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One NFL legend every team wishes they could bring back in 2021

By Randy Gurzi

Minnesota Viking Randy Moss (R) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Daunte Culpepper before Buccaneer Ronde Barber (L) in the second quarter 29 October 2000 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Peter MUHLY (Photo by PETER MUHLY / AFP) (Photo by PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images)
Minnesota Viking Randy Moss (R) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Daunte Culpepper before Buccaneer Ronde Barber (L) in the second quarter 29 October 2000 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Peter MUHLY (Photo by PETER MUHLY / AFP) (Photo by PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Season
Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions: Barry Sanders, Running Back

Dan Campbell takes the helm for the Detroit Lions as the former New Orleans Saints assistant coach is running the show now in the Motor City. He already has a tough task ahead of him since the Lions have struggled as of late to field a winner and this year, they have to try and get back on track after losing a few stars on offense.

Detroit didn’t retain wide receivers Kenny Golladay or Marvin Jones, Jr. and also traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. They did receive a couple of first-round draft picks in the process as well but that won’t help in 2021. In addition to those picks, they added Jared Goff who was the No. 1 overall pick for the Rams in 2016 but never really lived up to that status. Sure, he had some great numbers but much of that was attributed to the scheme and play-calling of head coach Sean McVay.

It’s going to be hard for Goff simply due to the lack of weapons around him which makes someone such as Calvin Johnson an option as a legend to bring back. And if anyone wanted Johnson, they wouldn’t be wrong since it he was the best receiver in the game during his prime so it would instantly improve the offense.

However, the Lions also had a player who was the best running back in the game during his prime in Barry Sanders. And as good as Johnson was, Sanders is just too legendary to pass on in this scenario.

Like Johnson, Sanders never got to experience a lot of team success in the NFL since the Lions were so bad during his career. Also like Johnson, he walked away from the game when he was still playing at an elite level.

Sanders had 1,491 yards in 1998 which was his final season and went for 2,053 the year prior. In all, he had 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns on the ground as well as 352 receptions for 2,921 yards and 10 more touchdowns as a receiver. An electric playmaker, Sanders averaged 5.0 yards per rush for his career and is a player the Lions could lean on in 2021 as the focal point of their offense. Not only would he take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Goff but he would help alleviate some of their problems from not having an elite set of receivers.

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