Dallas Ups The Deion Ante Five-Year, $20 Million-Plus Offer Would Require Aikman To Restructure

The Dallas Cowboys were so sure they were going to sign Deion Sanders that equipment managers sewed his name and number on two white jerseys.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones proposed a five-year contract worth between $23 million and $25 million with at least $9 million in upfront signing bonus, a source close to the negotiations told the Dallas Morning News. The developments left San Francisco 49ers president Carmen Policy almost convinced Sanders will depart the defending world champions for their rivals.

“I would say it is probably a 90-10 situation,” Policy said. “I think he’s probably going through the process of finalizing and formalizing a very, very significant offer. I know this much: Jerry has made a substantial offer with a significant signing bonus or Deion Sanders would be signed with San Francisco right now.”

Jones declined to confirm the numbers late Thursday, but said he expects Sanders to decide today.

“The offer we presented is significant financially, and I think it addresses Deion Sanders playing with the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones said. “I think we have really made the best offer we could. This offer has been well thought out, and there is nothing that would compromise this football team. We will not have to trade or waive any of our contributing players.”

The Cowboys clinched that when agent Leigh Steinberg canceled other appointments and rushed to Dallas to complete negotiations to restructure quarterback Troy Aikman’s contract. Aikman is prepared to sign the new agreement this morning provided Sanders accepts the Cowboys’ offer.

The team lowered Aikman’s charge to the NFL’s $37.1 million salary cap by the necessary $2 million for Sanders. Jones provided Aikman $2.38 million up front in converting base salary into signing bonus and added a year to the contract, which commits the quarterback through the 2001 season.

The restructuring of Aikman’s contract was pivotal to the Cowboys’ offer, so important that the player missed much of practice to meet with Jones in his office.

Jones said he does not anticipate presenting another proposal for Sanders. But the Cowboys, preparing for all contingencies, discussed possible trades for starting defensive tackle Russell Maryland with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and other teams to improve their salary-cap position, if necessary.

After the agreement with Aikman, Jones said Maryland will remain with the Cowboys this season. In the final year of his contract, Maryland charges $1.8 million to the salary cap but would have been lowered to $970,588 if he had been dispatched to another team.

Lions sign top lineman

Five-time Pro Bowl lineman Lomas Brown was back in a Detroit uniform after signing a one-year deal with the Lions.

Brown, Detroit’s starting left tackle, will be activated for Sunday’s game against Minnesota after skipping training camp and the team’s opening game. He agreed to a one-year contract for $2.7 million, minus the pay for missing the game against Pittsburgh.

Taylor doubtful

Wide receiver John Taylor is listed as “doubtful” for Sunday’s game, and the way he looked Wednesday, he appears to have as much chance of playing against Atlanta as a certain cornerback named Deion.

Taylor, who suffered cramps in his right leg in last weekend’s victory over New Orleans, was on crutches and his knee was heavily bandaged. “His knee is bothering him, and it’s sore and kind of swollen,” coach George Seifert said.

A team spokesman said Taylor is suffering from a pulled calf muscle and a sprained lateral collateral ligament.

When asked what chance he had of playing Sunday, Taylor said, “None.” If that’s the case, Nate Singleton will start instead.

Giant problems

Sign of the times for the New York Giants’ offense, Part I: For the last two days, coach Dan Reeves has had several loudspeakers placed around the practice field to give his offensive players a taste of what the crowd noise will be like at Arrowhead Stadium for Sunday’s game against Kansas City.

Nice try. Due to technical difficulties, the speakers worked for only a handful of plays. Sort of like the Giants in Monday’s 35-0 loss to the Cowboys, wouldn’t you say, coach?

“Our sound system has gotten beat about 35-0 the last two days, too,” Reeves said.

Sign of the times for the Giants’ offense, Part II: For the last two days, the Giants’ best receiver has stood on the sideline, arms folded, expression serious. Even the speakers have worked more than Mike Sherrard, who barely can jog because of a rib injury.

With Sherrard listed as questionable, the Giants will go with Omar Douglas.

From the Stick to the Com?

Candlestick Park, home of baseball’s Giants and football’s 49ers, was officially renamed 3Com Park after a vote of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission.

3Com Corp., a Santa Clara data networking company, will pay $500,000 for rights to the name through the end of the year.

3Com wants to extend the deal through 2000, but that will have to go before the San Francisco board of supervisors.