Tag: Deion Sanders

WATCH: NFL Draft-A-Thon livestream for charity

Rich Eisen, Kevin Hart and Deion Sanders host a virtual fundraiser through the 2020 NFL Draft.

Rich Eisen, Kevin Hart and Deion Sanders host a virtual fundraiser through the 2020 NFL Draft featuring a variety of athletes and celebrities.

Donations can be made to https://relief.nfl.com/

Funds will help support six national nonprofits and their respective relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, the CDC Foundation, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army and the United Way.

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WATCH: NFL Draft-A-Thon livestream for charity

Rich Eisen, Kevin Hart and Deion Sanders host a virtual fundraiser through the 2020 NFL Draft.

Rich Eisen, Kevin Hart and Deion Sanders host a virtual fundraiser through the 2020 NFL Draft featuring a variety of athletes and celebrities.

Donations can be made to https://relief.nfl.com/

Funds will help support six national nonprofits and their respective relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, the CDC Foundation, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army and the United Way.

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ESPN 2 to Re-Air Perhaps Greatest NFL Draft of All-Time

It was the 1989 NFL Draft and it wasn’t anything like the show it has now become.  But it was historic in terms of greatness and although Notre Dame’s representative in it’s first round never made the Hall of Fame, he still had a pretty solid career.  In fact, he just won a Super Bowl ring this past February.

Five picks, four eventual Hall of Famers.

And one all-time bust.

It was the 1989 NFL Draft and it wasn’t anything like the show it has now become.  But it was historic in terms of greatness and although Notre Dame’s representative in it’s first round never made the Hall of Fame, he still had a pretty solid career.  In fact, he just won a Super Bowl ring this past February.

Notre Dame won a national championship after beating West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 1989.  A few short months later one of the most-historic NFL Drafts played out and saw Notre Dame star offensive tackle Andy Heck taken in the first round.

Heck was selected 15th overall by the Seattle Seahawks and saw four Hall of Fame players go ahead of them, each coming in the first five picks.  Why does this matter?  If you’re interested in traveling back in time and living a different life in terms of sports viewing, the 1989 NFL Draft will air Monday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.  ESPN2 will only show the first round of the draft, not that I’m guessing you’re craving a ton more coverage of players getting selected 31 years ago.

After the draft, Heck was excited about his rise to the first round.

‘This is a dream come true for me,’ Heck said. ‘I guess my stock has really risen. It’s just unbelievable to be going to a solid team like the Seahawks.’

Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz also was surprised ‘Andy’s stock has risen so high since the season ended. But you all got yourself an excellent pick.

‘He’s a class act in every respect,’ said Holtz. ‘He’s intelligent and has exceptional morale values, and he’s a very positive person. He’s also very durable and has tremendous work habits.’

Heck went from playing tight end in his first three years at Notre Dame to play offensive tackle on the title team in 1988.

Troy Aikman would go first overall to the Cowboys, Barry Sanders wound up in Detroit after being selected third, the Chiefs hit it out of the park with Derrick Thomas at four and Deion Sanders “fell” to the Falcons at five.

The guy who went second?  Tony Mandrich, the Michigan State turned Green Bay Packers bust.

What’s worth noting in this draft though is that another Hall of Fame talent was taken 20th overall as the Broncos took Steve Atwater out of Arkansas.

Notre Dame would end up having five players selected in the 1989 draft with Frank Stams, Mark Green, Wes Pritchett and George Streeter all eventually getting their names called.

You can watch the 1989 draft in full tonight on ESPN as numerous Hall of Famers get their names called to start their NFL careers.  As for Heck, things didn’t end too poorly as he played 12 seasons in the league between the Seahawks, Bears and Redskins.  He also just won a Super Bowl as the offensive line coach of the Chiefs.

Poll Time:

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Deion Sanders says Bills are most improved team after free agency (video)

Former All-Pro player-turned-analyst in Deion Sanders, while rocking a Santa-like beard, gave the Buffalo Bills some primetime praise for their efforts in free agency. 

Former All-Pro player-turned-analyst in Deion Sanders, while rocking a Santa-like beard, gave the Buffalo Bills some primetime praise for their efforts in free agency.

Chatting on NFL Network’s NFL Total Access, Sanders was a big fan of Buffalo’s additions of Stefon Diggs and Josh Norman in free agency. He also called Tre’Davious White one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league.

Check out his full segment here:

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Deion Sanders, Todd Gurley clear up number situation on Twitter

After not wanting to take Qadree Ollison’s No. 30 upon arrival in Atlanta, Gurley had to pick a new one. He eventually landed on Sanders’ No. 21.

When there’s nothing to do and everyone is stuck in their homes, people tend to overreact to things out of sheer boredom.

That’s the case with Friday’s comments by Falcons running back Todd Gurley regarding Deion Sanders telling him not to wear his jersey number.

After not wanting to take Qadree Ollison‘s No. 30 upon arrival in Atlanta, Gurley had to pick a new one. He eventually landed on Sanders’ — and many others former Falcons players including Desmond Trufant‘s — No. 21.

However, Sanders squashed the situation on Twitter, saying he was joking with the All-Pro running back:

Gurley was quick to respond, agreeing the story was all in good fun between friends:

It’s certainly a unique time for Falcons fans when the top stories include new jerseys and uniform number controversy. If you’re looking to get back to NFL draft coverage, though, check out Saturday’s three third-round options for Atlanta feature, or our most recent Falcons draft target gallery.

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Deion Sanders addressed what he told Todd Gurley about wearing No. 21 with the Falcons

He’s not mad.

Shortly after the Atlanta Falcons signed running back Todd Gurley, there was speculation about what number he would choose with Atlanta.

The No. 30 that Gurley wore with the Rams was taken by Qadree Ollison as a tribute to his brother who was killed in a 2017 shooting. So, Gurley wasn’t going to make a push for that number. And NFL rules didn’t allow Gurley to go back to the No. 3 that he wore with the Georgia Bulldogs.

So, he turned to the famed No. 21, which was Deion Sanders’ old number and newly vacant after Desmond Trufant’s departure. The only problem was that Sanders apparently didn’t want Gurley to wear the number.

In an Atlanta radio interview, Gurley said of the number, “Prime was hating on me. He told me don’t wear it.” Despite Sanders’ request, Gurley chose No. 21.

But it’s evidently all good with Sanders. The former Falcons star tweeted on Sunday that he was actually joking with Gurley when they discussed the number.

Sanders said that he was sure that Gurley would represent the number well.

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Deion Sanders didn’t want Todd Gurley wearing No. 21 for Falcons, later says it was just a joke

Former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley says Deion Sanders did not want him wearing No. 21 for the Atlanta Falcons.

After being drafted by Atlanta, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders played cornerback for the Falcons from 1989-1993 wearing the No. 21 jersey.

Prime Time recently commented on the Falcons new jerseys and according to Sanders, no one should be wearing No. 21 in Atlanta, even recently signed Todd Gurley.

“Only thing I don’t like about the Falcons uniforms is I really do think they need to take No. 21 and put it up in the rafters and leave it alone,” Sanders said. “Leave it alone!”

While Sanders comments didn’t keep Gurley from choosing to wear No. 21, the former Georgia running back did hear a few words from Deion on the matter.

 “Prime was hatin’ on me. He told me don’t wear it,” Gurley told 92.3 The Game in Atlanta. “If I was Prime, I wouldn’t want nobody be wearing my number either.”

Deion spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens so does he really deserve that No. 21 in Atlanta retired in his name?

Don’t get me wrong, Sanders is one of the greatest Falcons of all-time and the NFL Hall of Famer deserves his accolades, but he may be reaching a bit.

After the news got out, Prime took to Twitter to say it was just a joke and that Gurley will “represent it (the number) right.”

I think if Sanders had his way every team in the NFL would have the No. 21 in the rafters.

Todd Gurley ignores Deion Sanders’ request, will wear No. 21 with the Falcons

“Prime was hating on me. He told me don’t wear it.”

New Falcons running back Todd Gurley will wear No. 21 this season, and in doing so, taking up the number worn by a one-time Falcons great, Deion Sanders.

While some might wonder if it’s a tribute, Gurley actually gave an interview and said that he’s wearing the number against the wishes of Sanders, who he says told him not to wear the number in Atlanta.

“Prime was hating on me. He told me don’t wear it,” Gurley said in an interview with 92.9 The Game in Atlanta. “If I was Prime, I wouldn’t want nobody wearing my number either.”

While I understand where Sanders is coming from, his number hasn’t been retired by the Falcons. As long as his number isn’t retired, that thing is up for grabs. The Falcons have never retired a player’s number, as per team tradition, so Sanders is just going to have to deal.

As to why Gurley is wearing No. 21 now? Unclear. He’s never worn it in college or the pros, instead wearing No. 30 in Los Angeles with the Rams and No. 3 in college at Georgia. My theory is that 2+1=3, so he’s wearing 21. I have absolutely no proof of that. Just a guess.

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10 of the most notable NFL players who also played in the MLB

Since the 1920s, close to 70 athletes have played for both leagues. And, for various reasons, these are 10 of the most notable.

The MLB’s Opening Day ceremonies would have kicked off today, had the sports world not been suspended indefinitely without play due to the coronavirus pandemic. One of the greatest moments in sports, the first day of baseball always produces a wave of nostalgia for the players and fans, an ageless stretch from the young to the old.

The trashcan jokes alone would have made this year’s festivities memorable, but alas, there will be no crack of the bat, no soothing PA announcements, no flyovers, and no snark at the Astros’ expense. All that is left—other than the enjoyable reruns of yesteryear—is list of NFL players who also played in the MLB.

Some history: Both leagues have interwoven throughout the decades, beginning in the 1920s when several MLB players joined teams in the newly formed NFL. (Before the ’20s, star baseball players, like Christy Mathewson, played both but the NFL was not yet official.)

Since then, close to 70 athletes have played for the MLB and NFL. And, for a few interesting reasons, these are 10 of the most notable.

Let’s play ball!

Jim Thorpe

(Photo by National Baseball Hall of Fame Library/MLB via Getty Images)

Thorpe was the original do-it-all athlete, which included gold medals and even pro basketball. He played major league baseball for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. During those years, Thorpe also played football. He began his career with the Canton Bulldogs, which was part of the inaugural 1920 NFL season, and then played for (and coached) a handful of teams after that. Surrounded by the fame of his heroics at the Olympics, Thorpe was a major draw for both sports, though football would turn out to be his more decorated. No other two-sport star has played for more NFL teams (six) than Thorpe.

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