PHOENIX — Deion Sanders still hasn't said whether he'll continue playing football. But if the outfielder/cornerback chooses to do so, he seemed happy it won't be with the Washington Redskins.

        Sanders literally clicked his heels Wednesday upon learning of a Washington Times report that the Redskins will release him after June 1 to save payroll under the NFL's salary cap.

        “I don't know how true that is, but if it is, it would be pleasant,” Sanders said. “It's probably expected, because I can't say what I'm going to give them, and they need to prepare their team for the season.”

        Sanders, who signed a seven-year, $56 million contract that included an $8 million signing bonus with the Redskins last June, maintained a clear conscience. He said they knew of his baseball aspirations.

        “My contract states I don't have to report until the baseball season's over, as long as I'm on a major-league roster,” he said. “Therefore, there should be no controversy over what I might do.”

        The Times reported that the Redskins could put Sanders on the Did Not Report list if he doesn't come to training camp and recoup $205,882 — one-seventeenth of his $3.5 million salary — for each game he misses. That also would allow Washington to retain him if he elects to play football.

        But the Times also cited an NFL source who said the Redskins probably will cut Sanders in June — though he would cost the team $1.143 million under the cap this year and $5.714 million next season.

        Sanders remained coy about his athletic future.

        “My decision's already been made. I'm just not telling you all,” he said.

        Said Reds general manager Jim Bowden: “I would have not signed Deion Sanders if I thought there was a chance he'd leave the club before the season is over.”

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