Report Puts Deion, Dallas Near Deal

The Dallas Cowboys’ proposed five-year wedding to Deion Sanders probably won’t be consummated until Thursday, according to the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. But while the involved parties are waiting to approach the altar, they do seem to be planning the reception.

“We don’t even have to meet to do our business,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday night between phone conversations with Sanders’ agent and some of the Cowboys’ corporate sponsors candidates. “Both sides have talked enough that we can get it done in a day or so.”

The San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and other Sanders suitors might have their say. But it is conceivable that an agreement that would bring the 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year to Dallas could be achieved by phone today, and a news conference could be held at Valley Ranch on Thursday, all happening quickly enough to exclude other bidders. Thursday is an off day for Sanders and his baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, before they travel to Chicago to meet the Cubs.

Among the proposals that Sanders and agent Eugene Parker have been aware of for weeks is a five-year deal that includes $10 million upfront, sources have said. Jones said the contract would not necessarily ask Sanders to play just football in the future. Despite Dallas’ pressing need because of cornerback Kevin Smith’s season-ending injury, Jones said he will not ask Sanders to escape his commitment to the Giants before their Oct. 1 season closer.

Smith damaged his Achilles tendon without being touched in Monday night’s 35-0 win over the Giants. He was injured chasing a deep pass late in the first half.

“There was no contact and it didn’t look like the turf caused it,” Switzer said. “You could see Kevin running along and all of a sudden he looked around like, ‘Who hit me?’ Nobody touched him. It was just torque stress while he was running at full speed.”

Watters cuts back

Ricky Watters, who angered Eagles fans by declining to go after a pass over the middle - and then explained he didn’t want to get hit - reversed field and apologized for his lack of effort during the game and his comments afterward.

“All I can do is say I was wrong,” he said after calling a press conference at Veterans Stadium one day after the Philadelphia’s 21-6 loss to Tampa Bay.

Watters’ debut Sunday with the Eagles was abysmal - 37 yards on 17 carries, 34 yards on five catches and two fumbles - and his postgame comments didn’t help.

“Right here, I just want to say to my teammates, to the coaches, to the fans, everybody, that I am sorry. I am very sorry because I was out of line and out of character. That’s not me.”

Watters, the former San Francisco 49ers star who signed a $9.6 million, three-year contract with the Eagles in the off-season, is known for controversial remarks.

He said no one told him to apologize, and no one scripted the apology for him.

Seahawks make moves

The Seahawks released cornerback Dion Lambert and signed free-agent cornerback Selwyn Jones, Cleveland’s seventh-round draft choice in 1992.

Lambert started the final game of the 1994 season for the Seahawks at free safety and played two of four exhibition games for Seattle this year. He was inactive for Seattle’s regular-season opener, a 34-10 loss to Kansas City on Sunday in Seattle.

Jones was released by New Orleans Aug. 29 after playing in five games with one start for the Saints last season.