Dallas Cowboys: Odell Beckham, Jr can be what Deion Sanders was in 1995
By Dink Kearney
Can OBJ be the Dallas Cowboys Deion?
After winning two straight Super Bowls over the Buffalo Bills and denying the San Francisco 49ers the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, the Dallas Cowboys were truly a legendary dynasty that simply could not lose because they were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
As Jerry would later regretfully say in response to then head coach-Jimmy Johnson-coaching those Super Bowl-winning teams, “anybody can coach this team to a Super Bowl.”
That was a bold statement that utterly led to the firing of Johnson and the hiring of former Oklahoma Sooners head coach, Barry Switzer. While Switzer took over duties for America’s Team, the 49ers had had enough of losing to their nemesis and signed Sanders to a one-year deal to help them get over the hump.
1995: Jerry signs Deion to a massive $35 million dollar contract
Sanders would be the difference maker as Dallas lost to the 49ers in the regular season and in the 1994 NFC Championship game-a devastating 38-28 loss that saw Dallas mount a comeback in one of the most controversial games witnessed (Yes, they robbed Dallas)
After winning his first Super Bowl, the 1994 Defensive Player of The Year saw himself as the prize free agent once again looking to cash in his services to the highest bidder. According to Sanders, the 49ers never offered him a contract and there were rumors of Jerry Rice not being found of Sanders because of the credit Sanders received for helping the 49ers win the Super Bowl.
Regardless, Jerry signed Sanders to a lucrative seven-year contract worth $35 million and a then record $12 million dollar signing bonus. The rest is history as Sanders would help lead Dallas to its third Super Bowl win in four years and make a few more playoff appearances as one of the most electrifying players in NFL history.
At the time, Dallas really did not need Sanders to win another Super Bowl because they had playmakers at every position and had won two Lombardi trophies without him. But Jerry knew signing Sanders would solidify Dallas as the favorites to win another Super Bowl and to make a ton of money because “Prime Time” was a box office hit. It was a win-win scenario for Jerry and the fan base. Similar to how…