NEON DEION MIGHT SHINE IN TWO WAYS.

Byline: Denne H. Freeman Associated Press 

The Dallas Cowboys found out one thing in their week-long minicamp and quarterback school: Deion Sanders is a better receiver than he is a baseball player.

This is the first spring Sanders hasn't been playing baseball and he has devoted time to business deals, playing with his children and learning to run routes as a receiver.

He's been successful at all three.

``He's like the road runner, beep-beep varooooom,'' said Dallas coach Barry Switzer. ``His route running is much advanced from where it was last fall when we put him in there on a parttime basis.''

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman cautioned not to put Sanders in the class of Michael Irvin or even Kevin Williams - yet.

``He has the ability to be one of the great wide receivers for our team,'' Aikman said. ``But he hasn't mastered the position yet. It's still going to be hard for him to play both defense and offense.''

Sanders, who caught one pass for 47 yards in the Super Bowl, hasn't said much about being a full-time football player.

``I don't want to talk, but you can film me,'' he said at one session.

It remains to be seen if Sanders can be a 60-minute man this fall for the Cowboys. He strained a hamstring muscle this week after several long runs.

``We'll just have to wait and see how much we use him on offense,'' Switzer said. ``We need him for sure on defense.''

One of the bright spots of camp was the fact that Aikman has come off of surgery for bone chips in his elbow in good shape. He was able to do a little throwing, which put him far ahead of the pace he had expected. He got a sore arm for his trouble, but there were no other complications.

The Cowboys also were curious about their two free-agent linebackers, Broderick Thomas, formerly of Minnesota, and Fred Strickland, a former Green Bay Packer.

The Cowboys were a little disappointed that safety Roger Harper, a free agent picked up from Atlanta, reported overweight. But he is what the Cowboys needed last year.

``I know they need hitters and I'm a hitter,'' Harper said. ``I'll get my weight down and be there by summer camp. ''

Harper will compete with Brock Marion for a job.

The Cowboys were impressed with first-round pick Kavika Pittman of McNeese State, who could become a valuable backup to Charles Haley at defensive end.

``He looks good and quick,'' Switzer said. ``We'll be anxious to see what he does in training camp. It would be great if he could make a contribution this year.''

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