Wednesday, September 23, 1998

Report: Cowboys' game plan included Sanders at quarterback

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Deion Sanders can do it all. Cornerback. Receiver. Punt and kick returner. Apparently, the Dallas Cowboys are even prepared to play him at quarterback.

Several players said the Dallas Cowboys' game plan for the 31-7 rout of the New York Giants on Monday night called for Sanders to be used at quarterback in certain short-yardage situations, The Dallas Morning News reported today.

Sanders took several snaps at the end of practice last week and joked that he wanted to be the option quarterback on third-and-one.

Cowboys' coach Chan Gailey downplayed the possibility, saying he couldn't see using Sanders at quarterback in the foreseeable future.

But the idea of Sanders calling signals apparently was no joke. The Cowboys simply didn't have the chance - or the need - to unveil Sanders at quarterback against the Giants.

"He'd be a wonderful option quarterback for us," Gailey said. "I think about that all the time. I think about a lot of things. Thinking and doing are two different things."

Sanders had one of his best games ever against the Giants. He became the first Dallas player to return a punt (59 yards) and an interception (71 yards) for touchdowns in the same game. He finished the ngiht with 226 all-purpose yards, including a 55-yard reception.