It’s almost universally known in Detroit that Barry Sanders in the most beloved player in Detroit Lions history.
The Hall of Fame running back is one of the most exciting and proficient running backs in NFL history and brought a spark to Detroit for 10 years, amassing nearly 16,000 yards and 99 touchdowns.
But who’s second?
Jamie and Stoney discussed their picks.
“Beloved for people besides Barry Sanders is a very short list,” said Stoney, “I was thinking about this, for people in my age group, who grew up here, Lem Barney still has a great appeal to a lot of them them, people love seeing him around town. But I think it's, Billy Sims, even though he played here for a short time. People loved Billy Sims and believed that they got screwed as a fans, just like Billy Sims got screwed as a player for his shortened career because of an injury.”
Sims was selected first overall in 1980 by the Lions and was the teams starting running back for five season, before being forced to retire following a catastrophic knee injury in ‘84. He rushed over 5,000 yards and 42 touchdowns in 60 games with Detroit.
“But we’re talking 40 years since Billy Sims,” chimed Jamie.
“I understand that, I know, but my point being, who else?”
“Calvin Johnson. Why not Calvin Johnson?”
“I just don’t think he was beloved.”
“WHY?”
“I don’t know, because he was quiet…”
“Oh God forbid.”
Jamie, obviously taken aback by Stoney’s comments on Calvin, voiced why he feels that Calvin should be the second-most beloved in Lions history.
“I think it should be Calvin Johnson, for me it’s Calvin Johnson. The thing about Barry is he played for some good teams, he played for some not good teams, much like Calvin. The thing about Barry is that every sunday you felt, ‘I’m going to see something I’ve never seen before’ and you went to the games and watched him on TV. Calvin, while not to the same extent of Barry, still provided that sort of entertainment level.”
But the question wasn't who's the best behind Barry, that would be Johnson in a landslide, but rather who's most beloved.
Next up, the most tenured Lion in history.
"He was a very good kicker," said Stoney, "no doubt about it. It’s kind of a weird fascination with Jason Hanson."
“It’s because he was the only player for a long time. I had this running joke with my wife where she’s be like, ‘what’s the score?’ ‘Bears 20, Lions 6.’ ‘What did the Lions score their points on?’ ‘Two Jason Hanson field goals.’ For years that’s how they scored their points. The one year they beat Favre in the Thanksgiving day game, whgere Favre threw like 12 interceptions, exaggeration. I think they got all their points on Jason Hanson field goals after Favre’s interceptions.”
Hanson was a second-round pick in 1992 and the Lions traded up to pick him. He kicked for the franchise for 21 years and accounted for 2,150 points.
One of the last players discussed by the two this morning was Chris Spielman, who was the starting middle linebacker for the Lions for eight seasons before being traded to the Buffalo Bills.
“I think it’s Chris Spielman. You go to games, you still see Chris Spielman jerseys. People love the fascination with an all-white, tough linebacker.”
“I love Chris Spielman,” said Jamie, “I think he’s great on TV, great as an analyst, and I can totally understand that. He was a terrific player here, but I think he was a bit overrated... because when he got traded Stephen Boyd came in and did essentially when Spielman did.”