THE SIDELINES : Falcons Want Sanders Full-Time

Deion Sanders’ desire to play baseball in Atlanta as well as football could be a problem, Atlanta Falcons owner Rankin Smith Sr. said.

Sanders, the Falcons cornerback who was waived by the New York Yankees on Sept. 24, was scheduled to meet today with Braves President Stan Kasten to discuss playing baseball for the Braves when he’s not playing football for the Falcons.

“I see it as a problem, regardless of where he wants to play baseball,” said Smith, who has Sanders signed to a $4.4-million, four-year contract, which runs through the 1992 football season.

“Obviously, we would prefer he make football a full-time situation. This is the way the contract was structured.

“Now, I realize it is controversial. I’m sure there is some interest in him, as well as from some of the fans, to play (baseball) in Atlanta. But we feel the same way regardless of which baseball team he is talking to,” Smith said.