Pastor Deion Puts In Appearance

Deion Sanders, wearing a diamond-encrusted gold cross necklace and professing he has found peace in his life, showed up at the Dallas Cowboys’ practice field Thursday and announced, “Have no fear, Deion is here.”

It was a whirlwind visit by Sanders on his off-day from baseball duties with the Cincinnati Reds. It included meetings with defensive coaches, a physical examination, hugs and jokes with his teammates and a remarkable news conference about religion, divorce, baseball and football.

There also were some hard news details:

Sanders said his back is still sore, but he plans on opening the season with the Cowboys Aug. 31 at Pittsburgh and will include punt returning among his duties.

He will continue to play baseball for the Reds as much as the bulging disc in his back allows.

His looming divorce was “a blessing because I was able to look in a mirror and change things” and that someday he will become either an evangelist or a pastor.

“I’ve been born again and I’m not only showing it, I’m living it,” he said. “Being alone without my wife and kids gave me a chance to look within myself. … I’m opening the door for Jesus.

Now, I have peace in my life. My divorce was a blessing in disguise.”

Pace impresses Vermeil

St. Louis coach Dick Vermeil can’t stop praising Orlando Pace.

“Our defensive ends pass rush on him and he reaches out and jams them with those long arms. It straightens them right up,” Vermeil said of his rookie left tackle, the top pick in the NFL draft. “He’s impressive.”

Pace, who began practice this week after a long holdout, said he’s ready to make his debut in an exhibition game tonight, when the Rams play the Kansas City Chiefs.

49ers sign Washington

Defensive end Marvin Washington, the former Idaho Vandeal who was released earlier in the preseason after eight seasons with the New York Jets, signed a one-year contract with San Francisco.

Steve Emtman, who the 49ers signed during training camp, has only two tackles through three preseason games. Whether he makes the team or not could hinge on his play in Saturday’s game, defensive coordinator John Marshall said.

Bucs tighten security

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers heightened security at their training complex after a player who was released reportedly threatened members of the organization.

LaCurtis Jones, a second-year linebacker, was waived Monday when the Bucs trimmed the roster to the NFL’s 60-man limit.

While the Bucs declined to provide specific information about the incident, the St. Petersburg Times reported Jones apparently made a threat after he was released.

G.I. Emmitt

The NFL, trying to draw younger fans, announced a four-year contract with Hasbro Inc. to create action figures, board games, hand-held computer games and other toys based on pro football.

The first products, arriving in stores this month, include a series of 12-inch action figures of NFL stars such as Emmitt Smith, Dan Marino and Brett Favre. Next year, the NFL logo will be added to Hasbro’s popular Nerf footballs.

Fleming’s Super Bowl rings stolen

Marv Fleming, who played in five NFL Super Bowls, has reported that two of his Super Bowl rings were stolen at the Snowbird-Canyon Racquet Club in Salt Lake City.

The rings are for the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II win in 1967 and the ‘72 ring from the Miami Dolphins’ 17-0 season.

Patriots 28, Eagles 14

At Philadelphia, Curtis Martin and Sedrick Shaw got New England’s first rushing touchdowns of the exhibition season as the Patriots beat Philadelphia on Thursday.

Colts 16, Lions 3

At Indianapolis, Sean Dawkins caught four passes and scored a second-quarter touchdown that helped Indianapolis beat Detroit.

Dolphins 28, Redskins 7

At Miami, Charles Jordan ran back a punt 96 yards for a touchdown and rookie Sam Madison picked up a fumble and scrambled 58 yards for another as Miami whipped Washington.