That sounds like a smart business woman. She sends her son out there to break ankles, tear ACL’s and give defensive coordinators high blood pressure. Then she moves in to capitalize on it!
5 Likes
The most impressive thing might be that he missed only 7 games in 10 seasons as a RB that was getting a ton of carries.
7 Likes
Jesus Payton
Couldn’t agree more.
1 Like
Just had a chance to watch this, thank you so much for posting @FreebirdPartDeux!
Don’t have much to say that hasn’t already been said. Also too I wasn’t aware how much he was doubted growing up, which made him almost the perfect Detroiter… underestimated, counted out, it sounds like it was Barry vs everybody til he proved them wrong again and again.
I will never forget listening to 1130 WDFN the fan on the eve of training camp when he retired, and art regner was on and probably stayed on all night. I think I made it til 1 or 2am staying up listening…
I do have an interesting Barry story I heard. It was a long time ago and it was a third party story so I don’t know how true this is, but, this is what I was told:
I worked with a guy who used to be a trainer for the lions during the 90s. He said that players used to tell him how much Barry didn’t care about money. He mentioned johnnie Morton but I forget who else… anyway the story was that players would go over to Barry’s house, which was a modest house not some mansion, just a regular house, and he had unsigned checks/bonus checks from the lions laying around all over the place. For all the hits in his contract he would get the lions would write him separate checks for those bonuses apparently, but he had uncashed unsigned checks just laying around.
I’m sure he took care of his family first and foremost, and when they were taken care of he probably was like “meh I’ll cash them at some point.” That was the impression I got.
Again this is a story I heard from someone who was told it by lions on the team at the time, but I always thought it was pretty cool.
He was such a humble, easy going guy who didn’t want or need the attention and fame and fortune, and he stayed true to himself even when the fame and fortune found him.
In my opinion there will never be another Barry in so many ways, on and off the football field.
11 Likes
5 Likes
How good was Barry? A player was cut from the Lions for tackling Barry in practice! That’s how good and special he was.
5 Likes
If he could tackle Barry, shit give him a 5 year extension and get his butt in the starting lineup.
10 Likes
Kind of interesting that neither Michael Jordan or Barry Sanders we’re really that highly regarded in highschool until late, huh?
I mean, didn’t Jordan get cut one year and Barry was nothing more than a backup until the starter got suspended.
3 Likes
Fun little story about that. If you watch the video, you heard the narrator say “in his rookie season he came up just 11 yards short of leading the league in yards.”
It was the last game of the year against the Falcons, and they informed him he only needed 12 yards. But they were winning and were going to win the game. He said, “Put the young guy in, let him play. Let Okoye have it.”
That’s how good he was off the field. On the field, I’m sorry but I have just never seen a player at any position do what he did.
Which is why it will always be subjective. Talent vs. Stats. Talent vs. Record. Talent vs. Results. Was Joe Montana 10% of Barry Sanders athletically? Not even close, but people point to the results.
To me, he was the most talented and/or gifted player to ever play - at least in my 42 years.
14 Likes
The thing about football is that every position is getting better, year over year. The receivers are faster, the dbs more agile, and the qbs can run and pass like never before. Literally every position.
It’s been over two decades. I’ve still not seen anybody do it like Barry. Nobody. He came into the league today and he’d still break ankles.
Being a lions fan sucks in a lot of ways. But for a decade we witnessed true greatness, and for that we are truly blessed.
9 Likes
Yep I remember it well. He was very humble
5 Likes
This exactly. It’s like all 11 positions have progressed and gotten better, but only 10 of them have surpassed someone else from that era.
Credit to LaDanian (possibly closest I’ve ever seen), he did his best. But he wasn’t Barry.
4 Likes
Barry was incredible but I’d put Walter Payton right up there with him. There wasn’t anything on a football field Payton couldn’t do. Also an incredible man off the field.
2 Likes
He didn’t care about accolades or records… compare him and his approach to Bo Jackson, who would show up giving out autographs… Bo had a similar upbringing but was never doubted like Barry was, according to the videos I’ve seen. Bo was always the greatest thing ever and Barry had to prove himself… and even after the fame, Barry never changed, he was still himself. That’s incredibly difficult to do.
This is a weird analogy but Barry had a lot of Kurt cobain traits to him and I think that’s what made him so likeable off the field… for any nirvana fans but not to make this about nirvana… but there was an element about some gen X people that was very unique.
Barry didn’t care about the fame and he was so humble about everything he did. In his older age he has just started having a little sass about what he did but he still is the same guy now.
His father was a huge influence on him and I recall a lot of things going on where his dad would do interviews and talk about the lions… don’t remember specifics though but that was a much talked about topic at the time I think?
3 Likes
NJ I won’t argue with you on that, other than the part of “right up there with him.”. But then also agree on the “right up there with him part”, if that makes sense.
Payton was there, but I just don’t think anyone stands directly next to Barry. It’s like taking that prom picture and someone is on the third step of stairs and their partner is on the second step.
2 Likes
Yup. Exactly. Of the list of people happy when he hit 2,000 yards you have the fans, teammates, coaching staff, parents, family and friends. Barry was last on that list.
He does have a little sass now but even “thinks and admits” he wouldn’t stand a shot in today’s game.
Hogwash. If he was in football shape I’d sign him tomorrow.
2 Likes
You can’t go wrong with either back. It would really come down to your preference and what fit your offense best. Payton wasn’t the runner Barry was but Barry didn’t block like Walter did.
1 Like
Heard he was a bed wetter.
looking hard for a negative.
1 Like
I had to double check because the numbers are fused into my brain. Okoye had 1480 yards and Barry ended with 1470. Couldn’t believe he wouldn’t go back in. That was the same game that Russ Thomas slithered down to Atlanta to retire. He didn’t even have the guts to retire in Detroit because he knew we would have boo’d the shit out of him.
1 Like
This is SO true, and there are not many players that you can say that about at any position.
IMO - Payton isn’t in the same solar system w/Barry.