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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Deion Sanders is discussing coming out of retirement to join the Oakland Raiders for the playoffs.
"I may come back to a playoff team," he said Sunday on CBS Sports' "NFL Today," where he's a studio host. "I've made contact, I have spoken to my attorney, we have spoken to the Oakland Raiders."
The Raiders confirmed Sunday that the club has contacted Sanders about possibly coming out of retirement. Sanders' agent Eugene Parker told ESPN there was no offer made by the Raiders and that talks were in the preliminary stages. Sanders, a cornerback, retired after the 2000 season and 11 years in the NFL.
Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen told ESPN on Sunday that Sanders is not available because he is still on the Washington Redskins' reserve list. When reached, a spokesman for the Redskins said Sanders is not on the Redskins reserve list and is retired.
"Deion is having way too much fun with this," Allen said.
Eric Allen, a former Raiders cornerback and current ESPN analyst, said he has not been contacted by his former team.
Aside from Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson, who has started every game this season, the Raiders' secondary has been reeling.
Cornerback Charles Woodson suited up for Sunday's game against Denver despite a cracked fibula in his right leg and was expected to start. Tory James, who has a similar injury and had surgery Dec. 12, could return for next Saturday's regular-season finale against Kansas City, Allen said.
"I don't know if Deion's old enough to play on our team," Allen said of the 35-year-old Sanders. "He's got to wait a year or two."
Quarterback Rich Gannon turned 37 on Friday, receiver Jerry Rice is 40 and Tim Brown is 36. Rod Woodson is 37 and linebacker Bill Romanowski is 36.
And the Raiders believe this is their best shot of getting to the Super Bowl before salary cap restrictions force major changes to the roster.
Sanders said he hadn't made a decision.
"I'm really thinking about the whole situation," he said. "I'm not going to say I have an offer from the Raiders."
How soon would he go?
"I could get off this desk right now and go," he said. "I wouldn't come back for a full season. I would never come back for a full season, because I love my job, and I love you all out there. But I tell you what, it is intriguing for a playoff run, when it all counts. I like that aspect of it."
Later in the show, during a rundown of the playoff picture, fellow analyst Boomer Esiason noted the Raiders have a "tenuous" hold on the top spot in the AFC.
"That's why I'm somewhat hesitant," Sanders said. "Because you've got to understand ... I'm watching Oakland. Because this is Custer's last stand. The old-timers, this is your last stand. They're $45 million over the cap next year. That's why right now it's evident that they do what they must do."
Sanders finished his career with 474 tackles, 385 of them solo, 48 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and eight touchdowns. He also was a standout kick returner.
"I may come back to a playoff team," he said Sunday on CBS Sports' "NFL Today," where he's a studio host. "I've made contact, I have spoken to my attorney, we have spoken to the Oakland Raiders."
The Raiders confirmed Sunday that the club has contacted Sanders about possibly coming out of retirement. Sanders' agent Eugene Parker told ESPN there was no offer made by the Raiders and that talks were in the preliminary stages. Sanders, a cornerback, retired after the 2000 season and 11 years in the NFL.
Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen told ESPN on Sunday that Sanders is not available because he is still on the Washington Redskins' reserve list. When reached, a spokesman for the Redskins said Sanders is not on the Redskins reserve list and is retired.
"Deion is having way too much fun with this," Allen said.
Eric Allen, a former Raiders cornerback and current ESPN analyst, said he has not been contacted by his former team.
Aside from Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson, who has started every game this season, the Raiders' secondary has been reeling.
Cornerback Charles Woodson suited up for Sunday's game against Denver despite a cracked fibula in his right leg and was expected to start. Tory James, who has a similar injury and had surgery Dec. 12, could return for next Saturday's regular-season finale against Kansas City, Allen said.
"I don't know if Deion's old enough to play on our team," Allen said of the 35-year-old Sanders. "He's got to wait a year or two."
Quarterback Rich Gannon turned 37 on Friday, receiver Jerry Rice is 40 and Tim Brown is 36. Rod Woodson is 37 and linebacker Bill Romanowski is 36.
And the Raiders believe this is their best shot of getting to the Super Bowl before salary cap restrictions force major changes to the roster.
Sanders said he hadn't made a decision.
"I'm really thinking about the whole situation," he said. "I'm not going to say I have an offer from the Raiders."
How soon would he go?
"I could get off this desk right now and go," he said. "I wouldn't come back for a full season. I would never come back for a full season, because I love my job, and I love you all out there. But I tell you what, it is intriguing for a playoff run, when it all counts. I like that aspect of it."
Later in the show, during a rundown of the playoff picture, fellow analyst Boomer Esiason noted the Raiders have a "tenuous" hold on the top spot in the AFC.
"That's why I'm somewhat hesitant," Sanders said. "Because you've got to understand ... I'm watching Oakland. Because this is Custer's last stand. The old-timers, this is your last stand. They're $45 million over the cap next year. That's why right now it's evident that they do what they must do."
Sanders finished his career with 474 tackles, 385 of them solo, 48 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and eight touchdowns. He also was a standout kick returner.