NFL legend Shannon Sharpe does not like to mince words when it comes to giving blunt feedback. Recently, Miami Hurricanes quarterback and top NFL Draft prospect Cam Ward was caught up in a controversy during his Pop-Tarts Bowl showdown where he didn’t enter the game in the second half of the game despite leading his team to an early 31-28 lead.
Head coach Mario Cristobal refused to open up on the decision during his pregame presser, which raised many eyebrows, including Sharpe’s.
NFL Legend Shannon Sharpe Credits Mario Cristobal’s Potential Move To Defend Cam Ward
After Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl showdown, Cristobal was asked about Ward’s decision to opt-out. Apparently, he refused to give away the reason and had a diplomatic response.
“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them in private, and we keep them in private,” Cristobal explained, per Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there,” he added.
Sharpe who couldn’t hold back but react to this issue, made his comments via NightCap.
“If that was his decision, he would have said that was my decision, and we’re gonna go with that,” he said on the show.
“Clearly, it was not his decision, because he doesn’t want the kid to look bad. I give him credit, but I think the average person knows that the kid made a decision, and that’s his decision to make, but for me, that if I start, I’m gonna finish, either I’m gonna play the whole game, or I’m not playing at all,” Sharpe added.
Former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco then speculated, “I think something must have happened in the first half… When I think about it, as a competitor, once you in that environment and you competing, ain’t no way in hell you coming out.”
Ward had a record-breaking season in 2024. He set a new Division I record for most touchdown passes (158) and racked up 4,313 passing yards on the year while scoring 39 touchdowns and only conceding seven interceptions.
Ward’s sheer dominance has now put him in the Round 1 discussion for the 2025 NFL Draft and a potential top-five pick. As a result, the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants could be in contention for Ward as their future franchise quarterback.