We didn’t catch it live this morning, and we wanted to wait to mention it until we had a chance to listen to the audio.

Deion Sanders, in a guest spot on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning aimed at promoting some event that’s being held in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary of the Madden video game, flatly declined to talk about the Brett Favre situation, citing Deion’s contractual obligations to NFL Network.

“I can’t get into that guys,” Sanders said as he attempted to steer the interview toward the Madden promotion and away from any discussion about Favre.

“Isn’t he on the cover of the NFL Madden game?” Mike Greenberg asked.

Still, Deion wouldn’t talk about Favre.

It was awkward, to the point of bizarre.  The manuever likely has its roots in the problems Sanders caused from himself a year ago by writing columns about Mike Vick for the Fort Myers newspaper.

But, the last time we checked, ESPN is paying the NFL $1.1 billion per year for the right to broadcast seventeen regular-season games and a handful of glorified practice sessions, like tonight’s meeting between the Bengals and the Packers.

Surely, the NFL would have allowed Deion to spend some time talking about Favre with the folks who pay the league $1.1 billion per year, if Sanders had thought to ask for advance permission.  Or did he think that he was merely getting a platform to talk only about what he is trying to promote for the entire duration of the spot?

If so, Deion has a lot to learn about how the promotion game works.  It’s the ultimate back-scratching exercise.  The guest gives the show content, and the show gives the guest’s product or event some free exposure.

Today, Deion basically gave Mike & Mike the middle finger, and he likely can add ESPN to the list of networks where he need not apply once his NFLN gig has run its course.