Sunday, September 27, 1998

Raiders meet revived Cowboys; try to stop Primetime

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - What next for "Prime Time"? A touchdown pass?

The Oakland Raiders go into Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys thinking perhaps they've seen it all from Deion Sanders, who has scored six different ways in the NFL.

Sanders scored on a punt return and on a pass interception against the New York Giants on Monday in a 31-7 Dallas victory to run his touchdown totals to 20 in his nine-year career.

"I still have some things we've worked on in the offense that I can't talk about," Sanders says, mysteriously. "I can't reveal what I've worked on."

It's no mystery.

The Cowboys have been trying Sanders as a short yardage quarterback inside the 10-yard line. Sanders has an excellent passing arm, which he demonstrated every day in training camp. Before the Giants game, Sanders took about 10 snaps under center in practice.

Sanders was a left-handed option quarterback at North Ft. Meyers High School in Florida.

So far, Sanders has scored eight times on interceptions, once on a fumble recovery, four times on punt returns, three times on kickoff returns, three times as a pass receiver and once running the ball on an end around.

"He's just a great special athlete," said quarterback Jason Garrett. "I don't know how he does what he does but he just does it."

Sanders caught a 55-yard pass from Garrett in the win over the Giants and totaled 226 yards on punt returns, a pass interception return, and receiving for the game.

Oakland knows what Sanders can do. He can break a game in an instant.

The Cowboys take a 2-1 record and the NFC East division lead into the game against the Raiders, who are 1-2 in yet another slow start out of the gate in the NFC West.

Garrett, who is 3-0 as a starter subbing for Troy Aikman, once again will get the call for the Cowboys while Aikman's broken collar bone knits.