Ravens offer Prime Time DB position
The Baltimore Ravens are excited about the prospect of having Deion Sanders come out of retirement and be a part of their defensive backfield.
The question now is: Will he take them up on their offer?
The Ravens have told Sanders that if he wants to end his retirement of three years, he would be welcome to join the team. Sanders is working out at his Dallas home in an effort to determine if he can take the punishment of playing in the NFL.
“He’s obviously doing his due diligence to see if this is something he really wants to do,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said Wednesday. “Certainly we’d love to have him in, and when we get to that point, he’ll be in.”
Ravens safety Corey Fuller, a good friend of Sanders, isn’t so sure that Sanders is ready to put on a helmet and shoulder pads.
“I talk to him every day,” Fuller said. “I know what he’s going to do. The man said he’s not coming. He’s got four kids. It’s not because he can’t play anymore. It’s just that the man has a lot going on outside of football.”
Eagles defense banged up
The first move the Philadelphia Eagles made this off-season was designed to place the defense in attack mode. When they signed defensive end Jevon Kearse on the first day of the free-agency period, it was a signal that they wanted more of an outside pass rush in the hope of creating more turnovers.
Now, with three weeks left before the Eagles’ season opener against the New York Giants, the defenders are dropping even faster and sooner than they did a year ago. Five of the Eagles’ 11 defensive starters probably will not dress for tonight’s preseason game against Baltimore at Lincoln Financial Field.
Free safety Brian Dawkins has practiced just once since the start of training camp, and no firm date has been given for his return from a bone bruise on his left knee.
Defensive end N.D. Kalu is out for the season and will undergo knee surgery later this month.
Linebacker Dhani Jones is out at least two weeks with a high left ankle sprain.
Defensive tackle Corey Simon has a sore lower back, and the Eagles have not yet revealed the extent of the injury.
Linebacker Nate Wayne is still nursing a sore hamstring.
The Eagles’ defense will also be missing some key backups in defensive tackle Sam Rayburn (sprained ankle) and rookie cornerback Matt Ware (bruised knee).
Around the league
Arizona defensive tackle Kenny King needs surgery on his right wrist and will probably miss the season. … New York Jets strong safety Reggie Tongue (strained calf) returned to practice. … Running back Skip Hicks and wide receiver Jay Chapman were cut by the Cincinnati Bengals.