Billick 'optimistic' that Deion will join Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND - The Baltimore Ravens are awaiting the arrival of Deion Sanders, who appears poised to end his three-year retirement and could join the team this week.<br> <br> On a day in which cornerback Chris McAlister ended his one-month holdout, talk at the team training facility Monday centered around Sanders, who has been working out at his Dallas home this month in anticipation of joining the Ravens as a nickel back.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re very optimistic that Deion will be here,&#39;&#39; coach Brian Billick said. ``Until Deion shows up in body and signs a contract, I&#39;ve got to qualify it. We&#39;re ready for either way, but the signs are awfully optimistic right now. Awfully optimistic.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Billick is certain that if Sanders does show up, he will be ready to go in time for the Ravens&#39; season opener in Cleveland on Sept. 12.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ll put him through a physical to make sure he is ready to go, that there&#39;s no ailments lingering, whatever. We have no indication to believe that&#39;s the case,&#39;&#39; Billick said. ``He&#39;s in good shape. I don&#39;t have to run him in a 40 to see that he&#39;s OK.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Sanders, 37, has not played since retiring before the Washington Redskins opened training camp in 2000. He played cornerback during his illustrious career, but would be used by Baltimore as a fifth defensive back in passing situations.<br> <br> The Ravens would seemingly have one of the finest defensive backfields in the game if Sanders joins a unit that already has Pro Bowlers McAlister and Ed Reed.<br> <br> ``It could be the best in the game right now. Even coming out of retirement right now, he&#39;s a lot more valuable and experienced than a lot of corners in the league today,&#39;&#39; McAlister said. ``It&#39;s all a matter of his conditioning level, and I&#39;m pretty sure he wouldn&#39;t come back unless he felt he could go out there and play the game the way he&#39;s used to.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Back when Sanders was known as Prime Time, starring for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, no one was better.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s one of the greatest of his era and one of the best to ever play the game,&#39;&#39; McAlister said.<br> <br> The addition of Sanders should also be beneficial to Baltimore&#39;s defensive front.<br> <br> ``It gives you that extra second to pin your ears back and go,&#39;&#39; linebacker Adalius Thomas said. ``Coverage isn&#39;t going to get too much better than that.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> McAlister, considered to be one of the finest cornerbacks in the game today, staged his holdout as a protest over being designated the Ravens&#39; franchise player for a second straight year. He had the right to remain absent until Sept. 12 but showed up Monday in excellent spirits.<br> <br> ``I feel fresh right now, mentally and physically,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I think I need the two weeks before Cleveland. I don&#39;t want to walk out there, and the first person I hit is someone in a Cleveland Browns jersey.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> McAlister hopes to participate in a few plays during Thursday&#39;s preseason finale against the New York Giants and intends to be caught up by the time the Ravens open defense of their AFC North title against the Browns.<br> <br> McAlister wears No. 21, and so did Sanders when he played. McAlister said he would accept cash to make a switch, but predicted that he would hold onto the number.<br> <br> ``If he wants it, we&#39;ll see what happens,&#39;&#39; McAlister said, ``but I really think I&#39;ll be wearing 21 this year.&#39;&#39;

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