Deion Sanders’ lawyers sure ain’t hard to find these days.
We kid, of course, but goodness gracias — this CU football season, which is slated to open on Sept. 3 in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, can’t get here quick enough for Buffs fans. Just so they’ll have something to talk about other than the latest round of reported subpoenas.
The college football wonks on the Grading The Week crew were already raising eyebrows with the news that the lawyer for an ex-security guard at Sanders’ private school, John Darjean, had attempted to serve papers to the Buffs football coach on campus in order to get him to testify in the bankruptcy trial of Sanders’ son, former CU safety Shilo Sanders.
The trial is slated to begin on Aug. 31, just four days before the Buffs’ opener against the Yellow Jackets, and concerns Darjean’s efforts to enforce a $11.89-million default judgment for damages arising from an altercation that occurred when Shilo Sanders was 15. Darjean alleges he suffered permanent injuries while trying to obtain the younger Sanders’ phone.
While it remains to be seen whether Deion Sanders will testify during the week of the Buffs’ first game, is also seeking damages in court from the elder Sanders over Coach Prime’s trademarks.
Actually, it’s the “trademark” part that has Alan Tipp, a graphic designer from Omaha, crying foul over the Buffs’ football coach.
According to documents filed in U.S. District Court, Tipp designed the now-famous “PRIME21” logo in 2011, which became synonymous with Sanders and CU football.
Tipp alleges in said documents that Sanders and his management team, SMAC Entertainment,
Shade thrown over Deion’s shades — D
In the filing, Tipp alleges that he signed a conditional agreement to forgo rights to the logo after a representative from SMAC Entertainment, Sam Morini, made promises that the designer would be “an integral part of the Sanders’ (sic) marketing and branding team”; that Tipp would serve as advisor for CU student-athletes and their marketing efforts; that he would collaborate with Nike on Sanders branded apparel and footwear; and would be “retained to design, brand and develop a marketing plan” for a line of Sanders-themed sunglasses using the “PRIME21” logo.
Tipp alleges that none of the above happened. He also contends in the documents that “Sanders and his representatives began evading Tipp” after the agreement was executed, and that in April 2023, SMAC told the designer that his “services were no longer needed” for the planned sunglasses launch.
In September 2023, Sanders partnered with Blenders Eyewear to produce signature sunglasses. The partnership garnered $1.2 million in pre-orders and reportedly generated nearly $5 million in sales within the first few days of release.
Tipp wants the court to render his agreement with Sanders to be nullified; for all Sanders’ and SMAC’s trademarks to be canceled; and seeks injunctive relief, as well as compensation of at least $75,000 plus legal costs. It’s probably not the best sign for a pivotal Year 4 of The Sanders Era when folks are throwing that kind of shade at Coach Prime before a ball’s even been snapped.
Peyton Watson trade — D-minus
The Nuggets still have a month or so to salvage what’s been a depressing offseason to date — and an almost 180-degree flip of the enthusiasm and good vibes that stemmed from the summer of 2025.
“I’m happy for Peyton. He deserved it,” Nuggets icon Nikola Jokic told Miroslav Cuk in Serbian on Thursday when asked about Denver’s trade of Peyton Watson to Cleveland for draft picks
“We will miss (Watson’s) energy and skill. I don’t think about (the) season yet … we have to play this (summer), but it’s going to be OK.”
Is it, though? Unless trading away a promising wing who had all the things this roster needed — good defender, athletic, potential 3-and-D threat with upside — wasn’t the first chess move that sets up another roster addition before preseason camp, Heaven help Nuggets faithful. Heaven help the Joker, too. Because ownership clearly won’t.
