The Great Barry Sanders Set To Be Voted Into The HOF

Sanders Set to Be Voted Into Hall of Fame

By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

He quietly and mysteriously walked away from the game with Walter Payton's rushing record only one of his average seasons away.

Sanders announced his decision through a written statement released by his hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle. He then eluded reporters as if they were trying to tackle him for four-plus years.

Two months ago, Sanders had his first news conference since his retirement to answer questions and promote his new book.


DETROIT (AP) -- Barry Sanders was jogging off the field after a game 13 years ago in Washington when he was playfully wrapped up by Matt Millen.

"He turned around and looked at me like, `What are you doing?'" said Millen, a former linebacker and current president of the Detroit Lions. "I said, `I wanted to tell my kids that I tackled you once in my life.'"

Sanders, one of the most elusive running backs in NFL history, is expected to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday after running for 15,269 yards in 10 seasons with the Lions.

"I probably don't completely appreciate the significance of the Hall of Fame right now," Sanders said Thursday in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "But it definitely is beyond anything I expected when I started playing the game."

Few expected Sanders to retire when he did - soon after his 31st birthday and just before training camp in 1999.


NFL News
Sanders Set to Be Voted Into Hall of FameHe acknowledged the way he retired was "a little clumsy," and shot down many rumors, including the one that the move was a ploy to be traded.

"The press conference needed to be done and it definitely has lifted a burden off of me," Sanders said. "Even though the way I retired was messy, I think most people gave me the benefit of the doubt. I think the press conference confirmed what a lot of people thought - that I just didn't have the desire to play, like I said was the case in the first place."

When he did play, from 1989-98 - after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State - there wasn't much more he could have done as a running back.

He was the first player to run for 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons, and he led the league in rushing four times. Sanders also was the first to have five 1,500-yard rushing seasons, and the only one to do it four straight seasons (1994-97).

In 1997, he was named the NFL's MVP after becoming the third player to run for 2,000 yards and the first to have 14 straight 100-yard games.

"From my era, the last 25 years, there has not been a better running back," Millen said. "Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Eric ****erson, Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell and John Riggins were great, but none of them could scare defenses more or make fans hold their breath with excitement like Barry did."

The next time Sanders brags about anything he did will be the first.

When Sanders scored, he simply gave the nearest official the football and trotted to the sideline. When reporters crowded his locker, he acted surprised that the media wanted to talk to him.

"We would try to get him to spike the ball - just one time - but he wouldn't do it," said Kevin Glover, Sanders' center in Detroit and close friend. "It just wasn't in his makeup as a person. He was a true superstar, but you would never know it because he was so humble. That's why all of his teammates loved him."

In addition to the record Sanders walked away from at the end of his career, he chose to not go after another distinction as a rookie.

He ran for 1,470 yards before being taken out against Atlanta, just 10 yards behind Kansas City's Christian Okoye for the league rushing crown in 1989.

"When I heard how close he was to leading the league in rushing, I told Barry that I was going to put him back in," former Lions coach Wayne Fontes said Thursday. "He said, `No, that's OK. That's not important to me.' That was always his attitude toward records.

"I think he could still be playing now, and if he was, nobody would touch his record - ever."

Emmitt Smith, who broke Payton's record in 2002, agreed.

"Barry had not only the best chance of getting the record, but blowing the record way out, setting it in the 20,000-mark area," Smith said in the past.

Unlike Denver's John Elway, also expected to be voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sanders played for a franchise with only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.

Sanders led the Lions to the playoffs five times and to a win over Dallas in 1991.

"I think I would trade a Super Bowl championship for the Hall of Fame," Sanders said. "I can certainly say it's disappointing to have never even played in a Super Bowl. I feel like I missed out on something."

Growing up as a Packer Fan (Brainwashing failed) I would shudder with his every touch of the ball, no one made me yell at the TV, "How could so many of you guys miss him?" I should have just recorded that statement and played it everytime the Pack faced The Lions, hell everytime ANYONE faced the Lions! Whenever anyone would rip the Lions for having a sucky team under Fonts, just saying "Yeah but Barry Sanders." would yield total silence from all nay sayers.. I was privledged to see him play live.

[Sapp is God300]

in my view, sanders was the best RB of all time. His cuts and jukes are unmatched. Too bad he played for the lions...

Barry Sanders was the greatest RB to ever lace up his cleats!

[ChuckyWins4TB]

Sanders was by far one of my all-time favorites to watch.. he would make pro's look like children at time...sad that he retired and equally sad he played for such a sad franchise...imagine him with an oline and passing game....sick just thinking about it.

I was at a friend's house who has direct tv earlier this week and saw the Barry Sander's program on the NFL network. Man it was a good show! It's been a while since I've seen footage of Sanders. I had seen him live at the old sombrero a couple times... The man blows my mind. The interview with him reminded me of how humble he was and is. You don't see that as much anymore with all the super star "me" players around telling us how great they are. IMO Barry outplayed and continues to outclass all of them. In the interview, he was asked about the record. Sanders said that he thought being #3 on that list isn't too bad. Steve Sabol said, "but Barry, you could be #1!" He simply laughed. The record didn't matter to Barry, it was the love of the game that he played for. It's a shame he never got the chance to play in a Super Bowl. Emmitt may have the record, but Barry IS the greatest, period.

Is this a recent article??

I remember the one game when he ran for two long touchdown runs against us here. He broke through the right side of the line with Lynch coming in to close the gap, put a juke on him and swiped nothing but air as John was faked literally out of his socks. He had him dead... but grabbed nothing but AIR!

[BucBoss2K1]

Barry Sanders = The greatest running back ever .

Originally posted by Sapp is God300
in my view, sanders was the best RB of all time. His cuts and jukes are unmatched. Too bad he played for the lions...

Im sure alot of Buccaneer Defences felt the same way,he had alot of HUGE games against the Bucs back in those days.i used to watch in a combo of awe and amazement and disgruntlement as he diced and juked his way thru our D.
he surely could have reached the 20000 yrd platuea.but as he said records are not important to him.Im glad for him,he deserves the HOF as much as any player that ever played.

I know there are a lot of youngins here (at least compared to my 33 years), but there was football before the 1990s. I'm a huge Sanders guy, but he was NOT the greatest running back ever. That distinction can go rightly only to Jim Brown or Walter Payton. Sanders is a solid third though.

Sanders did what no other could. The man retired when all he had to do was have an average season to break the rushing record. No my friend, Barry is the greatest. Not taking anything away from Payton or Brown. Those two guys were great and they do equally deserve to be called the greatest, but I do give that honor to Barry.

Originally posted by Leeroy
I know there are a lot of youngins here (at least compared to my 33 years), but there was football before the 1990s. I'm a huge Sanders guy, but he was NOT the greatest running back ever. That distinction can go rightly only to Jim Brown or Walter Payton. Sanders is a solid third though.

Greatest running back? Either Jim Brown or Gayle Sayers. Barry deserves the HOF - but when they don't induct a player that truely changed the way the game is played (Bob Hayes), then where is their credibility?

I wasn't saying that Barry Sanders shouldn't be in the hall. He should have his own wing in the hall. The hall should have an annual Barry Sanders day. I was just saying that he's not the greatest RB ever. The greatest ever was Jim Brown, and if you say Walter Payton I won't argue too hard. Sanders was third IMHO, ahead of Emmitt Smith. My problem with Sayers is the same one many have - he didn't play all that long. He did enough to make the hall, but not enough to be considered in the greatest ever debate. It's the same problem I have with Terrell Davis.

Originally posted by Leeroy
I wasn't saying that Barry Sanders shouldn't be in the hall. He should have his own wing in the hall. The hall should have an annual Barry Sanders day. I was just saying that he's not the greatest RB ever. The greatest ever was Jim Brown, and if you say Walter Payton I won't argue too hard. Sanders was third IMHO, ahead of Emmitt Smith. My problem with Sayers is the same one many have - he didn't play all that long. He did enough to make the hall, but not enough to be considered in the greatest ever debate. It's the same problem I have with Terrell Davis.

Sayers played for six years. All you have to do is watch his game films, and compare them to other candidates. He had gifts others only dream of - shifty, tough, and with warp speed. If arthroscopic surgery would have been available to him, I'm sure his career would have been at least ten years.

Originally posted by FriendlyFr47
Greatest running back? Either Jim Brown or Gayle Sayers. Barry deserves the HOF - but when they don't induct a player that truely changed the way the game is played (Bob Hayes), then where is their credibility?

Barry Sanders is the standard RBs are set to in the NFL. You have to look no further than our own Bucs for that. Remember Warrick Dunn...AKA Baby Barry? Ever hear of a "jump cut?" Yeah, NOBODY did that before Barry, and now, most backs try to mimic his style. Barry changed the way Rb's play the game therefore he is the greatest. Brown, Sayers, Payton all had an impact and showed everyone something different, but Barry took the Rb spot to a level NO ONE has ever been to.

I have a feeling you won't agree with my POV so we'll have to agree to disagree.

Originally posted by Leeroy
I know there are a lot of youngins here (at least compared to my 33 years), but there was football before the 1990s. I'm a huge Sanders guy, but he was NOT the greatest running back ever. That distinction can go rightly only to Jim Brown or Walter Payton. Sanders is a solid third though.

I agree, heck throw Earl Campbell and Eric Richardson in there as well.

Originally posted by FriendlyFr47
Sayers played for six years. All you have to do is watch his game films, and compare them to other candidates. He had gifts others only dream of - shifty, tough, and with warp speed. If arthroscopic surgery would have been available to him, I'm sure his career would have been at least ten years.

I will say after I saw old footage of Sayers he was ONE of THE MOST gifted football players EVER. BAR NONE. Olden days or modern era, he rocked.

[SatansGotHerpes]

Best RB ever.

[torch]

I'm a huge Sanders guy, but he was NOT the greatest running back ever. That distinction can go rightly only to Jim Brown or Walter Payton.

You can't say who's better because their styles are so different. however, for a blend of power and speed, I'd say OJ was better than Jim Brown. So they would be probably one and two in that category. And I'd have Payton and Sanders tied in the pure speed and running category.

I agree that you can never REALLY compare players who weren't contemporaries, but if we didn't try, message boards wouldn't be as much fun.

Sanders was superhuman. He was a human highlight reel, capable of doing things nobody else ever has and maybe never will. But there are other things to consider here. Jim Brown wasn't flashy. He was agile, and he was quick, but that wasn't his game. He was about the little things. He never got stopped in the backfield. Sanders may have broken a lot of runs but he also ended a lot of drives by setting up 2nd and 14 when he couldn't break them. That was at least part of the reasons the Lions were inconsistent on O despite all those yards. I wouldn't be surprised if Barry is the all time league leader in negative runs. Jim Brown always got something. He had the stiffarm to end all stiffarms. He carried guys to the sticks no matter where he was hit. He averaged FIVE yards a carry for his career. It wasn't as if he was like Barry, and would carry for 2, -1, 3, 6, -2, and the 80. Jim Brown was good for 5 yards a carry nearly every carry. It made it much easier to maintain drives. How you get the yards matters.

It was other little things with Brown. Barry made em miss, but Brown ran through them, like Alstott when he's on. Having to tackle Jim Brown opened up the whole passing game because the secondary (which is where Brown got stopped) was usually too sore and tired to cover much by the second half. Barry didn't have that effect. He made guys miss, but he didn't wear down the D the way a power back does.

I also think part of the reason there's so much Barry love is like I said, most here never saw Brown play whereas we ALL have Barry memories, and our little exposure to Brown is grainy highlight film from the leather helmet era.

If Barry hadn't retired young, he would have broken 20,000 rusing yards. But if Jim Brown hadn't retired young, that still wouldn't have been enough for the record. Jim Brown is the single greatest player in the history of the game, the guy I'd use the first pick on in a legend fantasy draft and never look back. I've watched every bit of film I could on the guy, and regardless of what you think about this debate if you're a real football fan you shouldn't cheat yourself out of seeing the guy play also.

Sanders and Bo Jackson are the best I have ever seen. Man if only Jackson didn't get that hip injury he would have been widely considered one of the best ever.