"I've tried to let the guys see how I handle people yelling obscenities behind the bench. To see how I handle criticism, people telling me I'm too old, you can't do it," he said. "I want them to see a man that is still, that doesn't move, doesn't shake, doesn't flinch. A man that is planted. I think that's what I came back for."
When he quits for keeps, Sanders probably will be asked to return to the TV studio. But his experience over the past two seasons has caused him to consider an alternate vocation: What he really wants to do is become a coach.
"I don't know how I'm going to approach it, but I know it's something I have the desire to do," he said. "If it's high school, fine. If it's college, first of all, I know I could recruit. That's a given. To say I couldn't get an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator from my relationships in the league, that's pretty much foolish. I've got the contacts. Then to say I can't inspire and motivate and encourage, well, that's what I've been doing my whole career."
If Sanders wants to put off that pursuit until 2007, Ravens coach Brian Billick would happily welcome him back.
"That's up to Deion. Having him here, as I've said a thousand times, has been phenomenal," Billick said. "It's been a joy for me to be around such a professional, and to see a guy at this stage of his career prepare the way he does and pass that on to people around him is special. Our guys are better for it."
RSS