Deion Sanders May Try 2 Sports at Once : Versatility: He would play for baseball’s New York Yankees during the week, then fly to join football’s Atlanta Falcons each weekend.

Everyone assumes that there are only two options for Deion Sanders after July: baseball or football. However, a third, more unusual option is being given serious consideration, a source close to Sanders says.

Baseball and football.

The source said he believes that Sanders will try to become the first player to play both sports at the same time. That’s right, Sanders apparently has been mulling this idea for months and is dead serious about it. He would play for the New York Yankees during the week until the end of baseball season, then fly to wherever the Atlanta Falcons were each Sunday and play for them, too.

“That has been mentioned,” Sanders’ baseball agent, Barry Axelrod, said. “Deion has thrown it out. I think it’s a cute idea. Deion did hit a home run and run a punt back for a touchdown in the same week. But I don’t think you can count on it consistently. I’m not one who would advocate this plan.

“It would surprise me if anyone could accomplish it. Then again, Deion’s a surprising athlete.”

Last year, Sanders hit a home run in Seattle the same week that he ran back a punt for a touchdown against the Rams in Atlanta.

Of course, this is even more complicated than it sounds. First, Sanders’ multiple agents would have to get the Yankees and Falcons to agree to it. Then they would have to work it out so that Sanders would not forfeit the $2 million in football bonus money he has received.

The Yankees might not love this plan, but the Falcons certainly will not. Sanders’ football contract requires him to report to training camp July 26, and the Falcons have said that a defensive back such as Sanders needs to prepare to fit into the team’s game plan. They say that it is easier for a running back, such as Bo Jackson, to succeed without full attention and time.

Yankee Vice President George Bradley laughed when a reporter told him Thursday night about Sanders’ plan. “Nobody’s approached me with anything like that,” he said. “I’d have to hear it from them before I’d speculate on anything like that.”

However, in the past, Bradley has said the Yankees are willing to make allowances for Sanders.

Axelrod said Sanders’ scenario has not yet been officially broached with each team. But the source said that Sanders wants it to happen.

For Sanders to even consider this, however, he would have to be playing in the majors. The Yankees have said he will be recalled soon from Triple-A Columbus, Ohio.