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 24th, 2010
12:35 am
HEY PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA, CA! WIN YOUR DIVISON FIRST BEFORE YOU TLK SMACK! YEAH, YOU BEAT US. YOUR TEAM OWNS THE FALCONS. BUT, WE WILL SEE WHO MAKES THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR! THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS WITH THE COWBOYS! THEY BEAT THE EAGLES BACK TO BACK TO END YOUR SEASON LAST YEAR! DO YOU THINK VICK OR KOLB IS GOING TO TAKE YOU DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS/ THINK AGAIN! VICK WILL GET HURT AGAIN, AND KOLB WILL FOLD IN NOV. AND DEC. OH, TRY BEATING DALSSA FIRS ALSO!
Falcon Jim
October 24th, 2010
1:02 am
BA WAAAA BBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWAAAAAAAA OH OH BAWAAAAAA!!!!
Falcon Jim
October 24th, 2010
1:03 am
Enter your comments here
brad
October 24th, 2010
1:38 am
Where are you at PHILLY FAN IN TEMECULA CA? Your silence is deafening
tndawg
October 24th, 2010
5:23 am
No question about talent. But character? BIG QUESTION!!!!
Bad choice for “The Ring”
ctfalconsfan
October 24th, 2010
8:26 am
BAD CHOICE!!!!
I like Dion but he didn’t play long enough for ATL to be selected.
SawThat1nce
October 24th, 2010
8:50 am
Deion Sanders and honor in the same sentence doesn’t sound right.
SawThat1nce
October 24th, 2010
8:58 am
PHILLY FAN @ 5;38pm 10/23/10……….the game is over, talk to us, are you speechless?
What happened to that Philly jaggernaut? It looks like it might have blown an engine.
Another loudmouthed, Philly-fan coward?
atlppal
October 24th, 2010
11:40 am
4-3 Falcons after today. No my early season gifts for and 8-8 team. Bengals get on track today.
atlppal
October 24th, 2010
11:46 am
Correction…….4-3 Falcons after today. No more early season gifts for an 8-8 team….at best.
bigstack19
October 24th, 2010
1:17 pm
Gerald Riggs should be next. Maybe Chuck Smith who I believe ranks like 2nd or 3rd in sacks for Falcons all-time. Warrick Dunn should get some consideration too not just for on the field but he was great in the community. I think the Falcons ring of honor is a bit of an oxymoron. These are the Falcons. Very few players to honor.
brad
October 24th, 2010
2:06 pm
@atlppal …The good news for you is that you can always comment on this blog under a different name after embarrassing yourself today.
Falcon Jim
October 24th, 2010
2:41 pm
Like…………..SeenB4 ?
stendek
October 24th, 2010
5:05 pm
I am deeply troubled! This has the feel of a loss instead of a win. The Falcons went completely braindead in third quarter. Mental confusion stretched over final 15 minutes. A championship caliber team would have put up a minimum of 60 points. A championship caliber team would have never relinquished such a monumental lead on home turf. The Bengals ran the same pitch and catch play at least a dozen times. No defensive adjustment was ever made! All true Falcons fans know the play I refer to. Defensive ineptitude was absolutely abominable! Allowing 32 points to anyone is totally unacceptable. Offense put up points but crushing giveaways by Matt Ryan and Roddy White got Bengals off life support! Underthrow by Ryan resulted in interception instead of TD. White just dropped the damn ball for a Bengal TD! Tarnishing his otherwise solid performance. Am I happy with W? Yes. I am just happy it was the hapless Bengals instead of a solid NFL group. Lot of work to do. DAMN LOT OF WORK! STENDEK
Atlanta Housewife
October 24th, 2010
5:07 pm
Seen This B4 and Hiramsaint, the saints were going to do what ?!? 4-3, ha ! ha !
Atlanta Housewife
October 24th, 2010
5:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Atlanta Housewife
October 24th, 2010
5:13 pm
PHILLY PHAN, COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER CITY AND PERSON !!!!! ha ! ha ! ha !
Atlanta Housewife
October 24th, 2010
5:20 pm
YOU TOO ! PHILLY FAN in CA ! COULDN’T HAPPEN TO A NICER PERSON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
6:31 pm
WHO DAT, WHO DAT WHIPPING ON THEM SAINTS, WHO DAT, WHO DAT MAKE UM LOOK LIKE AINTS. The answer, ALMOST EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you still have a KING SIZED “A” whipping coming from us in the ATL. All of last yrs playmakers are either gone, or have no more career or near career seasons left in them.
1-Didn’t I tell you you’d be hurt by your SORRIER THAN LAST YRS SORRY 25TH RANKED DEF?
2-Didn’t I tell you about the short term success one gets when building through trades and FA?
3-Didn’t I tell you about the dropoff you’d suffer when your old, and/or way past their prime playmakers are unable to duplicate last yrs performances?
4-Didn’t I tell you the AINTS would suffer the same fate of other Super Bowl participants, and end up looking more like the 08/09 8-8 AINTS than the 09/10 Super Bowl AINTS?
Reality is a b!tch ain’t it AINT FANS?
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
6:42 pm
Anyone that judges a city based solely on sports is admitting their city doesn’t have much else going for it. And anyone that thinks Philly can hold a candle to Atlanta as a desirable city is flat out stupid and/or crazy. There’s a reason Atlanta, not Philly, is growing, and has been doing so for decades.
Dirty Bird
October 24th, 2010
7:03 pm
Dieon Sanders is a disgrace to the Falcons and the city of Atlanta. He didn’t build the dome or ever tackle anybody in the dome. If he gets this reward, I will never spend another penny in the GA dome and give the Falcons tix I have now to charity. He only cares about himself (think Dez Bryant or any interview he has ever given). Aurthur Blank – If this is what the Falcons history is to you then you don’t need my money. Mike Kenn, Tommy Nobis, Keith Brooking, Dan Reeves, Steve Bartkowski … that’s who the the Falcons are!!! If you give this honor to Dieon, then give it to Mike Vick, Andre Rison, Chris Miller and every loser who ever wore our colors. This is the ultimate discrace to Falcons history!
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
7:18 pm
DIRTY BIRD-Don’t blow this thing out of porportion. Dion was the ultimate team player, and did everything he could to help both the Falcons and Braves win by playing both sports at the same time. Remember how he flew back and forth between Falcon and Braves gms. He wasn’t drafted to tackle, but to be a shutdown CB, and he did that as well as anyone in NFL history.
To be honest, if you follow through on your threat with your tickets, is shows you aren’t that much of a Falcons fan to begin with. We aren’t going to win a Super Bowl based on who’s in the Ring of Honor anyway. Give the Falcons of the past your respect, but don’t stop giving the Falcons of the present your support.
Dirty Bird
October 24th, 2010
7:40 pm
Ken – youre an idiot! Go have luch with Andre rison
Tommy Nobis
October 24th, 2010
9:11 pm
I was never impressed with this look-at-me player. He was soft and scared to get hit. No way he deserves this honor!
Falcon's Fishman
October 24th, 2010
10:13 pm
Welcome Home..
Section242
October 25th, 2010
8:35 am
Ring of Shame should be more like it. He mocked the fans when he returned to the Dome as an opposing player. As a long time season ticket holder, I do not believe that this franchise should honor him.
True Falcon Fan
October 25th, 2010
11:36 am
NO way Deon — you only lasted 14 seasons because you would never hit anybody. You don’t compare to any of the “RING OF HONOR” professionals of honor for the ATL Falcons! Selling your God given atheltic ability like a “Rogue” – which this name “Rogue” fits you better. For sure you did not do the Falcons any favors during your short term while in ATL! Sure you displayed the “MeAnglelo” “look at me” on field play during the games. Maybe ALL your so called disciples will surely follow your antics! Hopefully as soon as your tenure is up with the HFL channel and you get your pockets filled $$$$$$$$$$$ you’ll go away!
Go Falcons
FITZ
October 27th, 2010
8:40 am
Enter your comments here
FITZ
October 27th, 2010
8:47 am
Enter your comments here i agree with KEITH BROOKINGS HE DID SAY AND DID THOSE THINGS YOU SAID
that said its an honor to add deon to the falcons ring of honor THE BEST COVER CORNER THE NFL HAS EVER HAD
The Walrus
October 27th, 2010
9:31 am
Ugh. This did nothing but disrespect this organization once he left. He couldn’t get out of here quick enough. Poor choice, Arthur and gang.
ech2os
October 29th, 2010
12:47 pm
Isn’t this the same guy that when asked what he thought about being drafted by the Falcons stated, “maaaannnnnn, they gon (long 0) hafta pay me so much money gon (long 0) haft put me on lay away.”?
Lovely. You have Penn State and you have The U…similarly, you have Rod Woodson and you have Deion. I do have to admit he seems to have grown up though.
Ken Strickland
October 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
DIRTY BIRD-I owe you a big apology for assuming you were intellegent enough to appreciate an intelligent and civilized attempt to reason with you. Your negative and uncivilized response demonstates beyond any doubt that I was seriously mistaken, and that I misjudged your dumb A$$. I hope you do everyone a tremendous favor and follow through on your threat to abandon the team if DSanders in inducted into the RING OF HONOR, because the Falcon Nation don’t need the support of ignorant trash like you.