Barry Sanders

“As a kid, I played my share of football in the street or in a vacant lot.”

“Let's just win it and go home.”

“It's hard to win in the NFL. You have to maintain a very delicate balance putting together the right team to be able to win and have any amount of success.”

“I'm not better than anyone else. I'm not supposed to be on a pedestal. I've always stayed away from that.”

“In all the time that people have known me, has anyone ever heard me talk about the importance of rushing records or finishing with the most touchdowns? So if that's never been important to me, then why would that be a motivation to keep playing?”

“Anyone who has played the game professionally, you're always taught that the ball is the most important, most precious thing, so when the ball hits the ground, it's always a mad scramble. It's amazing how many times there is a fumble, and the person who recovers it initially doesn't walk away with the ball.”

“It was a wonderful experience to play in the NFL, and I have no regrets. I truly will miss playing for the Lions. I consider the Lions' players, coaches, staff, management and fans my family. I leave on good terms with everyone in the organization.”

“You know, I'm fairly intelligent, but I don't think my grades reflected that.”

“Shortly after the end of last season, I felt that I probably would not return for the 1999-2000 season. I also felt that I should take as much time as possible to sort through my feelings and make sure that my feelings were backed with conviction.”

“I don't know the right way to retire.”

“Life doesn't stop with football.”

“I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game.”

“Running back was always my favorite position.”

“My mother was a huge influence on me. She was a living example of what a Christian should be. Her conviction, her discipline. She would rather see other people happy than herself.”

“You can look at everything from pre-Heisman to post-Heisman, and I think that's why it ranks up at the top, because before then, I didn't even think I was good enough to be a professional ballplayer.”

“My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision.”

“I really love peace and quiet.”

“I wish my teammates, coaches and the entire Lions organization all the best.”

“I don't want to get too detailed into it, but when you're a good high school running back, you can almost be whatever type of runner you want to be. If you're a good size and a good athlete, you can be whatever type of runner you want.”

“Happiness does not come from football awards. It's terrible to correlate happiness with football. Happiness comes from a good job, being able to feed your wife and kids. I don't dream football, I dream the American dream - two cars in a garage, be a happy father.”