Deion Sanders: Johnny Manziel has 'ghetto tendencies'

theGRIO REPORT - Hall of Fame cornerback and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he feels NFL prospect Johnny Manziel has "ghetto tendencies" on the 'Tom Joyner Morning Show' Thursday.

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Hall of Fame cornerback and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he feels heavily hyped NFL prospect Johnny Manziel has “ghetto tendencies” on the Tom Joyner Morning Show Thursday.

Sybil Wilkes, one of the show’s hosts, asked the former NFL star, nicknamed “Prime-Time,” to weigh in on the Heisman Trophy winner before departing the show.

“Oh, please. I love Johnny Football,” Sanders said. “See, the reason people won’t accept Johnny Football is because Johnny Football has ghetto tendencies. I love Johnny Football.”

Hosts, Tom Joyner and Roland Martin, then questioned what Sanders meant by “ghetto tendencies,” according to the transcript on the morning show’s website.

“Because he was successful, he made it, and he let you all know he made it, and he was cocky, he was flamboyant, and he let you know,” the Hall of Famer explained.

Martin then referred to Manziel as “a white Prime-Time,” and Sanders laughed, saying “thank you, and I love him. I love him.”

The NFL legend’s equating of “ghetto” and “black” was extremely problematic for some listeners. While others found the use of the term with regards to Manziel ironic, since he grew up very affluent.

Following the release of the interview transcript, Sanders was called out on Twitter by Black Sports Online, and he responded, denying he ever said the controversial phrase.

Follow Carrie Healey on twitter @CarrieHeals

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