Building the Detroit Lions monument to Super Bowl success
By Robert Jones
Finally we will add the final piece of the puzzle in the form of the teams greatest non-quarterback.
This is probably the easiest category of them all to fill for most people, but let’s nonetheless tip our hat to those worthy candidates that didn’t make it.
Charlie Sanders was one of the games greatest tight ends and an even better person. Billy Sims was on course to becoming (at that time) the greatest Lion of all time when his career was cut short by a knee injury.
Calvin Johnson was perhaps the most physically gifted receiver the game has ever seen. He will one day end up in the Hall of Fame leaving behind a legacy of being the best wide out in franchise history.
Those are a few worthy candidates, but in the end we have to give this position to Barry Sanders.
What can we say about Barry that hasn’t been said?
He was lighting in a bottle that caused us to leap out of our seats every time he carried the ball. He was the one man could somehow elude almost a whole defense by himself with incredible body control and moves that even the most accomplished dancers couldn’t reproduce.
He was in the very, very, very small category of players, the only other one being Gale Sayers, that was so gifted that they could make plays we have never seen anyone else make and may never see again.
Suffice it to say we all know how qualified Barry is for this final position and despite some other very worthy names, it’s really not even close.
So there we have it. The Detroit Lions Mount Rushmore of Super Bowl success; head coach Buddy Parker, quarterback Bobby Layne, defensive representative Chuck Schmidt and the franchises best non-quarterback Barry Sanders.
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We all hope to see new faces come along that can surpass the accomplishments of these Detroit greats, but until that happens, this would seem to be the most fitting combination, under the guidelines chosen, to represent this franchise.
What would your Detroit Lions Super Bowl success monument look like?