ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Perhaps as a precursor to Deion Sanders becoming a Iakland Raider, the Washington Redskins have officially waived the former Pro Bowl cornerback from the reserve-retired list.
Sanders, a CBS studio analyst who last played in NFL with the Redskins in 2000, expressed his desire to play for the AFC West champion Oakland Raiders during the network's pregame and postgame showns on Sunday.
The first obstacle for that to happen was for the Redskins, who held Sanders' rights, to waive him. But now Sanders must clear waivers for the Raiders, who have an injury-riddled secondary, to sign him.
However, Raiders Coach Bill Callahan said all the talk regarding Sanders is "highly speculative" and refused to discuss the issue at his news conference on Monday.
"There is no reason to address it (the Sanders rumors) at this point," Callahan said.
Perhaps the fastest cornerback to ever play in the NFL, Sanders practically begged the Raiders to sign him in front of a national audience.
"I always felt like I might look good in that black and silver (uniform), you know?" Sanders said on Sunday. "The Raiders are a team with a real chance to go to the Super Bowl and I would love to add a third ring."
The 35-year-old Sanders won Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, when he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and in 1995 with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Raiders (10-5) beat Denver, 28-16, last Sunday to earn their third straight AFC West title and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win Saturday against Kansas City.
But injuries to starting cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tory James have forced the Raiders to use nickel back Terrance Shaw at corner along with third-year players Brandon Jennings and Clarence Love. James is expected to return for Saturday's game after having surgery to stabilize a broken bone in his right leg, but Woodson is doubtful with a slight leg fracture.
Known as the league's premier cover corner and kick returner in his prime, Sanders made the Pro Bowl seven times, but slipped drastically in 2000, his only season with the Redskins. He retired following the season, although the Redskins would have waived him for salary cap purposes.
The only man in sports history to play in a World Series and the Super Bowl, Sanders played the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, five with Dallas and one season each with San Francisco and Washington.
