Barry
Sanders ArchievesBarry
Sanders Archieves
Barry Sanders has formally offered to repay his signing bonus if the Detroit Lions will release or trade him this season, according to his agent. The Lions have refused.
David Ware, one of Sanders' representatives, said that he renewed the request on Monday. Sanders announced his retirement in July.
Asked if this is a signal that Sanders still wants to play in the NFL, Ware said Tuesday, "I think he's ready to consider it, in the right situation. But the right situation is not the Detroit Lions. His career is finished there."
Sanders "definitely would return," if the Lions would accommodate him, a source close to the running back said.
"We're trying to get him back on the football field, where he belongs," Ware said.
But his father, William Sanders, told the Associated Press that his son hasn't indicated whether he'll come back to football. "I was hoping he'd never quit," he said. "I don't know what he's going to do. ... I keep my fingers crossed."The Lions filed a formal grievance last week to recover a $5.4 million share of the $11 million signing bonus they gave Sanders two years ago on a new five-year contract.
Sanders did not collect a $1.7 million deferred payment due this fall on the original bonus. The club contends it has contract language that specifically requires Sanders to repay a prorated portion of his bonus for any of the years he does not play.
"We think this thing could go either way with an arbitrator," Ware said. "The fact that the Lions have pursued this course has burned any bridge, any possibility, that he would return to the club. But Barry will write the check right now if they'll let him go or trade him."
Ware said Sanders' request has been made to three Lions officials, including club owner William Clay Ford.
"They've told us that if Barry ever plays again, he'll play for the Lions or nobody," Ware said. "That's not going to happen, so we're offering a pretty good deal: More than $5 million, plus they can get compensation for him."
Sanders was unavailable, but Ware said, "Barry has signed off on this."
The Lions would not confirm whether Ware had contacted them on this matter.
"Our positions remains the same -- that we honored his retirement wishes and we expected the repayment of the prorated portion," Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said Tuesday.
Chuck Schmidt, the Lions' chief operating officer, told the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News that the Lions will not trade Sanders. "When Barry signed that contract, everybody agreed he would retire a Detroit Lion," Schmidt said. William Sanders told AP he doesn't blame the Lions for taking the stand they have. "I wouldn't release him either if I had a Barry Sanders on a contract," he said.
This is just more icing on the cake....Barry will go down in Detroit Lions history as one of the biggest frauds! Didn't he say that he's sick of the game in his retirement statement???? Now he pulls this crap after the Lions, deservingly so, ask for their money back. After watching Sunday's game, I agree with Ron Rivers: good riddance!!! Who needs a player that can't even face the fans that have warshipped him for over a decade. If Barry really wants to get something accomplished, then why doesn't he open his damn mouth and stop going through his daddy and agents?????? Oh, I forgot, he's even too scared to call someone back!!!!!
Barry abrupt retirement
Barry Sanders, on the brink of eclipsing Walter Payton's all-time NFL rushing record, will announce his retirement Wednesday morning, according to his attorney.
THE BARRY YEARS
| YEAR | GMS. | ATT. | YARDS. | AVG. | TDS |
| 1989 | 15 | 280 | 1,470 | 5.3 | 14 |
| 1990 | 416 | 255 | 1,364 | 5.1 | 13 |
| 1991 | 15 | 342 | 1,548 | 4.5 | 16 |
| 1992 | 16 | 312 | 1,352 | 4.3 | 9 |
| 1993 | 11 | 243 | 1,115 | 4.6 | 3 |
| 1994 | 16 | 331 | 1,883 | 5.7 | 7 |
| 1995 | 16 | 314 | 1,500 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 1996 | 16 | 307 | 1,553 | 5.1 | 11 |
| 1997 | 16 | 335 | 2,053 | 6.1 | 11 |
| 1998 | 16 | 343 | 1,491 | 4.3 | 4 |
| Totals | 153 | 3,062 | 15,269 | 5.0 | 99 |
Lions director of media relations Mike Murray told ESPN on Tuesday night that the Lions would not comment until after Sanders releases his retirement statement Wednesday.
Sanders informed Ware and his other agent, Lamont Smith, of his decision on Monday. They have been unsuccessful in their efforts to change his mind, even though Sanders is just 1,457 yards shy of Payton's rushing mark.
Sanders will cite his "desire to leave the game ... as greater than his desire to play," according to a source.
Sources close to Sanders said there are "four or five issues" that are driving him to retirement:
Sanders was distraught over the team's 5-11 finish in 1998, including five consecutive losses to end the season. He sees no promise for a dramatic turnaround.
Sanders grew weary of Ross' temperamental personality even though the head coach has acknowledged, in talks with Sanders' representatives, that he too volatile during the '98 season.
Sanders was disappointed by Detroit media reaction during this past offseason when it became public knowledge he was unhappy and contemplating retirement. A source added the organization also did "virtually nothing" behind the scenes during the past two months to soothe the situation, although Sanders did not return repeated phone calls from Ross.
Sanders doesn't believe the organization is committed to winning and has allowed too many key veteran players -- such as offensive linemen Lomas Brown, Kevin Glover and Zefross Moss -- to depart via free agency.
Sanders feels no loyalty toward an organization that has made every contract negotiation "like pulling teeth." A source said Sanders almost retired before the '97 season when talks stalled over his current deal.
However, a source close to Sanders said that the running back "still loves the game" and suggested that his true desire is to leave the Lions because he is disenchanted with the organization.
Barry Sanders ran for 1,491 yards last season. If the Lions traded Sanders to another team, he likely would play again, the source said.
But Sanders understands current salary cap regulations make it highly improbable that the Lions would trade him, the source said. Under the current cap rules, the team would absorb a $7.2 million hit if they were to deal him.
Lions coach Bobby Ross has said he will not trade Sanders even if it were plausible under salary cap rules. But a retirement also has salary cap implications, which will be determined by the NFL once Sanders files official papers notifying the league office of his intentions.
The Lions would retain his rights if Sanders decided to play again after the '99 season unless, of course, there is a trade.
Sanders is walking away from a contract that would pay him an estimated $18 million over the next four years. He will forfeit $1.75 million of his $11 million signing bonus from the new six-year deal he signed prior to the 1997 season, in addition to $3.1 million in base salary and a $250,000 reporting bonus.
The Lions could contend Sanders owes them $5.4 million in signing bonus money already paid because the running back is not living up to his contractual obligation.
Even though his father, William Sanders, complained about the Lions' offensive schemes, it is not a huge factor in his retirement, the source said. Sanders gained 2,053 yards in the same offense in 1997.
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders will not be traded, head coach Bobby Ross said.
The Washington Redskins are reportedly interested in pursuing a trade for Sanders, who was the only veteran absent from the Lions' mandatory minicamp in May.
Ross said he won't listen to trade proposals from Washington or anyone else for his starting running back.
"We have absolutely no interest," Ross said. "None whatsoever. Don't waste a phone call. There are a lot of reasons for that.
"One is that he is our starting running back. Secondly, all you have to do is look at the salary-cap figure for both of us to see that it's not real sensible on the part of either of us."
Ross and other members of the front office have not heard from Sanders in the offseason, and he missed the mandatory and voluntary minicamps.
There have been reports that Sanders is unhappy with the Lions, but Sanders has not spoken publicly to the Lions or the media.
Last week, Lamont Smith, Sanders' Denver-based agent, said Sanders had issued a gag order that forbids his representatives from discussing the situation.
Smith said it "won't be simple" to resolve Sanders' situation in time for him to report to camp in Saginaw, Mich., by the July 29 deadline.
He did not elaborate.
Ross said he expects Sanders to report to camp on time.
"I don't think (a holdout) has been Barry's m.o. If you look at his past history, he's been pretty much doing this year what he's done in previous years."
Sanders was a training-camp holdout in 1989, 1991 and 1997. All were related to contract negotiations.
BARRY GAVE THE FOLLOWING TO A FRIEND, WHICH GAVE IT TO A WICHATA, KANSAS WEBSITE...MY COMMENTS ARE BOLDED AND ARE CAPITALIZED:
"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.
| “ | 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. ” | |
| — Barry Sanders |
It was a wonderful experience to play in the NFL, and I have no regrets. 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.
{TALK ABOUT A HYPOCRITE!!! BARRY'S FATHER HAS SAID THE PAST FEW MONTHS BARRY IS LEAVING BECAUSE HE'S SICK AND TIRED OF THE LIONS ORGANIZATION AND HE CAN'T BE TRADED...AND NOW HE HAS THE AUDACITY TO SAY THAT HE IS LEAVING ON GOOD TERMS AFTER LEAVING THE LIONS GUESSING FOR TWO MONTHS AND WITHOUT A RUNNING BACK, RIGHT BEFORE THE START OF TRAINING CAMP!!! BARRY, I FOR ONE, DON'T CONSIDER YOU FAMILY...I CONSIDER YOU A COLD-HEARTED QUITTER WHOSE INTENTION WAS TO SCREW AND EMBARRASS THE LIONS...CONGRATULATIONS...YOU'VE SUCCEEDED}
I have enjoyed playing for two great head coaches, Wayne Fontes and Bobby Ross, who are good coaches and leaders. I am not involved in a salary dispute of any kind. If I had played this season, I would have earned a more than satisfactory salary.
{BARRY IS SUCH A HYPOCRITE IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!! HE'S QUITTING BECAUSE HE CAN'T STAND ROSS!!! HIS DADDY EVEN SAID SO A BILLION TIMES...AND NOW HE SAYS ROSS IS A GOOD COACH AND LEADER???? GOOD GRIEF!!!! I CAN UNDERSTAND BARRY LIKING THE BIG BUCK SINCE WAYNE-O LET HIM DO WHATEVER HE WANTED...LIKE SKIP MANDATORY TRAINING CAMPS!!!!}
The reason I am retiring is simple:
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.
{I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION FROM BARRY FOR THIS STATEMENT...}
I want to thank all of the fans and media who made playing in the NFL such a wonderful experience. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them.
Although I was not able to honor many of your requests for autographs and interviews, it was not because I overlooked the importance of those who asked.
Finally, I want to thank my family and friends for their support and guidance.
I wish my teammates, coaches and the entire Lions organization all the best."
{SORRY BARRY, BUT YOU STRUCK A DAGGER IN THEIR HEART AND YOU ARE WISHING THEM ALL THE BEST???? YOU WAIT TO THE DAY BEFORE TRAINING CAMP TO DO THIS??? ALSO, EXPLAIN TO ME BARRY WHY YOU JUST FLED THE COUNTRY????}
I am utter shock from the news I just heard an hour ago from ESPN: Barry is RETIRING!!! Although I've been critical of Barry's tactics the past few months, I never thought he would go to this depth. Simply put, I am not upset that he is retiring, I'm FURIOUS that he had to wait till one day before training camp to tell his agent he's retiring. If he would have informed the Lions in January, they could have gotten a decent running back in the draft or could have gotten a free agent. Even on June 1st, Barry blew off Ross and the Lions, when Bobby asked for his decision so he wouldn't be put into a situation he is in now. Simply put, the season is over before training camp even begins...now that we have backup Ron Rivers and rookie fourth round pick Sedrick Irvin. Barry's agent said that he's sick of tired of losing...and that he wants to play football but can't because of the salary cap. Did anyone inform Barry that Walter Payton played the majority of his career before his team got to the promise land. If Barry was so unhappy here in Detroit, WHY ON EARTH DID HE SIGN A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT????????? WHY DIDN'T HE GO TO MANAGEMENT AND INFORM THEM OF HIS DISPLEASURE WITH BOBBY ROSS???????? The answer to these two questions will always remain a mystery. If he would have wanted out a few years ago, the Lions would have traded him and both sides would have been happy....but what irks me the most is he NEVER ONCE opened his mouth to management to inform them of his displeasure with the current staff. I really do believe that Bobby Ross would have been fired and Matt Millan would be running the show if he would have went to William Clay Ford after last season's disaster. But, he couldn't and now the Lions organization is at its lowest point that i've ever remembered. Does anyone have any idea how bad this makes the Lions look to the rest of the league? To have one of their best players daddy bash the organization left and right! WHAT ON EARTH IS BARRY HIDING FROM...CAN'T HE EVEN FACE A SINGLE HUMAN BEING AND SAY THESE COMMENTS????? HE'S NOT EVEN GOING TO SPEAK A WORD AT HIS RETIREMENT, BUT ONLY ISSUE A STATEMENT THROUGH HIS AGENT. It tears my heart to write the stuff that I have about one of the best running backs ever to play the game, but my blood bleeds honolulu blue and silver and simply put, Barry has poisened that blood. In the past two months, Barry went from a super hero to a villian in many Detroiter's eyes. I WILL NEVER forgive him for his immature, childish actions the past few months. All he has done has thrown away a year of his career and the 1999 season for his ex-teammates. Because of the timing of his retirement, I hate to admit, but the Lions will lose at least three more games this season and will need a miracle to finish 8-8....another 1998 season is looking more like reality.
