Colorado football coach Deion Sanders just hit a major roadblock in court. Judge Michael Romero ruled that Coach Prime must testify via video conference next Friday, September 4th, in his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a direct order.
The Judge Dropped The Hammer On Coach Prime’s Objections
Sanders’ attorney, Harvey Steinberg, really tried to fight this one off. He argued the testimony wasn’t relevant and, get this, Coach Prime had a major scheduling conflict: Colorado’s season opener at Georgia Tech the night before. But Judge Romero? He wasn’t having any of it.
Remember how Sanders was “unavailable” to be served by the Boulder County Sheriff? Yeah, that happened. Steinberg eventually accepted the service on Deion’s behalf, then immediately tried to downplay Coach Prime’s significance as just a witness. That’s an extremely rare move for an attorney, trying to shrink the importance of their client as just a witness. Steinberg kept pushing, saying the Georgia Tech game was an “obligation” for Deion, something he absolutely had to be at.
But Judge Romero dropped the hammer. While he didn’t disagree about the importance of the game, he made it absolutely clear: testimony *will* happen if needed. The judge even laid out the options, telling Steinberg, “It’s either that or we keep him here (in Colorado).” Yikes! Romero even suggested Sanders could find an earlier flight out of Atlanta to make sure he was available. No wiggle room there.
What This Trial Is Even About
So, what’s the real story here? Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy trial kicks off Monday, August 31st, in Denver. He’s looking to clear over $11 million in debt. That mountain of debt comes from a 2015 assault involving high school security guard John Darjean.
Coach Prime’s required testimony is super specific, too. It’s all about his alleged instruction to Darjean to confiscate Shilo’s phone during that original incident. Darjean’s attorney, Ori Raphael, initially pushed for Sanders to be in court for the *entire* trial next week, given the nature of the case. But the judge ultimately ordered Sanders to just be available next Friday.
A Brutal Back-to-Back for Deion
Talk about a packed schedule. Deion’s got Colorado opening their season against Georgia Tech on Thursday, September 3rd, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. And then, boom, he’s got to be available for this video conference testimony the very next day. That’s a brutal back-to-back for anyone, let alone a college football coach leading his team into battle. It’s a serious balancing act for Coach Prime, trying to manage his coaching duties with this heavy legal obligation hanging over him. You gotta wonder how that kind of pressure plays out on game day. Definitely something to watch as the season gets underway.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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