Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice represent the top of their respective positions. Flexible corner back closure. A clear route receiver. Both are widely regarded as the greatest of all time. However, greatness doesn’t always look the same, and their polar-opposite personalities drive them into the abyss.
Jerry was known as a no-nonsense and methodical receiver who preferred to talk his game rather than make a noise. But Dion was the flashy, loud, gold-chain-wielding, multi-nicknamed, dared-to-play-two-sport counterpart. And all these designations are attached to a person called “Prime Time”. Before he even hit the NFL.
So when the Atlanta Falcons drafted Sanders fifth overall in 1989 and put him in the same division as Rice in the NFC West, a battle of the old guard and fresh blood immediately took shape. Through fierce battles as division rivals, near blows as teammates, or feelings of betrayal, the two have developed a special hatred for each other… AKA beef.