Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Sanders, the pre-eminent two-sport star, waited until the baseball season was canceled in September before signing with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. It didn't matter to a panel of 98 sports writers and broadcasters that the cornerback missed three games. He collected 39 votes to easily outdistance a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers, cornerback Rod Woodson, last year's winner, and linebacker Greg Lloyd.
``It's a wonderful achievement,'' said Sanders, who spent the first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. ``Not for myself, but I think for [defensive] coach Ray Rhodes, because he's been responsible for capitalizing on my abilities, letting me play the way I'm playing, the way I'm being used. He's put me in the right situations.''
San Francisco was the right place for Sanders, who played baseball and football in Atlanta in the 1993 season. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds by the Braves, and he left the Falcons in the midst of a bidding war for his services.
Sanders turned down a more lucrative offer from New Orleans to sign with the 49ers, who gave him an incentive-laden contract that will be worth $1.1 million if they win the Super Bowl.
``I think everybody knows this is the best business decision a man ever made,'' said Sanders, who had six interceptions, returning three for touchdowns and averaging 50.5 yards per return. ``Everything is going as planned, better than planned. This is a wonderful team, and I've said from Day One I feel like this team best suits me with the dreams I have.''
In order to sign Sanders, the 49ers had to restructure the contracts of three defensive players, linebackers Ken Norton and Gary Plummer and strong safety Tim McDonald. All three of them previously signed as free agents with San Francisco.
The showboating Sanders would seem like an odd fit for the 49ers. Despite his image, however, he is a popular figure on the team.
``He's brought a tremendous amount of respectability to the overall defense,'' 49ers secondary coach Tom Holmoe said. ``We have a lot of new guys in here. We have a lot of guys who have contributed a great deal to the defense. But he's one guy who is so dangerous.
``He can affect an offense so much by putting him out on a particular receiver. Or just his presence on the field affects the way a quarterback or an offense is going to play. It's not that he's perfect, but his game is a lot higher than the typical defensive player. He's at a level few defensive players get to.''
Woodson, who joined Sanders as the cornerbacks on the All-Pro team, reached that level last season. He wasn't quite as productive this year, by his own admission struggling in the first portion of the schedule. But he was sensational down the stretch as Pittsburgh finished with the AFC's best record.
Woodson received 16 votes, with Lloyd right behind with 14. Defensive end Charles Haley of Dallas got 12 votes, followed by linebacker Junior Seau, San Diego, with eight; linebacker Kevin Greene, Pittsburgh, five; end Bruce Smith, Buffalo, two; end Reggie White, Green Bay, one; and safety Eric Turner, Cleveland, one.
All except White made the AP All-Pro team.
Sanders is the first 49ers player to win the award.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB