Deion Sanders, aka “Prime Time,” aka “Neon” Deion, is one of the greatest players to ever suit up for an NFL team. Nine years into his retirement, the Hall of Famer is still in the spotlight, serving as a studio analyst for CBS Sports (for its weekly Thursday night games) and the NFL Network. He’s also active on Twitter — with 935,000 followers and counting — where he dishes about the NFL, offers a peek into his personal life and occasionally even trolls his son.
At a media event hosted by the NFL and CBS, which will broadcast next year’s Super Bowl, Prime Time took time to chat with Digiday about social media, his media habits in general and — of course — the upcoming season. Here are excerpts:
You’re pretty big on Twitter. How important is the platform for you as a studio analyst for CBS and NFL Network?
The thing about social media is, it’s the best direct response that you can garner. Sometimes you want an immediate response, and you throw something out there — “Who you think is going to win the NFC?” — and you get an immediate response, and it’s enlightening.
How much is it about just having fun as Prime Time?
Well, there is that difference. Sometimes, you want to have fun. Sometimes, you want to be playful and engage. Because fans just really want to know you and all sides of you. That’s what social media is.
Besides Twitter, are there any other platforms you enjoy?
I like Instagram. I don’t know any other platforms, really.
What do you primarily use to stay up-to-date on the league?
CBS and NFL Network do a great job of inundating you with all of the nuances and allowing you to know what’s happening. They send you emails directly. Text messages directly. Can’t go wrong with NFL.com, as well.
Are there any sports apps that you can’t live without?
I’m not going to say that. Because [CBS and NFL Network] have whole departments that give you all of the info you need.
OK, let’s forget sports for a second. What are your favorite apps in general right now?
It’s a lot of fitness stuff. Workout apps. Food apps — what’s the best thing to eat. I like homes and décor-type stuff like that. Architecture and design.
A lot of people in media are interested about how viewing habits are changing — whether people are still watching TV or if they’re moving to computers, tablets, other devices. Do you do any of that, or is it still the TV for you?
I don’t watch a lot of TV, period, man. I got a lot of kids at home. I’m so into my kids, by the time I get home, I’m tired, I’m helping my babies with their homework, and then it’s time to go to bed.
Do they watch a lot of TV? Or are they more on their tablets?
No, no, they watch television.
OK, because we’re here at a sports luncheon: prediction for the upcoming season?
It’s going to be exciting, man. It’s going to be an exciting, action-packed season. That’s my prediction, and I love it. There are 32 different storylines. It’s the best soap opera on television.
What’s one story they’re not talking about enough?
I don’t know, man. They’re talking about everything right now.
Image: JStone / Shutterstock.com
More in Media
BuzzFeed’s sale of First We Feast seen as a ‘good sign’ for the M&A media market
Investor analysts are describing BuzzFeed’s sale of First We Feast for $82.5 million as a good sign for the media M&A market — which itself is an indication of how ugly that market had become.
Media Briefing: Efforts to diversify workforces stall for some publishers
A third of the nine publishers that have released workforce demographic reports in the past year haven’t moved the needle on the overall diversity of their companies, according to the annual reports that are tracked by Digiday.
Creators are left wanting more from Spotify’s push to video
The streaming service will have to step up certain features in order to shift people toward video podcasts on its app.