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Cam Newton: Michael Vick Had a Bigger Impact on the NFL Than Coach Prime Deion Sanders

Published 02/23/2024, 8:41 AM EST

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It was a cutthroat competition to steal the spot of the best Falcon in the NFL. One was battling it out with setting the trends of jerseys and slouch socks, whereas the other was high-stepping his way through touchdowns. People had their sides picked beforehand, even before either Michael Vick or Deion Sanders could leave a legacy behind, leaving a tacky question for Cam Newton to answer.

However, right after a minute’s contemplation, Newton blurted out a confident “Michael Vick” instead of Deion Sanders. The reason for it? Michael Vick’s influence, not only on the youth but also among his teammates in their home dome. The Georgia Dome had become synonymous with the Falcons back in the day. “To be in Atlanta during the [Michael] Vick era, it was like freaknick. What that dude did to the Dome, not Mercedes Benz Stadium, the Georgia Dome, it will never be duplicated,” Newton said on the Cam Newton show, referring to the popularity Vick’s influence brought to the black community.

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It not only set the Falcons as one of the biggest NFL giants back then, but it embarked on an era of fashion. Rappers donning sports jerseys with matching headbands or caps with chains and slouch socks became the trend of the hour. Vick played a crucial role in pivoting the influence.

Well, Deion Sanders, too, made waves in the fashion industry, however, a bit later in his career. The early days of Deion Sanders were defined by his touchdowns and high-step. But after he took on the head coaching role at Jackson State, Sanders has become the style icon for the world, with his layered chains, funky kicks, and cool-as-summer shades.

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Deion Sanders’ association with fashion

“You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. You play good, they gon pay you good,” was the motto of Prime since his early days. Prime was hardly ever not dressed off-field. So much so, that Prime was enshrined in the GQ Sports Hall of Fame, even appearing on the cover of GQ’s February 2023 issue with the title “Deion Sanders Enters His Prime.”

READ ALSO: “You Look Good, You Play Good”: Coach Prime’s Unique Advice to Young Athletes Applies Best to His Sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders

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If all this was not enough, Prime’s deal with Nike brought more attention to his classy sneakers. Moreover, his sons are walking in their father’s footsteps as well by trotting down the runway of Louis Vuitton in January 2024. It is a cutting-edge competition between Vick and Prime. So whose side do you pick? Let us know in the comments!

READ ALSO: “We Are the Sanders”: Shilo’s Bold Request to Pharrell Williams Triggers Deion to Flex Family’s Elite Mentality

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Written by:

Pankti Parmar

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Pankti Parmar is an NFL news writer at EssentiallySports. She combines her educational background in psychology with a passion for sports to delve into the minds of athletes and their game strategies. She's our resident expert on Jim Harbaugh and played a pivotal role in our play-by-play coverage of Harbaugh's journey from the Wolverines to the Chargers.
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Edited by:

Tripti Sarda