Deion Sanders is an NFL Network analyst, and this morning they had him talk about the Dez Bryant situation (Bryant was suspended earlier this week for lying to the NCAA about his relationship with Sanders).

The whole interview is transcribed below, but a couple highlights first:

Deion: "Now the problem was, someone, um, they wanted to question Dez about our relationship, and Dez was nervous about -- Why these NCAA people have me in this room with a closed door, questioning me? Now, had I been liar, or falsified any incident or evidence, my story would have collaberated with Dez. We talked three times a week and they didn't, because I don't lie, and the kid said he didn't come to my home, and in actuality, he did."

Jason LaCanfora (NFL Network): "In terms of your dealings with him though, the fact that Dez lied, does that go against what you told him? (Deion: Yes) And did you have a chance to intervene before he spoke to the NCAA and say hey man (Deion: No) you have to tell the whole truth?"

Deion: "I don't have to prepare a person to tell the whole truth. The truth is what it is, so the fact that he got nervous and falsified the truth, he had thought he had done something wrong. When there's somebody there, "Were you at the house of Deion Sanders? Were you there were you there?" The kid got nervous, and I don't know why he falsified the truth, but I must (re-state): if I was a liar, my story would have collaberated with his. Just think about that."

Here's the whole thing:

Jason LaCanfora, NFL Network reporter: Can you describe your relationship with Dez Bryant?

Deion: Um, a kid who I adore. I kid who I was summoned to help, mentor, guide. Let me tell you the vitals of Dez Braynt: Dez Bryant is a 20-year old kid, 34-year-old mother, Angela Bryant, who is serving 5 years probation. Dez has a sister, 17, um a 3-month-year-old child. Dez has a brother, 16 years old, named after me - gangs, drugs, so to speak. So to help this kid and this family structure - that's a no-brainer. That's what I do and that's who I am.

LaCanfora: He's ineligible now because he lied about what went on at your house ....

Deion: No no, he's not ineligible because of what went on in my house, he's ineligible because he lied. First of all, it wasn't even a violation to come to my house. When I first started even mentoring Dez, the first thing I did, I called his receivers coach. His receivers coach told me everything about Dez, when Dez is late to school, he calls me. When Dez is a little tardy to summer workouts, he calls me. So we have an on-going relationship. And Dez helped me throughout the summer with my youth programs, as such. Now the problem was, someone, um, they wanted to question Dez about our relationship, and Dez was nervous about -- Why these NCAA people have me in this room with a closed door, questioning me? Now, had I been liar, or falsified any incident or evidence, my story would have collaberated with Dez. We talked three times a week and they didn't, because I don't lie, and the kid said he didn't come to my home, and in actuality, he did.

LaCanfora: When he was in your home, was your former agent and friend Eugene Parker present?

Deion: (laughs) No, not whatsoever. Not whatsoever.

LaCanfora: And in terms of Dez ---

Deion: His girlfriend was present, my wife was present and we played basketball, had a good home-cooked meal.

LaCanfora: Ok, the NCAA is also investigating some of his cell phone records, some of his girlfriend's cell phone records. Have you ever furnished Dez Bryant or his girlfriend with a cell phone?

Deion: Never. I don't do that. I don't do that whatsoever.

LaCanfora: And any of the kids you mentored, have you ever had anything where you purchased anything for them or any financial --

Deion: Never. Why would I? The extent of our relationship is not that. I give them guidance and leadership and structure. That's what I try to -- recall several years ago when I tried to adopt Noel Devine. And he fled and went back home to live with his family because his mother and father went to (inaudible) -- same type of incident. This is who I am. The problem is, people get so caught up in what I do, they forget about who I am. And they really don't know who I am. Working with kids is what I do. I have over 100 or something kids in the NFL that I target -- I call them kids, but they're young adults -- that I text every morning, Monday through Friday. I get weekends off because I gotta do my job here. I have over 200-300 kids in my youth programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That's what I do. That's who I am.

LaCanfora: In terms of your dealings with him though, the fact that Dez lied, does that go against what you told him? (Deion: Yes) And did you have a chance to intervene before he spoke to the NCAA and say hey man (Deion: No) you have to tell the whole truth?

Deion: I don't have to prepare a person to tell the whole truth. The truth is what it is, so the fact that he got nervous and falsified the truth, he had thought he had done something wrong. When there's somebody there, "Were you at the house of Deion Sanders? Were you there were you there?" The kid got nervous, and I don't know why he falsified the truth, but I must (re-state): if I was a liar, my story would have collaberated with his. Just think about that.

LaCanfora: I guess finally with the Bryant situation, do you feel conflicted or responsible in any way? I know you can't speak for the kid, but are you emotionally tied up in this?

Deion: I'm emotionally tied to his family. To his sister. Who, do the math - mother's 34, kid is 20, 14-years-old. I'm emotional about the cycle of pain that is going forward with the mother and the daughter, now the brother -- habitual with drugs. That's what I'm emotional about; football is football. Football will take care of itself. He have a 3-year span to play this game. I'm emotional about the life of these kids; that's what I'm concerned about.

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