| |
End of the Lion Sanders calls it quits, saying he's lost desire to play
Posted: Wednesday July 28, 1999 11:26 PM
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - Barry Sanders is quitting football, despite the near certainty that he would become the NFL's all-time rusher this year. "My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision," the NFL's second-leading all-time rusher said in a statement released Wednesday. The Detroit Lions running back arrived in London on Wednesday on a flight from Detroit and said at Gatwick Airport: "I'm going into retirement and I don't see my plans changing." Asked why he came to London, Sanders said, "I don't know the right way to retire. This is just my way of doing it." The 31-year-old star said he would spend a couple days in London before going to Amsterdam and Paris.
A Lions spokesman said general manager Chuck Schmidt had been in contact with Sanders' agents. Sanders retired without speaking to Detroit coach Bobby Ross or anyone else on the team but said he leaves "on good terms with everyone in the organization." At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Ross said, "I'm not going to ... speculate on why he did it ... Obviously, we're very, very disappointed because we lose a great player." Ross said other players will have to pick up where Sanders left off. "What we have to do as a team and as an organization is move on," he said. "We intend to be competitive even with this loss." "It's a huge hole missing right now," wide receiver Johnnie Morton said at practice Wednesdday. "I think we're in a shock state of mind." Tight end Walter Rasby said, "We've got a lot of talent on this team. We're going to be better than last year, even without 20 [Sanders]."
"Football is still a game. We're talking about this man's life. It'll be a distraction to some people but it'll tighten us up as a team," said Rasby, now entering his second season with the Lions. "I'm glad I got my jersey signed [by Sanders] last year." Sanders will be put on the Lions' reserve list after notifying the club of his retirement. However, he can be brought back any time this season until Dec. 5. If he joins the team before then, he can play in the playoffs. Sanders could still return, because he generally keeps himself in top shape, whether he is working out with the team or not. However, people who know him regard him as a man of his word, and generally unlikely to waver once he makes a major decision. "I wish he would have given a hint," quarterback Charlie Batch said. "I'm sure the doors aren't closed. ... He's got a lot of good years left in him." Attempts by his agents to talk him out of retiring have been as futile as a defender trying to arm-tackle him. "I am not involved in a salary dispute of any kind," Sanders said. "If I had played this season, I would have earned a more than satisfactory salary." Sanders, who won the Heisman Trophy his final year at Oklahoma State in 1988, was a training-camp holdout in 1989, 1991 and 1997, all related to contract negotiations. He has played two years on a six-year, $36 million contract. One of his agents, David Ware, said he was unable to dissuade Sanders, even with the argument that he's only 1,458 yards shy of breaking the NFL career rushing record. "Individual accolades have never been the things that motivated Barry," agent David Ware told WWJ radio in Detroit Wednesday. "Money has never been something that motivated Barry."
And that is when he started thinking about retiring. "Shortly after the end of last season, I felt that I probably would not return for the 1999-2000 season. I also felt that I should take as much time as possible to sort through my feelings and make sure that my feelings were backed with conviction," Sanders said. Speculation about Sanders' reasons for leaving include the Lions' 5-11 finish last season, Ross' temperamental personality, local media reaction when it became known that he was contemplating retirement and because he doesn't believe the Lions are committed to winning."I know at times, it was frustrating for him," Morton said. In his statement, Sanders only had praise for the team and its management. "I truly will miss playing for the Lions. I consider the Lions' players, coaches, staff, management and fans my family. I leave on good terms with everyone in the organization," he said. "I have enjoyed playing for two great head coaches, Wayne Fontes and Bobby Ross, who are good coaches and leaders." And Ross had only praise for Sanders. "He's a fine person and a fine father. ... Personally I'm going to miss things like him bringing his little boy around." During Sanders' 10 seasons in Detroit, the Lions have a 78-82 regular-season record and made the playoffs five of those years. They have won only one playoff game. Sanders, 31, has 15,269 career rushing yards, trailing only Chicago Bears' Walter Payton's 16,726 yards rushing. But the Lions have had two 5-11
seasons sandwiched around a 9-7 record in 1997 that earned them a wild-card
spot in the playoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
