Bosh.

I hope Barry Sanders never plays another down of football in his life. Even more accurately, I hope he is sentenced to prison time for the theft and embezzlement he is pulling on his former team, the Detroit Lions.

Don’t get me wrong. I would be a fool if I said he wasn’t one of the most entertaining players ever in a uniform. It would be a lie to say the league doesn’t miss the excitement he brings.

But let’s face it. His current stance is one of blackmail and misguided sense of importance. 

Sanders has played just two years of a six-year, $36 million contract he signed in 1997. He played two years of the deal, amassing his same incredible statistics with the same incredible moves that almost assuredly will place him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in which he is eligible.

Then, despite attempts – however weak – by team coaches and ownership, Sanders disappeared from the public. He didn’t return phone calls. Always a private person, Sanders absence from the limelight was not taken all that seriously. But then, on July 28, 1999, as his teammates were sweating out two-a-day practices and preparing for the season, Sanders committed his biggest gaffe ever, either on or off the playing field. He quit on his teammates – the worst thing he could have done in the heat of battle.

The Lions, the public and the league all felt betrayed by his sudden departure. He shocked millions when he revealed his dark, greedy, egomaniacal side.

Saying he was tired of losing and tired of the game he retired and went on vacation to London. He left his idiot father to - though the media - fix his image and plead for a trade. By retiring, he forfeited $3.1 million in salary and a $250,000 reporting bonus. But he has, to this point, kept the $11 million signing bonus that was supposed to cover a four-year contract.

As if it weren’t already bad enough. Sanders’ gall got even bigger when the Lions tried getting the unearned portion of his signing bonus back. This is where the extortion comes in. The team is trying to get half the amount back. A hearing on the issue has started, but Sanders, the white knight that he is, has said through his agent that all of this folly can be avoided. Sanders said he would be willing to repay the $5.5 million – if only the team would trade or release him and allow him to play elsewhere. Not that he would earn it. Not that he would pay it back because he hasn’t earned a filthy dime of it.

Forget loyalty. Forget going out and working on a contract that you signed in good faith. Sanders would be WILLING to pay the bonus back if he could just get his freedom from the Lions.

Granted the Lions have not been a dynasty. They’ve made just one serious playoff run in the years he’s been on the team. But Sanders should have thought about that before he signed a six-year contract. 

In a beautiful twist of fate, the Lions won three more games and played one more playoff game without him than they did the last year Barry was on the team. Sanders’ absence helped the team draw closer together and play better without him.

On principle sake alone, the Lions should not trade or release Sanders. No player under contract should be able to take a stance as high and mighty as the one Sanders is currently on.

In addition to principles, the Lions would be better served to hang onto Sanders because if he doesn’t play, the team would receive a credit against their salary cap of more than $1 million. If they release him, or trade him, they take a hit of $5.5 million. This is a no brainer. If it is my team, Sanders stays.

Supposedly there are a couple teams – the Miami Dolphins being the most-oft rumored – that are willing to make it worth the salary cap hit with a draft choice, player package. The league wants Barry back because of the excitement he brings. And apparently Barry would be WILLING to play.

But he has proven himself to be just another whiny professional athlete. His popularity has sunk to new lows. And sports needs fewer classless athletes who prove that money is more important than the team for which they play.

Yes, Barry would be WILLING to play. But many, myself included, really just want him to go away.

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