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Sanders wants Redskins ready for Cowboys
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. -- Monday night's game means too much to Deion
Sanders to let the Washington Redskins suffer a letdown against his
former team, the winless Dallas Cowboys. He's thus vowed to be
inspirational.
"When I was a Cowboy, we really believed we could beat the
Redskins," he said at Redskins Park on Thursday. "I'm going to
address my teammates here and let them know the Cowboys always
believed that. We've got to believe that inside this locker room,
because you're not going to see an 0-2 team come to play. You're
going to see a football team play like they haven't played this
year."
Monday, Sanders will face for the first time the team he played
for from 1995 until last year - a team he helped win a Super Bowl
in 1996 and represented four times in the Pro Bowl. Sanders was
released in June when he became too expensive.
"Monday night is always special," Sanders said. "You have the
center stage for the whole country to see you do your thing. Since
I've been a child I've been in the spotlight, and everyone's been
taking shots at me."
Sanders took shots in the spotlight last week, but it didn't
turn out so well for him. His performance at cornerback in a 15-10
loss to Detroit was the worst of his 12-year career, he said. Lions
quarterback Charlie Batch threw Sanders' way often, and often with
success, prompting a public confession.
"For me, it was a bad day," he said. "For most corners, it
was an average day. ... They just moved the ball with short curls
all day, particularly on me. But that will be corrected this week,
I assure you of that."
Sanders is a dangerous Monday night player. In 15 games, he's
scored three touchdowns, two from punt returns and the other on an
interception. He also has five interceptions and 16 receptions.
Sanders has said for some time he's looking forward to the
showdown.
"I can't say it's just another game," he said, "because I
have so many wonderful relationships with my past teammates in
Dallas, Darren Woodson, Alonzo Spellman, just to name a few."
It's a critical game for both NFC East teams. With the Redskins
at 1-1 and the Cowboys 0-2, a loss could hurt playoff hopes.
When Sanders wore the blue and silver, the Cowboys beat the
Redskins six of 10 games, including the last five. But he didn't
feel the same intensity in the rivalry that he senses now in
Washington, where "everyone looks forward to this game."
"It's totally different," he said. "I didn't think it was
that much of a rivalry, maybe because we were on the winning side
most of the time. But being on the Redskins now, you realize that
the rivalry is more than just a normal game. It has playoff
ramifications this early in the season."
Sanders, an eight-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer,
agreed to a seven-year contract in June worth an estimated $55
million. The Cowboys would have owed him $23.5 million over two
years had he stayed on their roster. He expressed no resentment
toward Cowboys management, or owner Jerry Jones, for cutting him.
"This is a business we play," he said. "It's a childish game,
but keep in mind, it's a business. That's why we all command
salaries."
Sanders has now played for two high-profile owners, Jones and
the Redskins' Dan Snyder, who assembled the most expensive team in
the NFL intending to win a Super Bowl. High-priced free agents who
signed with the Redskins include Sanders, defensive end Bruce
Smith, defensive back Mark Carrier and quarterback Jeff George.
Sanders defended his new paycheck-signer.
"Every owner in the league tries to secure free agents," he
said. "The difference is, Dan shops at Versace, other owners shop
at Wal-Mart. Tampa Bay did the same thing with Keyshawn (Johnson),
Jerry (Jones) did the same thing with Joey Galloway and a few other
guys. We get the most criticism because of what we've done for the
game."
Notes: The NFL fined safety Sam Shade $7,500 for his
helmet-to-helmet hit on Lions quarterback Charlie Batch Sunday. ...
Guard Keith Simms missed his second straight day of practice with a
strained Achilles tendon. He'll be re-evaluated Friday and will
likely play against Dallas, trainer Bubba Tyer said. ... Sanders
returned to practice after resting a bruised ankle Wednesday. ...
Running back Skip Hicks practiced for the first time since the
final exhibition game on Aug. 28, when he sprained a knee ligament.
He's questionable for the Dallas game.
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