Former all-pro cornerback Deion Sanders retired from football today as part of an agreement with the Washington Redskins, sources close to the situation said.

Sanders, 33, returned a portion of his $8 million signing bonus to the team. The Redskins will receive salary cap relief during the 2002 season for the returned portion, which sources said will come from the $2.5 million the Redskins still owe Sanders for the final installment of the bonus.

Sanders played 12 NFL seasons. He played one season for the Redskins since signing a seven-year, $56 million contract in June 2000. He spent this summer attempting to make a baseball comeback, but left his minor league team Thursday night.

The Redskins received a copy of Sanders's retirement letter to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue just after 6:30 p.m. The club plans to place him on its reserve-retired list, which will prevent him from playing for another NFL team this season. Sources said the negotiations between the Redskins, Sanders and agent Eugene Parker were amicable.