Tuesday, June 05, 2001
Deion rips Redskins coach
Sanders says Schottenheimer is toying with him
The Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. — Deion Sanders lashed out at new Washington Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer Monday, saying Schottenheimer is waiting to release him until it's too late for Sanders to catch on with another NFL team.
Sanders, who is playing baseball for the Reds, has been coy about whether or not he intends to play football this fall.
“Marty Schottenheimer doesn't want me,” Sanders said Monday night in St. Louis, where he started in left field. “They know Ken Griffey Jr. is coming back from the Reds' disabled list soon and they are waiting to see what the Reds do with me then. They also won't release me right now because that would give a lot of other NFL teams time to make room for me in their salary structures. That's all they're doing. He doesn't want me. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him.”
Earlier Monday, Schottenheimer said he was inclined to wait until the eve of training camp July 29 to decide what to do about Sanders.
“There's nothing that we have to do,” said Schottenheimer.
Schottenheimer reiterated that he does not want the matter to extend beyond July 29 — that Sanders would be expected to report to camp on time in order to play this season.
An informal Deion Watch started at Redskins Park on Friday, the first day the Redskins could release Sanders and get a savings of $3.5 million under the salary cap this season. Currently, the team has no cap room to sign draft picks or veteran free agents to fill out the roster.
Sanders signed a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Redskins a year ago.
Schottenheimer said he has envisioned scenarios in which the Redskins would be able to keep Sanders, but that would require extensive contract renegotiations with other players and probably the release of a veteran starter or two.
The Redskins have gained leverage with Sanders because he is playing poorly with the Reds and might not last the baseball season. If the Reds were to release him before July 29, he would be contractually obligated to show up for the Redskins camp or risk losing part of his $8 million signing bonus.
“I don't have any idea what might happen relative to baseball,” Schottenheimer said. “We'll just have to wait and see. That's what we've been doing for some time.”
Schottenheimer has tried to contact Sanders, but the two have not spoken since the coach was hired in January. Sanders was upset that the Redskins did not keep him abreast of offseason changes, particularly the departure of defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes.
Having been rebuffed, Schottenheimer said he was in no rush to try to call Sanders again.
“We may have an occasion to try, but it's not imperative that we do,” Schottenheimer said. “He's busy.”
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Deion rips Redskins coach
