Falcons to induct Deion Sanders into Ring of Honor
Deion Sanders strutting his stuff during his time with the Falcons. He set to be inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor.
FLOWERY BRANCH – Deion Sanders, the most entertaining and flamboyant player in team history, will be inducted into the Atlanta Falcons’ Ring of Honor.
Deion Sanders visited the team facilities with his youth football team this summer. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)
Sanders, nicknamed “Prime Time” for his style of play, was with the Falcons from 1989 to 1993 after being drafted No. 5 overall out of Florida State.
The Atlanta Falcons today announced that cornerback Deion Sanders is the latest inductee into the team’s prestigious Ring of Honor. Sanders was named the eighth member of this exclusive club by a vote of a local media selection committee.
Sanders said he was trying to convey a positive message with all of bling, but the message got lost.
The induction will take place at halftime of the nationally-televised Thursday night game between the Falcons and Ravens at the Georgia Dome on November 11.
“When I was dreaming as a kid, I couldn’t often times share those dreams because I thought they were so out of the box. Never would people think that a kid from Ft. Myers, Florida, who was small in stature, but big on confidence, would ever have his name recognized in a stadium in the only place he played in which he called home,” Sanders said. “I want to thank Falcons Owner Arthur Blank and the organization (ironically 21 years later from the year I was drafted) for making my dreams come true.”
Sanders is a first-year eligible candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2011. He is on the preliminary list of 113 modern-era candidates.
During his five seasons with the Falcons he established a new standard for the cover cornerback and was also an electrifying kickoff and punt returner.
Deion Sanders with the 49ers.
He had 24 interceptions over his Atlanta career even though teams elected to stay away from his side of the field. He averaged more than 20 yards each season on kickoff returns and returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdown.
In 1994, Sanders signed as a free agent with San Francisco. He would go on to also play for Dallas, Washington and Baltimore during the outset of the free agency era. He played 14 seasons in the NFL and won Super Bowl rings with San Francisco and Dallas.
Sanders was selected to eight Pro Bowls, including in 1992 and 1993 as a member of the Falcons.
Tommy Nobis, Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews and Jessie Tuggle were in the first class of Ring of Honor inductees in 2004. Mike Kenn, Claude Humphrey and Jeff Van Note are also members of team’s Ring of Honor. Kenn and Humphrey were the last players to be inducted by the team in 2008.
The Falcons Ring of Honor was established to honor retired players who made significant contributions to the franchise during their
Sanders with the Dallas Cowboys.
playing careers.
“Deion Sanders is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the 91-year history of the National Football League,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “He epitomized excellence on the playing field and was a tremendously gifted athlete who possessed great speed. Deion excelled as a defender, kick returner, punt returner and on offense on his way to establishing 12 club records.”
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332 comments Add your comment
DR. FALCON
October 23rd, 2010
12:42 am
I CANT BELEIVE YOU GUYS ARE DOGGING ONE OF THE BEST PURE ATHLETES IN NFL HISTORY! HE BROUGHT JOY AND CHEERS TO A WRETCHED FRANCHISE, FIRST UNDER MARION CAMPBELL, THEN JERRY GLANVILLE. THE LATTER WAS A JOKE! DONT BLAME DEION FOR LEAVING THE ATL! BLAME THE SMITH FAMILY WHO OWNED THE TEAM AT THE TIME! WE DRAFTED DEION 5TH OVERALL IN THE 1989 NFL DRAFT. SOMETHING LOOKING BACK ON IT WE SHOULD BE PROUD. WHO WAS OUR QB THEN? CHRIS MILLER? BILLY JOE TOLLIVER? I WOULD HAVE LEFT ALSO! DAMN!
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
12:49 am
………………………all caps are not good………………………..
Thomas
October 23rd, 2010
12:50 am
I believe Deion played 5 years with the sorry Falcons, in fact he played here longer than he has for any other Franchise. Despite what anyone who thinks he is not deserving may say, true fans who witnessed his cover skills, and his brilliance returning kicks and punts, as well as the media folks remembers that except for Deion and a few others the Falcons were irrelevant nationally, and even here in Atlanta.
It is not surprising to see the response by these Bigots,it is similar to all the negativity towards Herschell, because he stated that the indiscipline in the Georgia Program needs to be addressed. The truth always make the Bigots mad.
Jessie Tuggle hit like a girl
October 23rd, 2010
1:23 am
This all but guarantees a Ring of Honor spot for Keith Brooking. Pathetic.
Deion Sanders fan for life
October 23rd, 2010
2:13 am
Seriously, he deserves the Ring of Honor because he brought some excitement to the NFL and made people want to watch the Atlanta Falcons… Keep it real, we didn’t have much going for ourselves despite the 1978 and 1980 season. When he got here, he made ppl want to attend the Falcons game. That man wanted to be a Falcon as long as he wished… It’s funny how we forget the 1990s Braves run.. He was a part of that special time in Atlanta. He should get the utmost respect from Falcons fans smh….If he don’t deserve it.. Who do??? Joey Harrington?? Chris Chandler?? Jeff George?? Chris Houston LOL??? Need I go on…. Yeah, I thought so…. Proud of you Deion and for all of yall negative bloggers, why don’t you start coming out to the GA Dome and sell it out each weekend instead of blogging all day smh
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
2:17 am
HOW ABOUT BROOKS CONRAD FOR RING OF HONOR LOL HAHHHAHAHAH
GO PHILLIES GET IT TO GAME 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
2:22 am
FALCON JIM GET MORE THAN 1 YES I SAID 1` CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY YES I SAID HISTORY OF YOUR CITY,. MAN THAT IS BRUTAL AND EMBARRASING, THEN ACCEPT WHO IS OUT OF REALITY, YOU CLUELESS GEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO PHILLIES——GO EAGLES========
brad
October 23rd, 2010
4:03 am
Worst Ring of Honor choice ever!
Icon
October 23rd, 2010
4:05 am
Sanders is a punk. He begged June Jones not to franchise him. He promised he wouldn’t leave and he got out of dodge as soon as he could.
He really brought into the NFL the ME ME ME generation of NFL player – “Screw the team, what’s in it for me?”
Because of Deion we have a current generation of NFL defensive backs who love to celebrate a good tackle after a 20 yard completion or try to “take the ball to the house” instead of running out of bounds or falling on it. (I am looking at you Dre Bly and Nate Clements)
My life long love for the Falcons tastes like ashes.
brad
October 23rd, 2010
4:19 am
@PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA …It sounds to me like the only clueless geek around here is a Philly fan in CA who feels the need to comment on a Falcons related story from an Atlanta paper. Your comments themselves are not only moronic and fraught with errors, but seem to be literally begging for attention. My guess is that you post here because taunts are all you’ve got. Serious Phillies and Eagles forums probably want nothing to do with someone who can’t contribute anything other than “GO PHILLIES——GO EAGLES.” That level of having no life is, well, to borrow your phrase, “brutal and embarrasing [sic].”
Roland Lawrence 22
October 23rd, 2010
8:18 am
say what you want the numers don’t lie. Dion did in 4 years what no else could do in a entire stilnct as a falcon. Pound for pound the man was good and i have no problem with him being in our circle of fame.
RL
Roland Lawrence 22
October 23rd, 2010
8:18 am
numbers
Jesse Stone
October 23rd, 2010
8:33 am
Is Deion arguably the best COVER corner ever? Absolutely. Is he worth of Hall of Fame induction? Of course. Should he be in the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor? HELL NO!
He played here for FIVE of his EIGHTEEN years. He left us when he told June Jones that he would give us a chance to match any offer. He LIED and snuck out of town. That is not HONOR. He then came back to town and was far from gracious. There are players that played here longer that actually wanted to be here. Deion did not, and we honor him? The atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor means nothing now. I am really sorry for the men that have to share this “honor” with Deion.
JSS
October 23rd, 2010
9:46 am
@ J. Stone…
“He played here for FIVE of his EIGHTEEN years.”
Ummm, Deion played 14 years in the NFL.
Sid
October 23rd, 2010
10:32 am
Congrats Prime Time…………..!!! Awesome player during his tenure as a Dirty Bird………always loved watching him play.
However, may I suggest that in the future the Falcons Ring of Honor be reserved for Falcon players with a minimum 10 years on the team except in the case of an career ending injury. A little bit of marketing here wouldn’t you say……………..
brad
October 23rd, 2010
10:41 am
@Sid…Awesome player during his tenure as a dirty bird? Shows what you know. Deion didn’t even stick around long enough to be on the team when that term was coined. What a joke.I’d rather see Chris “Chandelier” in the ROH than that guy.
John
October 23rd, 2010
10:53 am
JSS (8:08 pm last night)
I guess I hold the folks in the South in slightly higher regard. There may be truth in what you say. I’m a transplant from Chicago by way of Beaverton, Oregon. I sure as hell noticed differences. Some were actually good differences.
But back to DS. If you remember the kid who strutted off the FSU campus into Atlanta’s collective sports conscience back in 1989, you may also remember that his demeanor was not what you’d call “low-key”.
Quite the opposite, and by his own design, Deion fancied himself a “personality”. For sure, he was a big man in Tallahassee. Now America was gonna get Deion-ized. And Deion-ization was powerful stuff for awhile. Hell, his mark still remains on the Braves – ‘Chop, anyone?
But the deal is, Deion’s ways are off-putting to many. Those of us who don’t much care for him have tried to explain why. Deion was the kind of guy, if you wanted to compliment him, he’d cut you off mid-sentence to tell you himself why he’s so great. Most of our parents, or any mentor worth a damn, taught us as kids that’s not the way to go through life. Deion either missed that lesson or chose to ignore it. Either way, it’s been to the mutual detriment of us all.
Deion was (probably still is) an ego gone completely mad. His every public action was self-centered. His every public comment was Deion-centric.
It’s fortunate for him that his athletic skills were so great, because they, and they alone, saved him from being a complete self parody (see Brian Bosworth).
Deion Sanders, the personality, was a graceless, undignified clown. Deion Sanders the cover corner/kick returner is a hall of famer – the burden of his many negatives notwithstanding.
But it’s those negatives, that should deny him a place of honor within the Falcons Ring as far as I’m concerned.
Of course, I haven’t purchased a ticket to a Falcons game since they played at Fulton County Stadium. So who cares what I think?
John
October 23rd, 2010
11:00 am
“As long as Deion goes in before Patrick “I Don’t Know Anything About A Rape In My House, I Was Fast Asleep” Kearney, or Dany ‘I’ll Drive Fast Enough To Have A Wreck And Kill My Team Mate’ Heatley, i’ll be satisfied!!!!!!!”
Amen, Tired Of It. Talk about Teflon coating. Patrick Kerney must bathe in the stuff. The local media gave that incident a cursory glance, then dropped it quick, fast and in a hurry.
That was a sorry display.
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
11:15 am
HOWS THAT BROOKS CONRAD IN THE RING OF HONOR COMING???????? LOL HAHAHA
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
BRAD, WHAT A GAY NAME BY THE WAY, SINCE YOU HAVE THE MOUTH I WILL LEAVE YOU PERSONALLY IN CHARGE OF PLANNING THE PHILLIES WORLD SERIES PARADE 2 OUT OF ATLANTA THE FOLLOWING DAY OFCOURSE THE OFFICIAL PHILLIES PARADE TAKES PLACE IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE AND CHAMPIONS, GO PHILLIES———-GO EAGLES————–
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
Philly’s Fan, again, you are delusional.
JSS
October 23rd, 2010
12:10 pm
@ John…
Chicago and Oregon were the results of migrations, those folks always brought any biases they had with them from somewhere else. Unlike my fellow Southerners, they created this environment. As someone who was born here and has lived in every section of this country excluding the badlands. I can tell you that the brand of phony cordiality being played off as “Southern hospitality and manners” is just that, phony! I rather you be ruff and gruff, than phony to my face.
So keep holding on to that grudge you have about what Deion was, is, or may be. It says way more about you than it does about Sanders. See I can understand why people built statues to Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was a great leader of men in terms of military strategy. Nevertheless, he was as detestable of a human being as this Nation has ever given birth to… So try putting Deion Sanders in his proper perspective.
pb
October 23rd, 2010
12:43 pm
Why does criticizing Deion automatically make you a ‘racist’ or a ‘redneck’? He was a loud mouth and self-centered person off the field. But a great player on the field, even if he shied away from getting hit. Don’t think he should be considered one of the best ever on Falcons,however.
John
October 23rd, 2010
12:50 pm
JSS,
This is a sports blog, dude. Proper perspective gets left at the door. That’s kinda the price of admission.
Get off you high horse.
John
October 23rd, 2010
12:55 pm
And JSS, to add just one more stone to the pile that indicates I need a freaking life: I hadn’t given Deion a moments thought for years (decades). That’s how long it’s been since he was part of the Atlanta sports community.
Now he comes back like that bad tooth that you never had pulled. You teach yourself not to bite down on it, but sooner or later you do and the resulting toothache is a mother.
It’s baaaaaaaaack.
KenK
October 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm
21 Prime Time was one of the greatest CB of all time. A true shut down CB that shut down the Likes Of WR Jerry Rice. I think Deon should be in the NFL Network Top 10 players of all time to have him listed as #34 is a JOKE…
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
1:37 pm
BRAVES FANS PHILLIES GAME A LITTLE MORE THAN 4 HRS AWAY, LETS GET READY TO CHEER BIG BROTHER PHILLIES ON I AND ALL PHILLIES FANS AS MYSELF CAN FEEL YOUR LOVE, GO PHILLIES—-GO EAGLES————
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
1:41 pm
BRAD, YOU AGAIN, LISTEN HOW CAN A CITY EVEN QUALIFY FOR A BLOG WHEN IF NOT FOR THE 95 BRAVES GETTING LUCKY TO WIN A WS, ATLANTA WOULD NOT HAVE 1 CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT 1, LOOK IN THE MIRROR BRAD ITS NOT A PRETTY SITE, IN FACT ITS DOWN RITE UGLY, GO PHILLIES——GO EAGLES———-
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
1:43 pm
MAKES YOU WONDER IF FALCON JIM, AND BRAD SHARE THE SAME BED, DISCUSTING, I TELL IT LIKE IT IS, GO PHILLIES—–GO EAGLES—–
Rickaroo
October 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm
What a joke. I’ll never pay to see another Falcons game after this stupid decision.
keeping it Real with no hype
October 23rd, 2010
2:16 pm
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 22nd, 2010
7:36 pm
THESE DAYS DEON IS NOTHING BUT A MCNABB ASS-KISSER ON NFL CHANNEL
Better to Kiss a super bowl winner aZZ than a over hype weak arm if he could throw deep if he could overrated aZZ of Matt Ryan on home video!
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
2:58 pm
EXACTLY 5 HRS TO GAMETIME GOOOOOOOOOOOOO PHILLIES, BRAVES FANS ARE BEHIND US ALSO==========================================
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
KEEPING IT REAL W/NO HYPE. OK LETS KEEP IT REAL HE DID NOT WIN THAT SUPERBOWL WITH ATLANA ASS-CLOWN OBVIOUSLY AS FALCON NEVER WON A SUPERBOWL AS THEY SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK ATLEAST EAGLES WHO KICKED FALCONS ASS LAST WEEK, HAVE 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS 1948-49 AND 60,MAN YOU ARE A SERIOUS ASS-CLOWN GO PHILLIES———–GO EAGLES——-
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
3:36 pm
Hope the San Fran Sissies hand the Phillys their A$$ ! !
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
4:36 pm
SCORE UPDATE, PENNSTATE OVER MINNESOTA AT MINNESOTA, PENNSTATE NOW 4-1, BOWL BID LOOKS GOOD
GO PHILLIES——–GO EAGLES—————
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
4:38 pm
FALCON JIM YOU SOUND CRANKY TODAY WHATS THE MATTER IS BRAD CHEATING ON YOU??????????? GO PHILLIES———GO EAGLES——————–
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
5:01 pm
LESS THAN 3 HRS TO GAME TIME——-GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PHILLIES————
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
5:03 pm
FALCON JIM YOU MADE A BOO BOO THE SAN FRAN SISSIES HANDED THE BRAVES THERE ASSES LAST 2 IN ATLANTA ALSO, POOR BOBBY COX, GOOD RITHENS
GO PHILLIES——–GO EAGLES======
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
5:08 pm
I WISH EAGLES COULD PLAY FALCONS THE REST OF SEASON ,THEY THE EAGLES WOULD RUN THE TABLE
GO PHILLIES—–GO EAGLES==========
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:12 pm
E.S.& D ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:13 pm
GO HOME PHILLY P.O.S. !!!!!
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
PHILLY IS THE SCUMMIEST PLACE IN AMERICA. WE DON’T NEED YOUR TRASH HERE. !!
GIT ! ! YOU
YANKEE S.O.B.
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
PHILLY SUX.
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:16 pm
(BIG DONKEY WANGS!)
PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA
October 23rd, 2010
5:38 pm
TALK TO YA AFTER THE GAME, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PHIILLIES,BYE NOW—–
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
5:54 pm
HOPE YER CRYIN.
Iron Head
October 23rd, 2010
6:47 pm
Jess Stone, you are right how dare Deon want to win a Super bowl ring. How dare he sign with the Niners who were all about winning. He should have stayed with our Falcons and forgotten about the only goal in the NFL WINNING. You guys are a joke.
Falcon de fo real now
October 23rd, 2010
9:38 pm
It’s Deion, for all the retarded idiots posting to defend this moron.
Sounds a bit like the primitives dat defended “Rodey” King. LMFAO at Atlanta!
J'marcellius
October 23rd, 2010
9:48 pm
I know, it has to be hard to keep up with all those stupid made-up names
Falcon Jim
October 23rd, 2010
11:44 pm
PHILLY FAN,
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOUR $H!+ BECAUSE……………..
I tried to be friendly and you stabbed me. I DO NOT TAKE TO THAT $H!+ ! !
GO TO HE11…………….I’M GLAD Y’ALL LOST. I WAS “CHOPPING” FOR BRIAN WILSON AT THE END.
Git your A$$ outta here………………. California sissy.
Don’t come back.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ! ! ! ! !