NFL: The 1990s All-Decade Team
By Phil Watson
Punt Returner: Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons (1990-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Dallas Cowboys (1995-99)
Prime Time made his living on defense, but he electrified crowds with his dazzling work on special teams.
Sanders scored five punt return touchdowns in the 1990s, including two in 1998 for the Cowboys, when he led the NFL with a 15.6-yard per return average.
For the decade, Sanders averaged 10.8 yards per punt return on 154 attempts, numbers that might have been greater had he not been taken off regular return duty from 1992-96.
There may be more from Neon Deion later in this list.
Kick Returner: Michael Bates, Seattle Seahawks (1993-94), Cleveland Browns (1995), Carolina Panthers (1996-99)
Bates came to the Carolina Panthers in 1996 and turned out to be their not-so-secret weapon in the return game, earning four straight trips to the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro nod in 1996.
He twice led the NFL in kick return average, a nifty 30.2 yards per return in 1996 and 27.3 yards a runback the following season.
For the decade, Bates averaged 24.7 yards a return and scored four touchdowns—second only to Mel Gray in that category.