Deion Luwynn Sanders is an NFL cornerback, former Major League Baseball player, and CBS sports commentator. Born August 9 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida, Sanders, also known as Neon Deion, Prime Time, and Nine-Toe, is considered one of the most versatile athletes in American sports, along with Jim Thorpe and Bo Jackson.

College career

Sanders played at cornerback for Florida State University, where he attended from 1985-1988. During his time there, on a team that included future NFL players Leroy Butler and Martin Mayhew , Sanders intercepted 14 passes, including three in bowl games, and his abilities as a shutdown corner were already quite apparent. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988 and is largely considered the best cornerback ever to play college football. He also played punt returner for FSU, leading the nation in 1988 with his punt return average, and breaking the school's record for career punt return yards. His jersey at Florida State, #2, was retired.

In his college years, Sanders also played baseball. In high school he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, and during college was taken by the New York Yankees, playing with three farm teams. He hit .331 in 1986, although he was known more for incredible abilities at base stealing and versatile range of outfielder positions than anything else.

Sanders was also a track and field athlete. During one day, Sanders played the first game of a baseball double-header, ran a leg of a 4X100 relay, still in baseball pants, then returned to play another game.

MLB Career

In his nine-year, part-time baseball career, Sanders played 641 games with the Yankees, Braves, Reds, and Giants. During his most productive year, 1992, he hit .304 for the Braves, and stole 26 bases in 97 games. During the 1989 season, he hit a home run and scored a touchdown in the NFL in the same week, the first player to do so. Sanders is the only man to have played in a MLB and NFL game during the same day, and is also the only player to play in both a Super Bowl and World Series.

NFL Career

Deion Sanders's professional football career started the same year as his baseball career, 1989. He was the fifth pick of the first round in the 1989 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, where he played until 1993. During his time there, he intercepted 24 passes, three for touchdowns. Although his tackling technique was poor and his covering technique was unconventional, his blinding speed and athleticism made up for it, and opposing teams were forced to alter their offensive and special teams schemes accordingly.

He played briefly with the San Francisco 49ers, where he won a Super Bowl, and went on to win another with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for several years. He is the only player to catch a pass and make an interception in the Super Bowl. He later was acquired by the Washington Redskins, and retired in 2001, though he would later come back to play in the NFL in 2004.

During his 12-year career, Sanders was one of the most versatile weapons in the game. He intercepted 48 passes for over 1000 yards, and scored 22 touchdowns: eight interceptions, six punt returns, three catches, three kickoff returns, one rushing, and one fumble recovery. By the end of his career, offensive coordinators generally avoided utilizing Sanders' side of the field.

One of the few successful two-way players of the modern NFL, Sanders was easily one of the most visible and outspoken to ever take the field. Even though he was widely known as an obnoxious, egomaniacal prima donna, and scorned for his infrequent tackling, Sanders' ability to shut down the entire field could not be denied. Sanders, known for his custom-made teal suits and flashy jewelry, frequently capitalized on his image, even recording a rap album, Prime Time, with a single that broke the Top 10 on the R&B charts.

First retirement and comeback

After retiring from the NFL, Sanders worked as a sports pre-game commentator for CBS' The NFL Today until 2004, when contract negotiations failed. He was replaced by Shannon Sharpe. Sanders frequently had guest appearances on ESPN, especially on the ESPN Radio Dallas affiliate, and briefly hosted a show called The New American Sportsman. He also hosted the 2002 Miss America pageant. Sanders has been married twice, with two children.

In 2004, Sanders announced that he was going to end his retirement. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens to be a nickel back . Sanders chose to wear the number 37, which matches his current age. This is an open statement on his part to let everyone know that he is well aware of his age and but refuses to let that negatively affect his game. On October 24, Sanders scored his ninth career touchdown on an interception return against the Buffalo Bills, moving him into a tie for second place behind Rod Woodson (12) all-time in that category.Sanders is one of a handful of NFL players to play after the age of 35.

References