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Detroit Lions: Reversing the curse of Barry Sanders

By Brian Wallace

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 27: Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles running back Ameer Abdullah #21 of the Detroit Lions during the first half in their preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 27: Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles running back Ameer Abdullah #21 of the Detroit Lions during the first half in their preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The time has come for the Motor City to reverse the curse of Barry Sanders on the Detroit Lions woeful rushing attack.

If former quarterback Bobby Lane can have a curse where the Detroit Lions have not sniffed a championship since 1957, then I suggest former Lion and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders get his own curse.

It’s rather simple. The Lions have lacked a consistent running game since Barry Sanders; retirement in 1999. That’s 19 years to you and me.

I am a firm believer the tongue holds the power of life and death. Who’s to say after Sanders retired he did not in passing say to someone, “the Detroit Lions will never have another running back like me?”

That would definitely hold the power of death. In the 19 years since Barry, the Lions have had such running back legends such as James Stewart, Aveion Cason, Kevin Jones, T.J. Duckett, Reuben Droughns, Artose Pinner, Jerome Felton, Sedrick Irvin, Jahvid Best, Joique Bell and Ameer Abdullah in the backfield and struggle moving the ball. There’s more unlisted players, but you get the point. You say “those guys are not legends!” I agree. That’s the problem.

Detroit Lions fans were spoiled by Barry Sanders consistently raking up 1,000+ yard seasons. The likes of Mario Bates, Shawn Bryson, Kevin Smith, Reggie Bush never hit those rushing numbers with regularity. Some, not at all.

No one except Barry Sanders himself knows for certain if he placed some wretched curse upon the Lions future running backs. But it certainly appears that way. If it’s not a curse, then it is really bad scouting and talent judgement. Nineteen years worth. That is an incredibly long time to be in a rushing funk.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018 - Full first round 1.0

But, with a new era of Detroit Lions football about to swing into gear anything is possible. Including ending a could be curse. And writing a new chapter about football in the Motor City.

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