I don't know if Barry Sanders could come back at his age and still be a good running back but Detroit needs to suck it up by now and let him go. Jeez, Sanders was the most exciting RB in NFL history and my personal favorite to watch. Set Barry free! http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1513218.html Sanders rebuffs Lions' advances once again -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com INDIANAPOLIS -- Spring must be approaching. Detroit Lions officials are making their yearly attempt to lure tailback Barry Sanders back to the playing field four full seasons after his retirement. League and team sources here for the annual scouting combine workouts confirmed for ESPN.com that Lions president/general manager Matt Millen and new head coach Steve Mariucci both spoke recently with Sanders to again gauge his interest in a possible comeback. Once again, Sanders indicated he has no interest in returning, at least until the Lions provide him the option of talking to other teams. "He might consider the Lions but only as one of 32 teams, not the only team for which he could come back," said a source close to the third-leading rusher in league history. "He wants options and, at this point, it doesn't look like he is going to get any other choices." Although Sanders repaid the prorated portion of the signing bonus that he owed the Lions following his abrupt retirement just days before the beginning of camp in 1999, Detroit still technically retains his contractual rights. Over the past few years, some other franchises have inquired about Sanders' availability in a trade, but nothing has developed. Lions officials were hopeful that, with a new head coach and new offensive design, Sanders might at least consider ending his retirement. He never fully explained publicly his reasons for walking away from the game. But barring a change of heart, it seems Sanders will remain a spectator -- probably for good. There is also the reality of age, since Sanders will turn 35 this summer, and of the rust inherent to four years away from the game. In 10 seasons with the Lions (1989-98), Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards. He retired in the summer of '99, just 1,458 yards from eclipsing then career rushing leader Walter Payton.
Barry best RB ive ever seen. Sorry emmit you got nothing. Would have broke Paytons record years ago. Plus Barry never had an o=line give him emmits line you probaly got the best athlete in all of sports. cmon back barry!!
SI ran a great article about Barry's life since football last month. A must read for #20 fans, like myself. In it he stated he wasn't interested in returning to football at all, despite rumors linking him to the Dolphins about 3 years ago. Barry was my all-time favorite football player. I would love to see him return, but I don't think he has the heart or passion to perform like he once did. From his interview in the article, he just didn't seem that enthusiastic about football anymore. He basically just attends autograph sessions and lives a normal life.
Except for those three little things called SUPERBOWL TROPHIES! Oh and the all time rushing record. Barry might be the best running back of all time, but I rather have a career like Emmitt's anyday of the week. Plus Emmitt is not a quitter.
OOOOOOOHHH,Super Bowl trophies!!! That must make Trent Dilfer one of the top 5 QB's ever!!! Dan Marino,Warren Moon and Dan Fouts all must really suck!!!! And saying that Emmitt is better than Barry because he has the rushing record would be like saying that Pete Rose is the best baseball player ever because he has the most hits. OK.....
Yeah....I am going to have to agree and say that Emmit is pretty much a tool compared to Barry, but I am also going to have to say that Barry is a tool for quitting. But WP was the best ever. That was a bad muther and I think that most coaches would rather have WP in his prime than either ES or BS in theirs.
Didn't the Detroit coaching staff at the time of Sander's quitting kind of dick him around somehow? I see everyone calling him a quitter, but I seem to remember that he was given plenty of reason to quit...although I can't remember any specifics.
Let's see Emmitt does hold the NFL rsuhing record and played better in the playoffs than Barry (Barry usually had a tee time about 5 weeks before Emmitt's) and Emmitt super bowl rings and mvp trophies. There are tons of players who were great players on bad teams. Barry was so go he could not even carry his team TO the Super Bowl. Wow he was that good! Barry was fun to watch, but he was not able to carry his team anywhere.
Emmitt carried the cowboys with a little help from Aikman, Irvin, and the best offensive line in football at the time. Put Sanders on that team and no telling how many 2000 yard rushing seasons he would have had.
Best RBs do not bail out on their team. I'm sorry. This is like saying that Steve Francis is the best PG in the league. Sorry Kidd!
Since when did retiring early mean you "bailed out on your team"? I don't recall Jim Brown or M.J. (the first time around) being given such labels.
