In John Feinstein’s book Next Man Up, the author chronicles the trials and tribulations that led to a suicide attempt by Deion Sanders when Sanders was a member of the Cincinnati Reds.  Sanders while in the grips of a severe depression resulting from his estrangement from his family, intentionally ran his car off an Ohio interstate where it tumbled a few times only to eventually come to rest in its natural upright position virtually unblemished and Sanders with nary a scratch.

Sanders interpreted the event as some sort of divine intervention that reacquainted him with his Maker.  Since then, Sanders has been a man of faith and he has happily carried His torch.

The Prime Time that we once knew would be no more.

But in the public’s eye, Deion Sanders would always be Prime Time.  He was remembered for his flamboyant ways, his ill-advised music video cameos, the bling-bling and of course his celebratory end zone dance.  If he was part of your team, you loved it – it was character and self-expression.  If he was an opponent, he was cast off as a showboat – a hot dog supreme.

Funny how eventually he would later peddle a timed hot dog cooker.

Time certainly has a way of changing things and providing us with amusing ironies.

Time and injuries have certainly mellowed “Prime.”  As Father Time gripped his supreme athletic skills, injuries set in and Sanders could no longer perform at the same unparalleled level.  The neon lights that followed him and made the world his stage would fade to black.

Neon nights were over.

Sanders made his way back into the spotlight as an announcer for CBS and as a host for ESPN’s The New American Sportsman.  But like many athletes who retire prematurely, the yearning to return remained and when Ray Lewis and Corey Fuller successfully tapped into that yearning while vacationing together on a tropical island, Deion Sanders became a Baltimore Raven.

Initially I must admit that I thought the comeback was nothing more than a publicity stunt to reinvigorate a fading career as a broadcaster after successive dismissals from CBS and ESPN.  Yet as word about his possible return to the NFL began to surface, Sanders in an out of character way shunned the spotlight.  I later asked Deion’s personal trainer Tom Shaw, “Why,was Deion’s return such a big secret and why was it kept under wraps for so long?”  Shaw said that, “Deion never wanted [the comeback] to seem like some publicity stunt. He just went about his business without intentionally keeping it under wraps. He didn’t go about announcing it and he just chose to let the normal media process discover his intentions the way they normally find out about these things.”

“Why the Ravens”, I then asked.  Coach Tom continued, “Deion loves football and wants to play with his friends. He isn’t out hunting for money or publicity. He just loves football. He doesn’t need the money. You would be surprised how well he’s invested his money. He doesn’t have to work another day in his life. Deion consulted with several athletes that made comebacks. Nearly all of them said that the No. 1 thing you must do is to be on a good team where you are not the focus, unlike Michael Jordan in Washington. Deion wants to help the Ravens. He’s very dedicated to this and he doesn’t want to embarrass himself or try to outshine players like Chris McAlister.”

Sanders had little time to outshine anyone.  Injuries plagued Sanders’ first season with the Ravens and when locker room discord began to rear its ugly head, many fans believed that Sanders was the culprit and that his flamboyant ways acted like a virus to a locker room once known for its solidarity.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  If anything, Sanders’ influence has been a guiding neon light of sorts without which the locker room might experience a complete meltdown.  Sanders bounced back from an injury plagued 2004 and has been available to the Ravens for all 15 games thus far in 2005.  He’s barely even sniffed the injury report.  But after Super Bowl aspirations fell far short in 2004 and after playoff hopes for 2005 abandoned the team a few weeks after the official end to summer, Sanders must have some regrets about his return.  Almost certainly the team’s failures will force him into retirement for the second time, right?

According to Sanders, “I’m not moved by wins or losses.”  Sanders said a few times during this season that his role is that of a mentor both on and off the field for the younger players.  He wants to lead by example in his preparation, spiritually and in his handling of financial matters so that players are prepared when they leave the game. 

Is Deion ready to leave the game again?  “Walking away the first time, there were a lot things involved and included, and you always look over your shoulder. If that would be the case this time, I would never look back. I'll know my assignment will have been completed."

Somehow, I think Deion is talking about more than just his assignments as the nickel back.  It goes deeper than that.  It probably goes back to that day on the side of that Ohio interstate.

Deion’s mission if you want to call it that is likely over as a player.  A return to the Ravens is an extreme reach.  However his influence will transcend sports for some of his teammates and his time and days with the Ravens should be appreciatiated and cherished.  Nevertheless his time has come.  In this day and age, wins and losses have to move you or you should be moved.   

The time for Deion Sanders is no longer prime, at least not on a field in the National Football League.