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Number Crunching: #21
by Chris Brophy
22/8/2009
As we move along to number 21 we visit the golden top five of the 1989 draft for the second straight time in this series. If that wasn’t enough our all-time #20 and #21 didn’t even have the decency to have different surnames. However, they were vastly different players in terms of their style and ego but both were so exciting to watch and two of the best ever at their respective positions. Whilst Barry Sanders starred on offense we turn our attention to (mainly) defense this time around. Read on to find out more about the Diner’s all-time #21:
FD’s All Time #21: Deion Sanders, Cornerback (Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens)
 As mentioned in the introduction to this piece, the top five of the 1989 draft was golden. Apart from the bust that was Tony Mandarich (read more about him in another Diner history article) the other top four picks all had Hall of Fame careers. Having said that, there is one of that four who is not yet in the Hall of Fame yet but that is only because he is not eligible at present. That player is Deion Sanders.
Neon Deion Sanders had a career filled with everything you could imagine from a sports star and a little bit more. As an athlete he had speed, agility, lightening fast reactions and enough confidence (and nicknames) for a whole football team. In his career he managed to professionally play two sports (pro football and baseball) and become the first man to play in the Super Bowl and World Series.
Deion Sanders originates from Fort Meyers in Florida and as a high school athlete he starred at football, baseball and basketball. He is still regarded as one of the greatest high school athletes in Florida history. He then went to college at Florida State University where he remained a star at football and baseball but swapped basketball for the track and his abilities helped all three sporting units to great success. The baseball team was one of the nation’s best, he helped the track and field team win a national championship and at football he helped the Seminoles win the 1988 Sugar Bowl with a last second interception against Auburn. As a football player he was named All-American in 1987 and 1988 whilst also adding the Jim Thorpe award to his list of accolades in 1988. He intercepted 14 passes (including three in bowl games) and set school records for punt return yardage whilst leading the nation in punt return average as a senior.
That would lead him to be drafted by both professional football and baseball teams. He had already been drafted by an MLB team in 1985 (the Kansas City Royals, but he never accepted the offer) and was so again in 1989 by the New York Yankees whom he did sign with. He was also drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 5th overall pick of the 1989 draft and his hype was getting him plenty of attention. With his possible baseball career and the fact Bo Jackson of the Raiders was pulling double duty there was concerns Sanders might follow a similar path and put football second. However, Sanders started his MLB career in the minors so he came back to football and his impact was instance. In his first game as a Falcon he took a punt back 69 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Rams. His moves and explosiveness with the ball in his hands was evident. Typical of the times the team was having though it would be in a losing effort.
 The following season saw plenty of change in Atlanta and the main one was the appointment of Jerry Glanville as Head Coach. Sanders and Glanville was a match made in heaven the pair of them being bold, brash and outspoken. Glanville set about giving the team a makeover with new black uniforms and the introduction of an aggressive style of defense in which Sanders would benefit hugely. Glanville’s teams would often blitz with 7 or 8 players at a time meaning Sanders was asked to cover receivers on an island with no help behind. He managed this just find with his superior cover skills but the heavy blitzing also meant QB’s often got hit as they threw or threw blind and that meant interceptions came thick and fast. Sanders recorded three interceptions in that first season under Glanville and his skills as a returner saw him take two of them back for touchdowns. His first interception return TD came in the Falcons opening game of the 1990 season when they showed off their new attitude against Glanville’s former team the Houston Oilers – in a 47-27 victory. In the final game of that season he scored his other interception return TD against future employers the Dallas Cowboys with a dazzling 61 yard run after making the pick. As was typical of Deion his visits to the end zone saw him bring his ego out to play with high stepping and dancing. Deion would flirt with the music industry and would even have rapper MC Hammer as his guest on the sideline for some games.
The Falcons had only gone 5-11 that season bit 1991 would see them make the big turnaround as after a poor start which saw them lose their first two games they went on to win 10 of their next 14 games to finish 10-6 and clinch a wild card. Sanders worth to the team was shown in the only game he missed that year a 56-17 smacking by the Redskins (a game that also seen the NFL debut of a certain Brett Favre) in which Redskins QB Mark Rypien threw for 442 yards and 6 TD’s!
They would fall in the play-offs that year to those same Redskins in the divisional round but only after they had beaten NFC West divisional champions the New Orleans Saints the week before with Sanders grabbing his first post season interception from Saints QB Bobby Hebert.
The Falcons returned back to losing ways (6-10) the following season but for Sanders, baseball was starting to cross over with his football career. Sanders was playing baseball all week and missing practice, just showing up for game days. He enjoyed a career year with the Atlanta Braves (who he now played for) and he led the National League in triples (with 14) as well as helping the Braves to the World Series. In one week he hit a home run and scored a touchdown (on a kick-off return against the Redskins) becoming the first ever person to record such a feat.
 By now the Glanville era was coming to an end and he was fired after another 6-10 season in 1993. Sanders was still playing some baseball and his Falcons contract was up. This was the beginning of the NFL’s modern free agency system and Sanders decided to bide his time. Eventually he elected to join the San Francisco 49ers and despite missing the first two games of the season he joined up with the team and proved to be the difference in getting them back to the Super Bowl.
He enjoyed probably the best season of his illustrious career. He recorded 6 interceptions of which he returned 3 of them for scores. He blanketed receivers and helped take a good 49ers defense and make it one of the league’s best. He infamously clashed with ex-Falcon team mate Andre Rison when he matched up with him whilst facing his old team and they went after each other on the field during one play. The 49ers got the victory and Prime Time proclaimed after the game how the Georgia Dome was his house (the Falcons had moved there in 1992 which he was still with the team) whether he was with the Falcons or not.
Sanders contribution to the 49ers 13-3 record was recognised with the Defensive Player of the Year award and in the play-offs the 49ers blew past the Bears before facing their nemesis of the previous two seasons the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders recorded an interception in the game and the 49ers finally got over the hump they had fallen at the previous two years to make the Super Bowl.
In Super Bowl XXIX the 49ers blew away the San Diego Chargers. Sanders once again had an excellent game and recorded an interception. He was a World Champion at last and his superb performances all year long had been a clear difference in the 49ers and Cowboys battle for league superiority.
Having only joined the 49ers on a one year deal Sanders was a free agent again. The 49ers were keen to have him back but were limited by the new salary cap because they had invested heavily in other players before bringing in Sanders the previous year. The Cowboys had saw the difference Sanders made and pounced, signing him to a 5 year $35m contract, promising they would not interfere in his baseball activities as long as he played football when the season was in progress and also promising him the chance to play more offense which is something he had flirted with as a Falcon.
 He would again prove to be the difference for his new team as the Cowboys made their third Super Bowl in four years in 1995. Sanders only played 9 regular season games but in the post season he showed how much of an impact he could have. Against the Eagles in the divisional round he rushed for a 21 yard TD on a reverse play, caught a 13 yard pass and recorded an interception in a 30-11 win. In the NFC Championship game he again got involved on offense catching a 35 yard pass as the Cowboys got past the Packers and went on to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
Sanders for once was overshadowed in a big game as former 12th round pick – and fellow cornerback Larry Brown – on the opposite side of the field won MVP honours with a 2 interception performance as the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl of the decade and fifth over with a 27-17 victory. He did have his moment of glory though as he lined up on offense again and caught a 47 yard pass from Troy Aikman that helped set up the Cowboys first TD (a 3yard reception by Jay Novacek from Troy Aikman). It would be the longest play from scrimmage in the game. Once again, Prime Time had been able to be part of a Championship team and when it mattered, being able to provide game breaking plays.
The Cowboys would not quite reach those dizzy heights again during Sanders tenure with the team but he was still able to go off and play baseball with his new team, the Cincinnati Reds, as he saw fit and he was getting more time on offense. In 1996 he featured heavily in the Cowboys offense, catching 36 balls for 475 yards and a TD reception over the course of the 16 games. Dallas returned to the play-offs that season and Sanders recorded an interception in the Cowboys victory over the Vikings but then they were upset in the next round by the upstart new boys the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys have not won a play-off game since!
 Sanders would play out the rest of his contract with the franchise, still making many big plays although the team’s success was starting to tail off. His final touchdown as a Cowboy would come against the Cowboys arch rivals the Redskins on a 70 yard punt return in a 38-20 victory.
By now though the Cowboys were in what can only be termed as salary cap hell. The big contracts of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Sanders meant the team had not been able to hold on to some of its other stars and it was slowly crumbling apart. Sanders was still a big draw though and in Washington, a man who had similar ideas to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Redskins new owner Dan Snyder wanted Prime Time to join his galaxy of stars aimed at a Super Bowl run. Sanders was offered a mind blowing contract, 8 years and $56m which he of course accepted, arriving in Washington dressed in a burgundy suit and gold trim.
Sanders addition to the Redskins along with Bruce Smith, Jeff George and Mark Carrier was supposed to push a team that had won the NFC East the season before and take them the next step but it proved to be a disaster. After a 6-2 start the team fell into a tailspin and Head Coach Norv Turner was fired with 2 games remaining. Sanders himself did not enjoy a great season by his standards. He did return a punt to set up a winning field goal against the Buccaneers in overtime and he did record 4 interceptions whilst only allowing one TD pass all season long but he was playing opposite new star Champ Bailey and found himself actually targeting more than the young pup opposite. Given what Bailey has achieved since and remembering Hall of Famer Darrell Green was still on the roster it’s hard to believe the ‘Skins could not gain success with such a talented roster.
 With Turner fired, Marty Schottenhiemer was brought in to take over all football operations by the Redskins. He was not keen on Sanders lack of off-season effort and made it clear he would not tolerate it so Sanders promptly retired. He missed the next three seasons and after going back to baseball for a short period it did seem his football career was over.
The Raiders tried to make a move for Sanders in 2002 and wanted him to join them for the play-offs. Sanders was keen but needed his official release. The Redskins granted Sanders his wish and waived him from their reserve/retired list but waivers meant he could be claimed by other teams and the Chargers, now coached by Marty Schottenheimer, decided to get tactical and claim Sanders rights preventing him joining the Raiders.
Sanders of course had no intention of joining up with the Chargers so remained retired but he was tempted back eventually in 2004 by the Baltimore Ravens to team up with the likes of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and others in the dominating Raven defense. He played a nickel role most of the time but showed he still possessed speed and the ability to make a big play including returning an interception for a TD in a victory over the Buffalo Bills. That TD would be the 22nd of his career and his 19th return TD, an NFL record that still stands.
He played another season with the Ravens in 2005 before finally retiring for good and going onto a successful TV career with the NFL Network. By the time he had finished he had 9 Pro Bowl selections, 6 first team All-Pro selections, 2 World Championships, the 1993 Defensive MVP award and he had been named to the 1990’s All-Decade team. He recorded 53 career interceptions and took nine of them back for scores, raking up 1331 return yards in the process.
Deion Prime Time Sanders wasn’t perfect, he was not the greatest tackler in the world for example but it’s nit picking about a guy who was as talented a player as the league has ever seen. He is in the argument for the best cornerback all time and will walk into Canton soon enough.
Honourable Mentions:
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Ed Meador, Cornerback/Safety (Los Angeles Rams)
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John Hadl, Quarterback (San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Houston Oilers)
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Cliff Branch, Wide Receiver (Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders)
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James Brooks, Running Back (San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
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Eric Allen, Cornerback (Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders)
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Terry Allen, Running Back (Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots)
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Tiki Barber, Running Back (New York Giants)
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Ladanian Tomlinson, Running Back (San Diego Chargers)
 Ed Meador is one of the best defensive backs of the 1960’s and maybe the best defensive back nobody knows. He was an 8 time Pro Bowler for the Rams making his name as a cornerback before moving to safety where he would become even better. He is the Rams All-Time leader in interceptions (46) and fumble recoveries (18) as well as being a superb special teams player with 10 career blocked kicks and acting as holder on kicks.
Another former Ram we need to talk about is quarterback John Hadl. He made his name in the AFL with the Chargers where he twice led that league in passing. He went on to be traded to the Rams and he helped lead them to the play-offs before stints with the Packers and Oilers. He was the last QB in the league to wear a number greater than 19 and he also was a Head Coach of the USFL’s Los Angeles Express.
Cliff Branch is one of the best deep threats of all time and his career means you can see why Al Davis is still trying to find similar players all these years later. Branch spent 14 years terrorising defensive backs and was a part of all three Raider Super Bowl teams. His best season came in 1976 when off only 46 receptions he gained 1111 yards and 12TD’s. That’s an average of 24.2 yards per catch! His career average was 17.9 and he is one of the select few players to have a 99 yard TD receptions.
Eric Allen was in the league at roughly the same time as Deion Sanders and he was one of the better corners about. Part of Buddy Ryan’s Gang Green D which was modelled on Ryan’s success with the Bears, he also played for the Saints and Raiders and recorded 54 career interceptions. He was named to 6 Pro Bowls during his playing days.
We have several great running backs who donned the #21 jersey. James Brooks was a superb outside runner and receiver for the Chargers and Bengals and was named to 4 Pro Bowls. Terry Allen overcame two serious knee injuries to have a long and productive career whilst Tiki Barber got better with age and by the time he retired was one of the most dominant runners in the league.
The best runner to wear #21 is still plying his trade in the NFL though. LaDainian Tomlinson is the first ever player to rush for 1000 yards and grab 100 receptions in the same season and the fastest player to 100 touchdowns ever. He holds the record for most touchdowns and points in a season and numerous other scoring and rushing records in what will surely be a Hall of Fame career.
Learn More about past NFL greats in our History Archive
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