Have you ever gotten sick of hearing about Bo Jackson?

D.J. Dozier has.

That's because the former Penn State running back is currently pursuing a professional two-sport career. In the NFL he plays for the Detroit Lions and he plays outfield for the New York Mets' Triple A affiliate, Tidewater.

Hey D.J., have you heard any comparisons with Bo lately?

"Plenty."

Baseball is his most recent venture -- he was signed by the Mets on Mar. 26, 1990. He turned to the sport mostly because he was frustrated with football.

Dozier's frustration certainly didn't stem from his career at Penn State. From 1983-86, he gained 3,227 yards on the ground (third on the Penn State career list) and 613 more on pass receptions.

But his pro career is a different story. The Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the first round in 1987. In four years with the Vikes, Dozier carried the ball only 163 times. And when Minnesota traded for Herschel Walker in 1989, it virtually sealed Dozier's fate as a backup.

"Honestly, I don't ever think he got the opportunity in Minnesota," Penn State offensive coordinator/running backs coach Fran Ganter said. "He never got the ball 15 or 20 times a game. The great ones get better as the game wears on and as they get more carries."

It can be said that Dozier, his agent -- Brett Senior -- and Minnesota did not see eye to eye. Dozier held out for most of the '90 and '91 seasons with contract disputes.

"In Minnesota, they try to fit the players into the offense instead of trying to fit the offense around the players," Dozier said. "You look at the players that have been through the system -- A.C. (Anthony Carter), Chris Carter, Darrin Nelson and myself --I don't think they utilize the talent with the people that they have."

So Dozier turned to baseball, a sport he hadn't played since high school. In early 1990, he and Senior contacted every major league baseball team. Only the Mets expressed any interest at all. In fact, they were very interested.

The team gave Dozier one day to pack and report to spring training.

"He told me coming out (of college), even before the draft, 'I'm a pretty good baseball player and if this football thing doesn't work out, I'd like to try (baseball),' " Senior said. "He sort of forgot about (playing baseball) until he became frustrated."

"I just wanted to give it (baseball) a try," Dozier said. "Maybe it had a little bit to do with frustration with football."

Dozier reported to Single A St. Lucie in the Florida State League and immediatley made an impact. He hit .297 in 93 games, knocked in 57 runs, stole 26 bases and hit 13 home runs. Late in the season, the Mets promoted him to Double A Jackson, where he hit .324 in 29 games with two homers and 23 RBIs. Baseball America selected him as the 10th best prospect in the Florida State League.

"It was suprising that he adjusted as quickly as he did to the professional game," said Steve Phillips, the Mets' Director of Minor League Operations "It's amazing that he's been able to make the adjustment to hit the breaking ball."

Dozier continued his quick rise through the minors last season -- he hit well enough at Double A Williamsport to be promoted to Tidewater -- his hometown.

"Last year I had a great time," Dozier said. "My father and most of my family got to see me; and I saw a lot of my friends from high school."

With the Tides, he hit .269 in 43 games, but struck out 41 times in 171 at-bats. The Mets were looking for outfield help and they wanted Dozier to come to the majors in September.

But there was one catch.

Coming to the majors meant that Dozier would miss training camp and the first month of football season. Dozier and his agent wanted compensation for the money that he would be fined by the Vikings. The Mets said no way -- they didn't even want him to play football.

"They said the same thing when he moved up to Triple A," Senior said. "They said they wouldn't move him up to Tidewater unless he quit football, but they moved him up anyway. We were sort of hoping the same thing would happen in September."

But apparently the Mets and Dozier have come to a mutual understanding.

"He (Dozier) knows how we feel," Phillips said. "We understand the reasons for his playing football."

According to Phillips, most of Dozier's season this year will be spent with Tidewater, but he should break into the majors in September. Phillips also said Dozier's age -- he will be 27 Sept. 21 -- is not a factor.

"His age chronologically is different than his baseball age," Phillips said. "You can pretty much throw his age out the window."

Meanwhile, back on the gridiron, the Detroit Lions signed Dozier midway through last season, and plan to keep him. Dozier only carried the ball nine times for the Lions. But next year with their new offensive coordinator, Dan Henning, the Lions may use a more conservative two-back offense.

But for now -- or at least for the next seven months -- all D.J. is going to think about is baseball.