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Browns cornerback emulates his idol Deion Sanders
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Oct 16, 2008
BEREA: Growing up in San Francisco, Eric Wright idolized 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders because Wright thought his style had some of the flash of ''Neon Deion.''
Midway through his rookie year with the Browns, Wright managed to contact Sanders. Since then, Sanders, a future hall of famer and NFL Network analyst, has become Wright's mentor. They've worked out together and talk and text regularly.
So it was no surprise that Wright turned his prime-time debut Monday night into a tribute to ''Prime Time.''
With 8:07 remaining, Wright clinched the Browns' 35-14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants with a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wright high-stepped for about the final 10 yards, then copied the touchdown dance Sanders made famous after his 19 career touchdowns.
''Everybody dreams of playing on Monday night and to be able to do his dance on the prime-time stage was something I've been looking forward to for a long time,'' Wright said Wednesday.
Wright's big play, the fourth-longest interception return in Browns history, earned him AFC defensive player of the week honors. Going into the game Sunday at the Washington Redskins, Wright is tied for fourth in the league in interceptions with three, trailing only Green Bay's Charles Woodson and Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin with four apiece.
Sanders played for five NFL teams and won Super Bowls with the 49ers in 1994 (when he was the NFL defensive player of the year) and with the Dallas Cowboys in 1995. He is the only athlete to participate in a Super Bowl and a World Series (with the Atlanta Braves in 1992).
But Wright appreciated more than Sanders' athleticism and performance.
''He was a little flashy and it kind of mirrored the style that I played at a young age,'' Wright said. ''I played offense and just as Deion didn't get very much credit for his hard work, I kind of caught the same flak. We're so talented at some points in time that people don't believe you need or do work hard.
''Even at a young age, I saw he works just as hard as anyone else and he's a gifted athlete as well. I think I felt closer to him and I fell in line with him because of that.''
Respect for Sanders
Judging from those comments, Wright shares Sanders' cockiness, too. But Wright said Sanders isn't like that with him.
''He's such a down-to-earth person now that I don't necessarily idolize him as much as I respect him a great deal because he's so humble and ready and able to help people like myself,'' Wright said. ''Anything I need to ask him, he's there for me and I really appreciate him a lot. Nothing too big, but he's just there as far as support goes. Luckily I've been one of those guys who have been able to talk to him.''
They swapped texts about Monday's game. Before kickoff, Wright said he told Sanders to ''get the balloons ready for his coming-out party.'' Afterward, Sanders sent his congratulations.
''He told me I played a good game and to continue to focus on my technique,'' Wright said. ''He told me I set a new standard for myself and that he expects me to play that way every game.''
The message included no comment about copying Deion's old dance.
''No, I barely had the legs to do it,'' Wright said.
Proper technique
Wright said most of Sanders' advice concerns keeping his confidence up, making plays and staying focused. The second- round pick's psyche needed a boost after a rough night in an Aug. 18 preseason game against the Giants when Wright was called for a pass interference penalty, then beaten for a touchdown.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Wright wasn't the only one who made mistakes in that preseason game, when the Browns fell behind 30-3. Crennel said most of his criticism of Wright, who started 13 games in 2007 and all five this season, has been about his technique.
''Sometimes when you have the ability of Eric Wright, you get a little overconfident in what you are able to do,'' Crennel said. ''I tell him, 'You need to play with this particular leverage.' He thinks he can play with a different leverage and still get it done. He understands when he uses proper technique and proper leverage that he is pretty good.''
Wright said he's listening to Crennel.
''It has helped me this year,'' Wright said. ''Last year, I did a lot of things off of just sheer physical ability.''
Three picks against the Giants gave the Browns eight in the past three games and nine for the season. Only Green Bay (11), Tampa Bay (11) and Tennessee (10) have more. But Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is the only quarterback in the league who hasn't thrown an interception, and his streak of 201 consecutive attempts without one is a franchise record. (Bernie Kosar of the Browns holds the NFL record in that category with 308.)
Wright said the chance to lead the league in interceptions is important to him.
''If the ball is in the air, I feel like I can take ownership enough to say, 'That's my ball,' '' he said. ''As far as having that goal, you would want to lead the league in interceptions because that's helping your team out a lot.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Growing up in San Francisco, Eric Wright idolized 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders because Wright thought his style had some of the flash of ''Neon Deion.''
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Naples, FL
Posted 07:16 AM, 10/16/2008
Eric...Here's another former All-Pro corner you may not be old enough to remember but should study well, Lem Barney. He was always going for the Interception and though he got many and padded his stats, what I remember is that he was constantly getting scortched for TDs when it mattered most to Detroit, taking big chances for the INT instead of stopping the TD! It's all about winning the game, not the INTs and the TD dances.
Posted 03:02 PM, 10/16/2008
Eric, congratulations on a great game! You don't need to read negative messages by Jeffrey up above. I see you playing better and better all the time, breaking up passes and not always going for the pick. You're going to be one of the great players of the Browns and just keep doing what you been doing. I watched you in particular on Monday night from the stands and I like the way you come back to the ball. Congratulations again on the game-winner! Go Browns!
Posted 03:10 PM, 10/16/2008
I remember Lem Barney and he didn't get to be All-Pro corner for nothing. Every corner gets beat once in awhile because the receiver knows where he's going but the corner doesn't. I remember Lem Barney well and he didn't get scorched as often as this guy said he did. If he did, he wouldn't have been All-Pro. I also remember Frank Minniefield and Hanford Dixon and I think that Eric Wright and McDonald could be the next two great corners of the Browns. Go Browns!
akron, oh
Posted 04:30 PM, 10/16/2008
wright keps getting better ans does mac donald the remind me of mini and top dawg
