Newsgroup: it.sport.americani
Titolo: [NFL] Deion: "I could become a Raider"

OAKLAND, Calif. (Dec. 22, 2002) -- Deion Sanders is discussing coming out of
retirement to join the Oakland Raiders for the playoffs.
"I may come back to a playoff team," he said on CBS Sports' The NFL Today,
where he's a studio host. "I've made contact, I have spoken to my attorney,
we have spoken to the Oakland Raiders."
Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen would not confirm the team was
negotiating with Sanders, a cornerback who retired after the 2000 season and
11 years in the NFL.
But Allen didn't deny it, either.
"No, I can't say it's false," Allen said. "Yes, he did say that, didn't he?
I think he's always liked the Raiders. I think he's having some fun
imagining the possibilities. Everything is possible. Earlier in the week, we
were short on corners."
Allen said it wouldn't happen on a day when the Raiders were playing the
Denver Broncos in a key AFC West game.
Aside from Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson, who has started every game this
season, the Raiders' secondary has been reeling.
Cornerback Charles Woodson planned to play despite a cracked fibula in his
right leg. Tory James, who has a similar injury and had surgery Dec. 12,
could return Dec. 28 for the regular-season finale against Kansas City,
Allen said.
"I don't know if Deion's old enough to play on our team," Allen said of the
35-year-old Sanders. "He's got to wait a year or two."
Quarterback Rich Gannon turned 37 on Dec. 20, receiver Jerry Rice is 40 and
Tim Brown is 36. Rod Woodson is 37 and linebacker Bill Romanowski is 36.
And the Raiders believe this is their best shot of getting to the Super Bowl
before salary cap restrictions force major changes to the roster.
Sanders said he hadn't made a decision.
"I'm really thinking about the whole situation," he said. "I'm not going to
say I have an offer from the Raiders."
How soon would he go?
"I could get off this desk right now and go," he said. "I wouldn't come back
for a full season. I would never come back for a full season, because I love
my job, and I love you all out there. But I tell you what, it is intriguing
for a playoff run, when it all counts. I like that aspect of it."
Later in the show, during a rundown of the playoff picture, fellow analyst
Boomer Esiason noted the Raiders have a "tenuous" hold on the top spot in
the AFC.
"That's why I'm somewhat hesitant," Sanders said. "Because you've got to
understand ... I'm watching Oakland. Because this is Custer's last stand.
The old-timers, this is your last stand. ... That's why right now it's
evident that they do what they must do."
Calls to Sanders' agent were not immediately returned.
Sanders finished his career with 474 tackles, 385 of them solo, 48
interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and eight touchdowns. He also was a
standout kick returner.
Quanti di voi pensano che Sanders sia stato un fenomeno e quanti che sia
stato sì un fenomeno ma di costume, e che a parte la velocità e l'eccessiva
eccentricità non avesse poi tutto questo talento che alcuni sbandieravano?
E cmq non gioca dal duemila; sarà un pò arrugginito, no?
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