They completely screwed every football fan for saying either retire or stay with our crappy organization.
2007-05-16 08:43:53 · 13 answers · asked by Ballzy 6 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
The Detroit Lions would not let him leave the team....this is a fact They would not trade him or release him of his contract. They said either play with us or dont play at all.
2007-05-16 08:51:14 · update #1
From Barry Sanders "the culture of losing in the Lions' organization was too much to deal with even though he said that he could still play. He explained that it robbed him of his competitive spirit, and he saw no reason to believe things were going to improve."
2007-05-16 08:54:24 · update #2
So many naive people out there.....he retired because he did not want to play for a crappy organization going nowhere.
2007-05-16 09:39:56 · update #3
There was a big backlash. God himself struck them down and made them be the Detroit Lions. They won't win their division for at least another decade because the man upstairs is a Barry Sanders fan and he hates their guts.
Barry Sanders was the MAN while he was still playing.
2007-05-16 09:42:25 · answer #1 · answered by cailano 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because fans were more upset that Barry announced his retirement the day before training camp opened, forcing the Lions to scurry to find a replacement at the last second, forcing them to settle on Greg Hill. If Barry had announced his retirement at the end of the previous season, giving the Lions not only time to sign a RB through free agency, but also in the draft, perhaps the Lions would have taken more blame. But, Barry's timing caused the fan backlash to go on him instead of the Lions. Essentially, Barry's timing screwed the Lions royally, and the fans don't like getting screwed. Still love the guy though. As a Lions fan myself, I respected the decision to retire, just not the timing.
2007-05-16 15:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i've been a die-hard detroit fan for almost 30 years and i can honestly say that finally fed up and sick of the losing. I keep saying that i'm gonna jump ship but i can't do it ...every year i hope they will get a saviour in the draft (hoping again this coming draft with 2 first round picks!) Barry sanders was amazing and i respect him for what he did ..... stupid me, i still look forward to the turkey day game as it's the only time i get to see them now! They r indeed maybe the worst team ever ....... here's hoping for sam bradford in the draft!!!!
2016-05-19 22:44:11 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't blame the Lions. I am so tired of all these spoiled athletes that are under contract and the trying to dictate where they want to play. If he didn't like Detroit he didn't have to sign that MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT that set him up for the rest of his life. I enjoyed watching Barry Sanders as much as anyone else but I am glad that the Lions organization stuck to their guns.
2007-05-16 10:48:50 · answer #4 · answered by ronald g 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Barry wasn't a big media darling so I think that's a part of it. It also would have been a bigger deal if he played for a larger market team. Either way, a lot of people believed him when he said he was just leaving early like Jim Brown did.
2007-05-16 08:48:17 · answer #5 · answered by ringo82514 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they didn't make him retire? He decided to leave for more reasons than just the fact that the Lions suck. No one's questioned Barry's motives for leaving because he's never made any indication that he'd want to come back. I think he just lost his interest in the game, and with that goes the intensity he needed to play well. Smart move, probably.
2007-05-16 08:48:06 · answer #6 · answered by reymarblue 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
is this an ignorant question or are you just not smart. Barry Sanders chose to retire so that he could live his life without not being able to walk, and without all the bullshit the NFL has to offer . He was tired of playing for a losing organization that pushed him to the side, despite him being the team. He decided his life could be better without playig for the lions
I hated to see him go, but i respect his choice.
2007-05-16 09:29:30 · answer #7 · answered by arsn49 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I think that was more Barry's decision than you think.
the Lions have done so many stupid things over the years though that if you were to cause a huge backlash over everything, you'd have a new full time job.
If he really wanted to keep playing and the Lions were treating him THAT badly, he would have held out....regardless of how much class that guy had....if they were treating him THAT badly, he would have gotten out of there.
2007-05-16 08:48:58 · answer #8 · answered by retired 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There should have been if Barry stayed in the NFL he would have been hands down the BEST! no ? asked. Detroit has suffered. there still to dumb to get rid of Matt Mullen ha ha. For the 4th year in a row I take another receiver as a first round pick retards.Well we still have highlights.
2007-05-16 08:53:06 · answer #9 · answered by mowgli9886 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The Fords suck is all I can say. I hate what they did to the greatest RB of all time. It is a crime how you have that legendary talent and can't build a superbowl team around him.
Again the Fords suck badly
2007-05-16 09:32:25 · answer #10 · answered by Bruce Tzu 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋