Sanders signs deal to play for Ravens
Deion Sanders is back in the National Football League, this time with the Baltimore Ravens.
The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive back passed his physical Tuesday and formally ended his retirement by signing a one-year contract laden with incentives. Sanders will practice with the team for the first time today at Owings Mills, Md., and expects to play in the Ravens’ season opener Sept. 12 against the Cleveland Browns.
Sanders, 37, played cornerback in his prime, but will be used as a fifth defensive back in Baltimore.
“This game is not all that complicated. We’re going to try to ingrain him as quickly as we can,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said. “We have to make sure we know where he’s at physically. He’s here plenty early enough to have an impact.”
Sanders has not played since the 2000 season, which he spent with the Washington Redskins. He retired on the eve of the team’s training camp in 2001, but the Ravens are convinced he still has enough talent to contribute to their bid to defend the AFC North title and advance to the Super Bowl.
Pennington sees beyond money
Chad Pennington sees more than dollar signs in the rich contract extension he’s about to get from the New York Jets.
The quarterback, entering his fifth season, is close on a deal that will net him about $22 million in guaranteed money. His agent, Tom Condon, and Jets negotiator Mike Tannenbaum, who does not comment on contracts, were meeting to finalize details. The contract is expected to run six or seven years.
“Getting an extension is not going to make me play better or make me rest my head easier or anything like that,” Pennington said after practice.
“What an extension does, in my opinion, it gives you a sense of excitement knowing you have more than one chance to help this team, and it is not just a one-year thing.”
Urlacher prepares for new start
Brian Urlacher’s pulled hamstring is healed and he’s back on the practice field, realizing how much he missed football and vowing to be ready for the season opener.
“I’ve never been injured, so I don’t know how to react,” Urlacher said at Lake Forest, Ill., before his second practice session since he was hurt July 28 during the first workout of training camp. “I’m just going to do what they tell me to do and just get ready for Detroit.”
Urlacher won’t play in Friday’s preseason finale at Cleveland but plans to play for sure in the Sept. 12 season opener against the Lions at Soldier Field.
He promises he won’t play tentatively or have concerns about getting injured again.
“I’m not too worried about it. I’m pretty sure it’s healed,” said the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker.
Around the league
Pat Tillman, the former Arizona safety killed in Afghanistan, will be honored by the NFL and the Cardinals during the upcoming season. Players on all 32 teams will wear a decal bearing Tillman’s number 40 in games of the second week. Cardinals players will wear it all season. … Former Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie was released by Chicago on Monday. Dinwiddie, an undrafted free agent, was the Western Athletic Conference player of the year in 2003. … The Atlanta Falcons learned that rookie cornerback DeAngelo Hall will miss six to 10 weeks with a small fracture on the left side of his hip. … Charles Woodson signed the Oakland Raiders’ one-year tender for $8.782 million, joining the team for the first time after a 33-day holdout. . … The New York Giants reacquired guard Jason Whittle from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed draft pick in a move to help their struggling offensive line. … Philadelphia defensive end Hugh Douglas, one day after being cut by Jacksonville, signed a one-year, $850,000 contract to return to the Eagles. … Arizona acquired running back Troy Hambrick and defensive end Peppi Zellner in a trade with Oakland. The Cardinals gave the Raiders an undisclosed conditional 2005 draft pick, the team announced.