Jones To Offer Deion Extension

June 14, 1999 / 4:39 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones plans to Â"take the risk" and work to re-sign Deion Sanders to a contract extension despite uncertainties about the All-Pro cornerback's ailing toe.

Â"Nobody can tell me when he'll be back or when he'll be healthy,Â" Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for Friday's editions.

Â"But it is my belief that Deion is going to play this year. And if that's the case, I want to try to work something out.Â"

Neither Sanders nor his agent, Eugene Parker, was available for comment, the newspaper said.

The Cowboys probably will try to work out a multiyear deal that gives Sanders a large signing bonus and a low base salary for the next few years to clear salary-cap room. That doesn't mean the Cowboys will get a bargain.

Sanders has said he won't sign for less than market value, which could mean a contract averaging $7 million a year. He has a base salary of $6.5 million for 1999.

Sanders hurt his toe last November and has been ailing since. After surgery April 27, he was given a best-case prognosis of 4-6 months for his return.

Doctors suggested the possibility that Sanders might never play again.

There was talk that the Cowboys might waive Sanders to save money. But Jones says restructuring Sanders' contract is in the team's best interest.

Â"I never said I would waive him,Â" Jones said. Â"And I know firsthand how much Deion wants to compete and help us win. Never did I think that Deion can't dramatically help the team.Â"