BEREA, Ohio (AP) -When Browns cornerback Eric Wright woke up Tuesday morning and turned on his phone, he had several congratulatory text messages waiting.
One meant more than the others.
The one from Deion Sanders.
On Monday night, Wright's 94-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed Cleveland's 35-14 upset over the previously unbeaten New York Giants. Wright cut in front of wide receiver Amani Toomer, picked off Eli Manning's pass, eluded the QB by tiptoeing down the sideline and strutted into the end zone mimicking Sanders' high-kicking strut and then his signature TD jig.
``It's something I've dreamed of doing since I was eight years old,'' Wright said.
As a kid growing up in San Francisco, Wright idolized Sanders, who brought his flashy game to the Bay Area for one year and won a Super Bowl title with the 49ers. Wright admired everything about Sanders: his flashy style, his work ethic, his game-changing knack.
So, as he approached the end zone on Monday, Wright paid tribute to the man dubbed ``Prime Time'' in prime time.
And what did Sanders think?
``He told me I set a new standard for myself and that he expects me to play that way every game,'' Wright said.
The Browns would settle for half of what Wright accomplished against the Giants, a performance that earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Wright was credited with three solo tackles, two passes defended and the interception, his third this season for the Browns, who have recorded eight interceptions in the past three games and gave Manning his first three of 2008. Wright is currently ranked second in the league in interceptions and doesn't shy away from stating he wants to finish on top.
``It's a personal goal, but in the bigger scheme of things it's about helping the team,'' he said. ``It's not something you do to sacrifice anything. I'm not going to go out there and just take chances.''
He's still learning, and to help him accelerate his knowledge the second-year player reached out midway through his rookie season to Sanders, the cornerback by which all cornerbacks are measured.
Wright understood he needed some tutelage at the position.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder, who was drafted out of UNLV in the second round in 2007, came into the league dripping with confidence. He showed flashes of stardom during 13 starts, but there were times when he was out of position or played too soft in coverage and allowed receivers to make easy catches underneath.
Wright contacted Sanders, now an analyst for the NFL Network, for some advice.
``Anybody who knows me knows that I idolize him, I did growing up,'' Wright said. ``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 also worked out with the former baseball/football star during the offseason.
``I talk to him pretty much on a regular basis,'' Wright said. ``Anything I need to ask him, he's there for me and I really appreciate him a lot. He's just there as far as support goes.''
Wright hasn't always been as open to advice. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said some of Wright's struggles during the exhibition season and earlier this year can be partially attributed to his stubbornness.
``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 the particular leverage and he doesn't always feel like he needs to play with that particular leverage. He thinks he can play with a different leverage and still get it done. He is learning and he understands that when he uses proper technique and proper leverage that he is pretty good.''
Wright wants to get better, and Crennel was pleased to hear that his young player has sought out Sanders, who had 19 career TD returns and is an almost certain lock for the Hall of Fame.
``You could put him on one guy and he could cover that one guy and you could take the rest of your coverage and push it somewhere else,'' Crennel said of Sanders. ``I don't know if Eric is to that standard yet, but any pointers that Prime Time can give him, I know he appreciates. I noticed that as he high-stepped into the end zone he tried to do a little Prime Time move there so they have been talking about something.''
Wright and fellow second-year cornerback Brandon McDonald have been two bright spots for the Browns, who finally played like playoff contenders in Monday's win.
Before the game, Wright sent a message to Sanders and told him ``to get the balloons ready for my coming-out party.''
He delivered on his promise, just as Sanders used to.
``He text messaged me and told me I played a good game and to continue to focus on my technique,'' Wright said.
And did he critique the dance?
``No,'' Wright said. ``I barely had the legs to do it.''
