB in training camp, the whole locker room believes it. He starts Week 1, and Shedeur, it’s up to him to make the best of it.

The Browns drafted Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He posted a 3-4 record in his rookie season.

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