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Kaufman NFL Column: Sanders Still Has No Reason To Look Back

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

TAMPA - No regrets.

If you're looking for Barry Sanders to second guess himself for departing while on top, guess again.

"When I ran out of desire to play, I moved on," Detroit's Hall of Fame running back said this week over the phone. "I didn't think it would cause the reaction it did. I can see why a lot of people were shocked by what I'd done, but the people who knew me weren't surprised."

After a golden decade that left him less than 1,500 yards shy of Walter Payton's then-record rushing total, Sanders left the game on his terms.

Four NFL rushing titles and 10 Pro Bowls were enough for the Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma State, whose unique running style dazzled fans and peers in equal measure.

At the age of 40, Sanders is still living in the Detroit area. He played for 10 years and he has been out of the game for 10, but his legacy is secure through NFL Films and in the memories of fans who knew they always got their money's worth watching No. 20.

"I can't complain ... life's pretty good, and I feel almost as good as new," said Sanders, who has hooked up with Alltel Wireless to promote a My Circle Gridiron Getaway sweepstakes.

The Lions have had one winning season (9-7 in 2000) since Sanders left the sideline with his 109 career touchdowns and 25 games of 150 yards or more.

"You'd think that at a certain point they would get lucky and have a good year just by accident," he said with no discernible bitterness. "Most importantly, an organization has to really have a desire to win. I'm not close to the organization at all, but I know that a franchise must have a real will to win."

Sanders credits his mom and dad, who raised 11 kids, for shaping his outlook.

"I saw them do so much for so many and not ask for much in return," Sanders said. "For me, it was all about being able to compete. I was very grateful for the opportunity to play in the NFL, and I considered it a privilege. To go up against the best players was an absolute thrill."

And when the thrill was gone, Sanders was gone.

If he wasn't always in the middle of the locker-room chatter, his teammates knew Sanders' play would holler Sunday afternoons in the fall.

"I was more the type of player that approached it as a job," he said. "I socialized some, but not as much as most. By the middle of my career, I realized you can't play forever. It was something to cherish every day because in the NFL, tomorrow isn't promised to you."

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