RAM NOTEBOOK : Falcons’ Sanders Might Be on Ice Sunday

He won’t be making any two-sport headlines Sunday and if Deion Sanders uses any ice water, it will be to soak his foot. Sanders, who spent Wednesday undergoing tests to determine the extent of the foot injury that caused him to limp around the bases during the World Series, is listed as questionable for the Ram-Falcon game at the Georgia Dome.

So maybe Sunday would be a good day for a Nike photo op.

Healthy or otherwise, Sanders draws more than his share of prime-time attention and not all of it is complimentary. But receiver Andre Rison says Sanders has the support of his Falcon teammates, even when his concentration was on another sport.

“We back Deion 100%,” Rison said. “No one really (complained) about it when Bo Jackson did it because Bo Jackson doesn’t have the flair that Deion does. I guess they made a big issue because (Deion’s) not the All-American type guy that everybody wants him to be.

“Deion is his own individual and nothing’s wrong with being your own individual. I believe a lot of people took it the wrong way, but we really didn’t give a damn how they took it. We backed him 110%.”

Sanders leads the NFL in kickoff return average (34.8) and he led the major leagues in triples with 14.

What’s next?

The Falcons have had Sanders play wide receiver this season and he has one catch for nine yards. According to Rison, Sanders could be a two-way, two-sport star.

Do they make different shoes for offensive and defensive players?

“I told him he needs to get a couple tips from me before he comes back out there again,” Rison said.

So did Sanders ask for advice?

“Nah,” Rison said with a laugh. “He already thinks he’s an All-Pro wideout.”

What is he worth? Jerry Glanville says he tries not to “sit around and worry about the people who aren’t here and coach the one who are.” But when Sanders is out of the lineup, the Atlanta coach has plenty of reason to worry.

“It changes your selection on how you’re going to play,” Glanville said. “You get prepared the same way, but you call different defenses whether he’s in there or not.”

The schemes the Falcons resort to when Sanders isn’t at right corner are disaster plans.

Deion has missed only three games in three years. The Falcons have lost the last two by identical scores: 56-17.

The Ram defense has played beyond many people’s expectations and defensive end Bill Hawkins has played, which is beyond some people’s expectations.

Hawkins, who strained his calf on the first day of training camp, tore the calf muscle during the first exhibition game against Seattle. Add that to the list--knee ligament tear, broken bone in the knee, rib and back injuries--that has reduced the Rams’ 1989 first-round selection’s pro career to flashes of what might have been.

After missing the first regular-season game, Hawkins has started at right defensive end in every one since. And he has two sacks, 14 tackles and a fumble recovery.

“When you can get in there, stay in there and you’re not injured all the time, and I have been injured, it’s been terrible, you get the reps in the game that can’t be replaced,” he said. “You learn the little subtle things that help a lot.”

Hawkins says he is also fortunate to be playing with two 300-pound rookie tackles, No. 1 pick Sean Gilbert and third-round choice Marc Boutte.

Then and now: Hawkins believes the Rams’ defensive line--only a year ago in shambles--will eventually turn into a force.

“The more you play, the more years, things just become instinct,” Hawkins said. “We’re already starting to feel things more. We’re all excited.”

He says excitement was an ingredient missing from the Rams’ 3-13 disaster last season.

“Last year, right from the beginning, it seemed like a sinking ship,” he said. “You only got 10 fingers, but you got 15 holes in the hull.”

Stress test: Cornerback Todd Lyght, who has been sidelined since injuring his right shoulder in the third game of the season, says the key to beating Atlanta is tackling their receivers before they turn short passes into long gains.

“A big part of their offense is the run after the catch,” he said. “If you tackle them well, then you’ll play them well on defense.”

Lyght says his shoulder is 100% and he won’t have any qualms about slamming it into the midsection of anybody wearing black and red.