Bishop Eddie Long recently died of an aggressive form of cancer and, since his death, his name continues to bring out mixed reactions from the public given the news of his allegedly sexually abusive past.

One person whose opinion on the late bishop has not wavered is former NFL star Deion Sanders, who came to Long's defense in a lengthy Instagram post. 

Sanders spoke highly of both Long and his legacy on Instagram, labeling him a "fatherly" figure in his life who has helped and guided him through tough times.

He urged his followers and those who judged Long to "refrain from any ignorance or judgment of my Bishop and dear friend."

"This ain't the time for foolishness," he wrote. "Those that really know me know that I love Bishop Eddie Long to life."

Take a look at his full statement below:

Watch another of Long's friends, TD Jakes, speak on moving on in the video above.

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