TK Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6443-2004Aug16.html Billick Is Clueless on Sanders Talk By Camille Powell Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, August 17, 2004; Page D05 WESTMINSTER, Md., Aug. 16 -- Baltimore Ravens Coach Brian Billick didn't wait for the first question to be asked at his daily media gathering at training camp; he gave an answer to the question that he knew was coming: "The man's retired. I've got no clue," Billick said of a report that Deion Sanders was contemplating coming out of retirement to play for the Ravens. "Next question." Sanders, one of the NFL's greatest cornerbacks and a future Hall of Famer, is 37 and has been out of football for three seasons. Yet he remains a charismatic figure, and the possibility that he might return to the NFL with the Ravens -- as first reported by the Baltimore Sun in Monday's editions -- is intriguing. But the Ravens aren't saying much, other than they would be interested in Sanders if he came out of retirement. "Sure, if he comes out of retirement, yeah," Billick said. "Stand in line. There would be a lot of teams interested if he came out of retirement." Sanders hasn't played since the 2000 season, when he was with the Washington Redskins. He retired in July 2001 after 12 seasons in the NFL, in which he was named to seven Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl titles with San Francisco and Dallas. "I don't know," said Eugene Parker, Sanders's agent, when asked if a return was imminent. "Right now, he's retired." Sanders has gotten calls from players -- including the Ravens' Ray Lewis and Corey Fuller, his close friends -- who have asked him to consider returning to football, according to a source close to Sanders. "If anybody can come back, he can," the source said. "But he's not going to come back to be mediocre." Another member of Sanders's camp said that Sanders will use the next two to three weeks to work out and think about whether he wants to return. Sanders is a free agent and can sign with any team. The Ravens are an attractive option because Sanders would not have to be the main man, according to the second source. Baltimore's secondary features two Pro Bowl players, third-year safety Ed Reed and sixth-year cornerback Chris McAlister (who has yet to report to camp because of a contract dispute), as well as a rising star in fourth-year cornerback Gary Baxter. Instead, Sanders would be used as a nickel back in passing situations. The Ravens thought they had found their nickel back when they signed veteran Dale Carter in June, but Carter is out for the season because of a blood clot in his lung. Sanders's post-football television career has stalled. He spent the last three seasons as part of CBS's pregame show but left in May because the network reportedly refused to double his $1 million salary. Sanders was also relieved of his hosting duties on ESPN's "The New American Sportsman" because he was only interested in fishing, and not the hunting and shooting aspects of the show. He is supposed to co-host a sports-themed talk show with comedian Paul Rodriguez. This is not the first time that Sanders has flirted with a return to the NFL. In December 2002, Sanders said that he was interested in playing for the Oakland Raiders, who eventually wound up in the Super Bowl. The Redskins waived Sanders off their reserve-retired list, which allowed any team to claim him, and Sanders ended up with San Diego, which had the worst record of the teams that put in a claim. Last November, Sanders told ESPN that he wanted to be considered for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching position. But apparently, the idea of playing still interests him. "I never say never," Sanders said in a joint interview with The Baltimore Sun and Comcast SportsNet that was posted on the paper's Web site. "It would be a wonderful thing if I got the opportunity to play." Staff writer Mark Maske contributed to this report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manichispanic Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 He'll be back. I like Billick, but he sure does flat out lie to the media quite a bit..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 ESPN's Chris Mortenson reported that while on vacation with Corey Fuller and Ray Lewis, Sanders beat them in a footrace and that this sparked the Ravens players to urge Deion to unretire. He also said that Deion would take the next couple of weeks to get in shape and that the Ravens would "wait and see" how he looks at the end of that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 The title of the thread should be "Billick is Clueless", period. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 I got this off a ravens message board. Posted by TTroj52: "CSN reported that Deion Sanders is going to do a very strenious(sp?) workout routine for 2 weeks and then decide if he has enough left to give it a go. From the way they were talking on CSN it seems that the Ravens have already contacted Deion and the decision is up to him. " http://www.ravensnests.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbear Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 He just wants to miss two a days. He'll try to come back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Just Curious. Do we get any $$$ if he signs with another team? I mean, we got hosed because he retired when he was with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Another question would be whether San Diego has his rights, since they (Schottenheimer) claimed him off of waiver when he contemplated coming out of retirement previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigSkins Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 "CSN reported that Deion Sanders is going to do a very strenious(sp?) workout routine for 2 weeks and then decide if he has enough left to give it a go. From the way they were talking on CSN it seems that the Ravens have already contacted Deion and the decision is up to him. " Isn't that what Training Camp is for? He's lieing, he just wants to skip training camp. He is such a hypocrite. I hate him so much. If he does come back, I "do" wish harm and injury on him. :bsflag: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Originally posted by bird_1972 Just Curious. Do we get any $$$ if he signs with another team? I mean, we got hosed because he retired when he was with us. No, we have no ties to Deion. The last team to claim him was San Diego when they claim him off of waivers so he couldn't play for the Raiders two years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Originally posted by afparent No, we have no ties to Deion. The last team to claim him was San Diego when they claim him off of waivers so he couldn't play for the Raiders two years ago. :doh: I knew he screwed us. Was hoping if he returned that we could do the same to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Complete Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Though I don't wish injury on anyone, I can agree with this sentiment. The guy is a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief skin Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Can't stand him, he will weasel his way back, he just does not want to deal with training camp, Phucking wuss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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