OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Baltimore Ravens are awaiting the arrival of Deion Sanders, who appears poised to end his three-year retirement at age 37 and could join the team this week.

On a day in which cornerback Chris McAlister ended his one-month holdout, talk at the team training facility Monday centered around Sanders, who has been working out at his Dallas home this month in anticipation of joining the Ravens as a nickel back.

"We're very optimistic that Deion will be here," coach Brian Billick said. "Until Deion shows up in body and signs a contract, I've got to qualify it. We're ready for either way, but the signs are awfully optimistic right now. Awfully optimistic."

Billick is certain that if Sanders does show up, he will be ready to go in time for the Ravens' season opener in Cleveland Sept. 12.

"We'll put him through a physical to make sure he is ready to go, that there's no ailments lingering, whatever. We have no indication to believe that's the case," Billick said. "He's in good shape. I don't have to run him in a 40 to see that he's OK."

Sanders has not played since retiring before the Washington Redskins opened training camp in 2000. He played cornerback during his illustrious career, but would be used by Baltimore as a fifth defensive back in passing situations.

Sanders would join a unit that already has Pro Bowlers McAlister and Ed Reed.

"It could be the best in the game right now. Even coming out of retirement right now, he's a lot more valuable and experienced than a lot of corners in the league today," McAlister said. "It's all a matter of his conditioning level, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't come back unless he felt he could go out there and play the game the way he's used to."

Back when Sanders was known as Prime Time, starring for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, no one was better at coverage, although his tackling skills were sometimes suspect.

"He's one of the greatest of his era and one of the best to ever play the game," McAlister said.

The addition of Sanders should also be beneficial to Baltimore's defensive front.

"It gives you that extra second to pin your ears back and go," linebacker Adalius Thomas said. "Coverage isn't going to get too much better than that."

McAlister, one of the game's finest cornerbacks, staged his holdout as a protest over being designated the Ravens' franchise player for a second straight year. He had the right to remain absent until Sept. 12 but showed up Monday in excellent spirits.

"I feel fresh right now, mentally and physically," he said. "I think I need the two weeks before Cleveland. I don't want to walk out there, and the first person I hit is someone in a Cleveland Browns jersey."

McAlister hopes to participate in a few plays during Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Giants and intends to be caught up by the time the Ravens open against the Browns.

McAlister wears No. 21, and so did Sanders when he played. McAlister said he would accept cash to make a switch, but predicted that he would hold onto the number.

"If he wants it, we'll see what happens," McAlister said, "but I really think I'll be wearing 21 this year."

AP-ES-08-30-04 1338EDT