"Primetime" Comeback?

[sahyder1]

Monday, August 16, 2004

By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

While no decision is forthcoming, and not likely to be made until Deion Sanders puts himself through a strenuous training regimen for the next few weeks, the future Hall of Fame cornerback is seriously considering a comeback after three seasons off the field.

Sources close to Sanders confirmed for ESPN.com on Monday that one of the premier coverage defenders of his time could join the Baltimore Ravens as their nickel back. The possibility of his return was first reported Monday by the Baltimore Sun.

"I never say never," Sanders said in a joint interview with the Sun and Comcast SportsNet on Monday. "It would be a wonderful thing if I got the opportunity to play."

Sanders' longtime agent, Eugene Parker, said no timetable has been set for a decision.

"Neon Deion" lit up NFL stadiums for 12 years with electrifying plays on both sides of the ball.

The public stance of Ravens officials is that Sanders is retired but that the club would be interested if he decides to return. League sources said that, while the Ravens will likely downplay their interest, they are more than intrigued, and will almost certainly sign Sanders if he lets them know he is prepared to play.

"To my knowledge, Deion Sanders is retired," Ravens coach Brian Billick told the Sun. "That kind of takes him off our radar. If he decides to unretire, like any number of other teams, we would be interested."

Baltimore lost its projected nickel cornerback for the entire 2004 season when veteran Dale Carter, who signed with the Ravens this spring as a free agent, developed a blood clot in his lung. Shortly afterward, Sanders was contacted by Baltimore star middle linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive back Corey Fuller, both close friends of Sanders, who planted the seed for his potential return to the game.

"As you know, with Deion, when he takes something like this on, he does it seriously," said a source close to Sanders. "So, yeah, he's into it. But he needs to test himself. He knows he can still run, that he can 'get out' with anybody, but he's going to take about two weeks to run and do conditioning work, and see how he feels. But you know, if he comes back, he wants to come back with a bang."

He also wants to come back with a winner and, along with being good friends with several Ravens players, Sanders is convinced Baltimore can be a Super Bowl contender. He has followed the team closely and was aware, even before being contacted by Fuller and Lewis, of the untimely loss of Carter.

Sanders, 37, has not played since the 2000 season, which he spent with the Washington Redskins. He retired on the eve of the team's training camp in 2001, though considered making a comeback in 2002. At that point, Sanders discussed the possibility of playing for Oakland. His intention was taken seriously enough that, because the 'Skins had placed him on their reserve-retired list, the Chargers claimed him off waivers before the playoff-bound Raiders could make a move.

Last year, Sanders told ESPN.com that he wanted to be considered for the head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons, the team with which he began his playing career, as a first-round choice in the '89 draft out of Florida State. He has worked since his retirement as a studio analyst, but this spring was bumped from the CBS pregame show when the the network offered him only half of the $2 million he wanted to continue in the role he'd had for three years.

Sanders was also let go by ESPN after a short run on The New American Sportsman. Sanders is currently slated to co-host a sports-themed cable show with comedian Paul Rodriguez.

This spring, Sanders worked in Atlanta with Arkansas cornerback Ahmad Carroll, who went on to become the first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Carroll is also represented by agent Eugene Parker. Those who watched the workouts, in which Sanders was mentoring Carroll, said that Sanders ran impressively, even after his three-year NFL hiatus.

Notable is that Parker and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome have a very close professional relationship.

However, the Ravens, whose defensive backs are the weak link in one of the league's best defenses, would have to compensate the Chargers if Sanders indeed decides to play for a 13th season.

A seven-time Pro Bowl performer, Sanders was one of the league's most electrifying performers during most of his 12-year career. In addition to defining the term "shut-down" corner, he occasionally played on offense and also returned kickoffs and punts. His resume includes 18 touchdowns.

Early in his career, Sanders excelled on two fronts, becoming the only professional athlete to play in both the Super Bowl (with the 49ers in '94 and Cowboys in '95) and the World Series (Braves, '92). As a Braves outfielder and a cornerback for the Falcons, Sanders was also the only pro athlete ever to hit a home run and score a touchdown within a seven-day span. The owner of 48 career interceptions, Sanders is the only player in Super Bowl history to have both an interception and a pass reception.

"He's at a point now where he wouldn't do it if he had to be the main guy again," said one source. "But with the Ravens, he wouldn't have to be the top cornerback, given the talent they have. But he would still play a key role, as the nickel, and that intrigues him."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

[gunnar hendershow]

Sounds like an opportunity to still see if he has it left. He'll be around McAlister, Lewis, and Reed too so he will have help.

[Hellfire]

I personally think this could be real good. If Deion is able to still go, i'd love a chance to see him preform on TV, as i never got a chance to see him except on Videos and stuff.

[Guest seattlebandfan9]

If he is ready to go and the team wants to give him a shot, then its nothing but good news for the Baltimore Ravens.

[sahyder1]

Sanders close to signing with Ravens

Sports Ticker

8/31/2004

OWINGS MILLS, Maryland (Ticker) - "Prime Time" has decided this is the right time to return to the NFL.

Deion Sanders, regarded as perhaps the most electrifying cornerback in league history, is expected to sign Tuesday with the Baltimore Ravens.

"We're very optimistic that Deion will be here," Ravens coach Brian Billick said Monday. "He's in good shape. I don't have to run him in a 40 to see he's OK."

The 37-year-old Sanders has not played since retiring before the Washington Redskins opened training camp in 2001. But according to reports, Sanders has recently clocked as low as 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"He's one of the greatest of his era and maybe the best to ever play the game," Ravens Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister said of Sanders.

McAlister even told The Baltimore Sun that he has already agreed to give up his No. 21 jersey for Sanders.

But perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis is the primary reason why Sanders only considered the Ravens for his comeback. The two vacationed together in the offseason and Lewis suggested that Sanders attempt a comeback shortly after training camp opened when the Ravens lost nickel back Dale Carter for the rest of the season with a blood clot.

Lewis and McAlister are the best players on a defense which helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in 2000 and reach the playoffs three of the last four years.

The plan is for Sanders to play nickel back in a secondary which features McAlister and Gary Baxter at cornerback and Ed Reed and Will Demps at the safety positions. McAlister and Reed were selected to the Pro Bowl last season.

Known as "Prime Time" for his playmaking ability on defense, Sanders made the Pro Bowl seven times in a 12-year career with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Redskins. He also returned punts and kicks and totaled 18 touchdowns and 48 interceptions.

Between 1995-99 with Dallas, Sanders had eight touchdowns.

The only player to participate in both a Super Bowl and a World Series (Atlanta Braves in 1992), Sanders was a member of championship teams with the 49ers in 1994 and the Cowboys in 1995.

But before he retired in 2001, Sanders was nagged by a series of knee and foot injuries.

[livid]

Sveet. As a Ravens fan, I'm glad to hear about this. I mean, Deion is Deion and the only person that even comes close, or so they say at least, is D'Angelo Hall. I hope he ends up coming back sooner rather than later, because it will help an already superb defense.

[gunnar hendershow]

Will he be as great a player as he was in the past? No.

Will he be an improvement over what we currently have? Yes.

Now if our passing game turns out to be even middle-of-the-pack this year I think the Ravens could easily go all the way.

[DMN in the House]

The Ravens suck.

You'll never have a 'middle of the pack' passing game because you don't have a 'middle of the pack' quarterback, you have a shitty quarterback. Hell, you have a shitty backup too.

Face it, all you have are the Lewis's, and out of them, only Ray is an 'elite' player.

Cincinatti is winning the AFC North.

[Guest Bluesman]

Face it, all you have are the Lewis's, and out of them, only Ray is an 'elite' player.

Edited August 31, 2004 by Bluesman

[DMN in the House]

Palmer's NOT a rookie, he's a second year player

And Boller is just shitty anyway.

Oh, and Jamal Lewis is not 'elite'. He gets a shitload of carries, and he's good, but he's no Priest Holmes or LaDanian Tomlinson, the only two RBs I'd consider 'elite' right now, with Duece McCallister and Marshall Faulk as maybes.

[livid]

No, Palmer is a mix of the two. Sure he's been in the system for a year already, but has he been in a game? No. Boller isn't shitty just because he had a bad rookie year, anybody can have a bad rookie year and still be a good QB. And I want to know the reasons why he's shitty if he's as bad as you claim he is. Because from what I can tell, he's got an arm and he's got mobility to get out of the pocket when needed. What are you looking for? He's not going to be able to read coverage as well as a 10-year, or even 2-year player in the game. He's going to improve and he's got another good wideout on the team now too, so that should help him.

While Lewis may not be an "elite" back yet, he's well on his way. If he has a, let's say, 1500 yard season, then he'll start to become one of the "elite". You don't just get a 2000 yard season for nothing, you have to work for it and have to be good.

Oh and for your information, with the passing game that they had last year, who won the division? It's not guarenteed that Palmer will have a great year this year and the Bengals might even lose a step with starting an unproven Quarterback over Kitna. But your opinion is your opinion and if you have that much faith in Palmer and that much non-faith in Boller, then so be it.

[jonnycomelately]

I mean, Deion is Deion and the only person that even comes close, or so they say at least, is D'Angelo Hall.

[Guest Bluesman]

Palmer's NOT a rookie, he's a second year player

[DMN in the House]

If Faulk returned to the way he played before, he'd be elite. He is still considered in arguements as an 'elite' back.

Jamal Lewis is a good back, but he's not exactly great. Nevermind that he padded his stats against week defenses (Cleveland anyone?). I don't consider him an elite back. Holmes dosen't need to have as good an average, all he does is score TDs.

And I'm not saying Boller sucks because he was a rookie, I'm saying he sucks because... well... he sucks. He got hyped in the draft because he could throw 50 yards on his knees, which means jack shit.

[Guest Bluesman]

If Faulk returned to the way he played before, he'd be elite. He is still considered in arguements as an 'elite' back.

Edited September 1, 2004 by Bluesman

[DMN in the House]

I'm no the only one that thinks Boller sucks. Give me one good reason why he dosen't. He hasn't shown anything that says he's any better then David Carr or Joey Harrington, two QBs on worse teams. He's just not any good.

And I'll take touchdowns over yards anyday. The Ravens are in a very, very, bad division, probably the worst in football. They have a good defense, but its not what it was, and beyond Ray Lewis, they have no players that are considered top 3 at their position, besides the, arguably, Chris McCalister, who's no Ty Law or Champ Bailey, or hell, even Charles Woodson. Jamal Lewis is good, but he's not great. I'd take LT, Holmes, Deuce, Ahman Green, and Ricky Williams, if he ever retrns, over him.

[Guest Bluesman]

I'm no the only one that thinks Boller sucks. Give me one good reason why he dosen't.

[DMN in the House]

Bah, this is why I hate Raven's fans, they can't accept a different opinion then that the Ravens are the best team to ever step on the field. All this, while their defense is declining from its peak (I like Kelly Gregg though), and their offense absolutely fucking sucks.

If you were to talk shit about the Raiders, the only position I would call you out on, if you said it was shit, would be the O-Line, the rest of our team is debatable.

[Guest Bluesman]

Bah, this is why I hate Raven's fans, they can't accept a different opinion then that the Ravens are the best team to ever step on the field.

[DMN in the House]

I don't hate Jamal Lewis, in fact, I love his running style, I just don't think he's 'elite'. Yards don't matter, he just dosen't have 'it'. I don't know how to explain it.

And I say Boller sucks because not only did I watch him in games last year, but I watched him at Cal, and he has NEVER impressed me. He's a mediocre QB.