By AL LEVINE
Cox News Service
Monday, September 13, 2004

CLEVELAND — The signs were hung in the end zone: "Past Your Prime Time."

The barbs were flying on the airwaves: "Deion's been retired for three years," said Browns radio analyst and former lineman Doug Dieken, "and he hasn't made a tackle in six."

Is this any way to greet an old defensive back just trying to go back to work?

Of course, it is. This is Cleveland, where the fans wear dog-face masks as a sign of allegiance.

They had extra reason to go about chest-thumping Sunday. The Browns relegated Deion Sanders' NFL return to a minor sideshow by winning their first opener in 10 years, 20-3 over the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Cleveland outplayed Baltimore's heralded defense, holding Jamal Lewis, the league's leading rusher last year, to 57 yards and converting two Ravens' turnovers into 10 points.

Sunday was Sanders' first football game in 44 months.

As comebacks go, it lacked panache.

But it was a new chapter in his athletic saga. Sanders has played football for the Falcons, Cowboys, 49ers and Redskins and major league baseball for the Braves, Yankees and Reds. He had retired from the Redskins after the 2000 season, his skill compromised by leg injuries and turf toe. He last worked as a talking head on CBS.

Sunday, he morphed from Prime Time to Part Time.

Sanders was in for 14 plays, lining up as the fifth or nickel back, mostly on third-down plays. He was always on the right end of the line, usually covering wide receiver Quincy Morgan.

The Browns did not throw a pass in his direction.

"I think they played their game," Sanders said. "You don't want to go outside your game plan just to challenge someone who issued a challenge. That's not good football. I think they played a great conservative football game and [Cleveland quarterback Jeff] Garcia was great."

Sanders also returned one punt for 5 yards.

"We play that by ear," he said. "We got good field position a couple of times and wanted to make something happen. One time we had something planned but we didn't get the position that we wanted."

Coach Brian Billick said he put Sanders in to return the punt "because we thought he'd give us a spark. We've been working on that, and he'll see more."

Sanders wore his age on his uniform, No. 37, privately telling his teammates he wants to make sure that every receiver doesn't forget how old he is.

But he was remarkably more subdued than the day two weeks ago when he unretired and declared "I'm here for a Super Bowl. I'm not here to kick it. I'm here to win. I'm here to help my little brothers fulfill their dreams. That's the only reason to come back."

Sunday, the dream got a rude awakening.

He was low-key in the locker room afterward.

Is it a big adjustment to play one play, then be on the sidelines for 15 minutes at a stretch?

"I think it's a tremendous approach," Sanders said. "Actually, I think It's a good approach to get back in the swing of things instead of just going out there playing four quarters, starting and bumping and running and playing man [coverage] all over the field."

Part Time, indeed.