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PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : NFC : Welcome to the Deion and Jerry Show

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Times Wire Services

Deion Sanders dazzled Dallas on Monday, but did Cowboy owner Jerry Jones pay $35 million for a part-time player who won’t play hurt?

The question became an interrogation of Jones and Sanders at a Cowboys’ celebration news conference.

Jones said his doctors told him there were 15 players on the Cowboys who had worse ankle problems than Sanders.

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But he quickly added, “I want Deion to have his physical condition in the best shape. This is not a big deal. The ankle is a non-issue for me. His tolerance for pain is well known.”

Sanders attacked any thought he should be rushed into action.

“When I step on the field I want to be 110%,” he said. “I’m not at full speed. I can’t cut. If I’m limping on the baseball field I know what it will be in football. I know what I can’t do.”

Sanders, who hurt the ankle playing for the Cincinnati Reds, said he will undergo arthroscopic surgery as soon as the San Francisco Giants are out of the playoff picture.

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Dallas particularly wants him on the field for the Nov. 12 game against the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

Sanders signed a seven-year deal for $35 million with a bonus of one penny short of $13 million. He gets $25 million if he opts not to play the last two years.

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San Francisco 49er right guard Derrick Deese, knocked out of Sunday’s game against Atlanta because of a left ankle sprain, probably won’t play Sunday against New England, Coach George Seifert said. Rod Milstead or Chris Dalman will start in his place.

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Receiver John Taylor, who sat out the Atlanta game because of a right knee sprain, is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

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Fullback Kevin Turner of the Philadelphia Eagles will be sidelined the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s 31-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the team said. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and had surgery.

Also, tackle Lester Holmes, one of the Eagles’ best offensive lineman, probably will be sidelined three to six weeks after tearing the medial collateral ligament as well as cartilage in his right knee during the second quarter.

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Arizona Cardinal defensive tackle Eric Swann will have an arthroscopic procedure today on his right knee to remove cartilage and repair any damaged ligaments. Swann was injured during the first quarter of Sunday night’s loss to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, middle linebacker Eric Hill, who led the Cardinals with 142 tackles last season, is hobbled because of a pulled right calf. He will not practice this week, but has not yet been ruled out Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

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