March 21, 2003
RECEIVER SANDERS VISITS RAVENS
By Adam H. Beasley
While the Ravens looked closely at acquiring receiver David Boston, they kept a close eye on – and may land – one of his former teammates.
Wide receiver Frank Sanders, who regularly lined up across the field from Boston while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, visited the Ravens’ Owings Mills complex Friday.
And from the sound of it, the team made quite an impression.
“I’ll tell you what. If I needed to make a decision today, it wouldn’t be hard, because the organization has sold itself,” Sanders said.
Sanders did head home to Arizona Friday still a free agent, but the Ravens have a clear interest in him, said coach Brian Billick.
“He would give us a veteran presence that we currently lack,” Billick said. “He’s a proven professional. He’s a very disciplined route-runner. He’s a solid, go-to player that would be a good pick-up.”
With eight years of NFL action – all with the Cardinals – under his belt, Sanders would become the Ravens’ most experienced receiver.
His most productive season was back in 1998, when he caught 89 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns. It was also the only time Arizona made the playoffs since 1975.
Sanders said he became interested in the Ravens after speaking with cornerback Duane Starks, who spent his first four seasons with Baltimore before signing with Arizona.
“Everything I’ve heard about this organization is truly in-tact,” Sanders said. “To meet everyone, it’s truly different from what I’ve been associated with.”
Sanders’ production has tapered off in recent years and missed the last four games of the 2002 season due to a foot injury.
But the totality of Sanders’ NFL career, in which he’s averaged more than 60 catches and 700 yards per season, has garnered him respect throughout the league, said Baltimore’s quarterbacks and receivers coach David Shaw.
“The main thing about him is that he’s dependable, he’s gotten open against man coverage, zone coverage, he’s seen everything in his nine years in the NFL,” Shaw said. “He’s going to be an asset to whatever team he goes to.”
