The media dynamic in Boulder changed the moment Deion Sanders arrived. The presence of Well Off Media and others has contributed to content surrounding the Colorado Buffaloes program.

Some of the loudest voices are content creators and fans with an internet connection, and not credentialed media. Most of them are getting in where they fit in, while others have the ear of Sanders.

Whether it's Deion Sanders Jr, Uncle Neely or a handful of others, much of the content consistently seen by fans is coming from people who have familial or confidence-level access to Coach Prime. One of those within Sanders' inner circle is breathing life into a narrative that should be unwanted by the program at this point in time.

Phillip Dukes, better known as Dukes The Scoop, was embraced by Coach Prime following an odd exit from his role at On3. While the details of that situation are not important here, it's relevant that his exit from On3 led to an invitation from Sanders. Shortly after his exit from the outlet, Dukes appeared in Boulder for a Coach Prime press conference. Sanders pointed him out and spent a few minutes talking about Dukes and suggested Buffs fans would see more of him.

Since that point in time, Dukes has been one of Sanders’ trusted names to create content about Colorado football. He has also pushed back on massages or various narratives related to Coach Prime. Well Off Media, Thee Pregame and Dukes The Scoop comprise the vast majority of Coach Prime supported content creators. All with access, information and an open line to the head coach.

On Monday night, Dukes took to his online platform to float an idea that almost no Sanders' fans wanted to hear. Objectively, football is a results-based business and some of the fans that predate Prime’s arrival might be less opposed to the narrative. However, it's rather odd that one of the creators that has the ear of Sanders would float this idea.

“I’ve talked to sources that have said, they’ve been told, coaches have been told, that Colorado is a potential opening,” Dukes claimed. “When you get it from that level, it's because they’ve been told that too. I’ve also been told there are some influential people in Colorado who have started the process of trying to figure out where and who to get the money from for Coach Prime’s buyout.”

If we unpack the quote, it seems his sources are coaches. Which sounds like he’s putting out feelers to other coaches not named Deion Sanders.

“When you get it from that level.” What level exactly? Why is his word choice so cagey? Typically, if a source tells you something, that is almost always because that information was told to them. So his modifier is redundant.

“Influential people in Colorado.” This is also rather suspect. There was a member of the CU board who was against hiring Sanders. Which didn’t stop it from happening. Also, that member is gone now.

This quote is a Masterclass in trying to say something, while not saying anything at all.

The larger question is why would someone in Sanders’ inner circle even give this narrative life? The last thing any coach wants to hear or deal with is ‘hot seat’ questions. Sanders has previously shot down or resisted any claim that he’s facing any pressure at all.

Colorado recently won its first Big 12 game, snapping a five-game losing streak. In Tuesday's press conference, Sanders spoke of significant changes and the best practice they’ve had all season. They leaned on the running game and starting quarterback Isaac Wilson cut down on his turnover concern.

The Buffs are not yet mathematically eliminated from bowl eligibility. This week they face an Arizona State team that is also in the bottom third of the Big 12 standings. The following week, they'll welcome Houston, the only remaining ranked team on their schedule. Followed by two more teams in the bottom third of the standings, Cincinnati and UCF.

Objectively, Dukes mentioned this all as a wedge. To open the door on the idea that if there’s money for a buyout, then there’s money for NIL. The deep abyss that is Colorado’s NIL dynamic would take more than a podcast episode to explain.

Even if Dukes is setting up a narrative pushback in the event of a buyout, why would he invite that conversation now? Unless Sanders goes undefeated the rest of the way, there are going to be ‘Prime’s future in Boulder’ conversations in the offseason. The only logical reason to bring this up now is to help advance the 'fire Deion' idea. Most likely, Sanders asked him to bring it up or there’s trouble in paradise between Sanders and online supporters.

Regardless of intent or motivation, Dukes discussing a possible buyout seems more than questionable given the timing and his refusal to reveal anything about the alleged sources he’s hearing from. There are plenty of influential people around the CU football program that have opinions on Sanders’ future. However, Dukes’ proximity to Prime would suggest those people would be unlikely to share such information with a Prime content creator.