Four receptions and one bruising hit later, Deion Sanders finds himself “questionable” for the Dallas Cowboys’ opener against the Bears on Monday night in Soldier Field, where the healing power of the national spotlight is expected to work wonders.
“I anticipate he will start both ways,” Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said Wednesday, eliminating the question.
And how much will he play? It will depend on Sanders, Switzer said. As a wide receiver, he might need some rest. As a cornerback, he might not.
“Chicago isn’t a team that airs it out 50 times a game. If they’re trying to block him, Deion doesn’t exert any energy. He might play the whole ballgame,” Switzer said.
The Cowboys might even need him both ways the whole game, although Switzer leaves no doubt about where he believes him most valuable. Despite the suspension to receiver Michael Irvin, a back injury to tight end Jay Novacek and an off-season of offensive preparation, Deion still stands for defense.
“Obviously, he’s the best cover corner in the NFL. Our defensive coaches feel if he plays the whole game, he’s worth seven points,” Switzer said.
Preventing seven points is the same as scoring seven, although that concept is more exciting to coaches watching game tapes than fans watching games.
In parts of seven NFL seasons, Sanders has touched the football 314 times as a kick returner, interceptor or receiver. That’s only 45 times a year, about the same number of chances Bears backup fullback Tony Carter had last season. But Sanders has averaged 18.1 yards per touch, enough at least to consider getting him the ball more often. It makes sense to everybody but defensive coordinators, who apparently form a conspiracy to keep him on their side just so they don’t have to stop him.
If people think the double effort will fracture Sanders’ effectiveness, that’s OK with Sanders.
“The thing about it is, people don’t know what we’re going to do,” Sanders told Texas reporters. “They don’t know our plans. Every time, Jerry (Cowboys owner Jones) comes out on top and makes them look stupid. And every time, I come out on top and make them look stupid.”
To quarterback Troy Aikman, Sanders looks good, but not great.
“He’s not going to make anyone forget Michael Irvin, but I think you’ll see an ability to make plays downfield,” Aikman said. “He’s a good wide receiver. I think for anyone to think he can come over to offense and be one of the top three wide receivers in the league is naive. It gives the appearance to play wide receiver is simple, and it’s not. He has all the talent to be a great wide receiver, but it takes time. I don’t think the time he’s put in is enough to make him a great player.”
To Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, Sanders looks dangerous.
“He has great leaping ability. He has great hand-eye coordination. The thing everybody talks about with him is his speed, but he can make a play on the ball as well as most of the receivers we’ll face,” Wannstedt said.
To Atlanta Falcons personnel chief Ken Herock, who drafted Sanders in 1989, a two-way Sanders will not double the Cowboys’ pleasure.
“If he’s playing on offense, it will take away some from his defensive back performance,” Herock said. “He’s not going to be as technique-conscious. It will be again all raw ability, which is pretty darn good.”
Herock believes if Sanders concentrated on playing cornerback, “Nobody would touch him who ever has been in the NFL.”
To Aikman, Sanders has been outstanding as a cornerback even after missing all of training camp and some of most seasons playing baseball.
“It’s not necessary for him to spend time at defensive back for him to be effective,” Aikman said.
Switzer said he will allow Sanders to coach himself, much as he has the last two exhibition games, because nobody can monitor his body better.
“Deion will manage himself, so we’ll never know how many snaps he’ll play,” Switzer said.
