Barry Sanders To Retire?

May 7, 1999 / 1:26 AM EDT / AP

Barry Sanders is tired of a losing team, his father says, and he's considering retirement.

"Barry's sick of them (the Lions)," William Sanders said Wednesday. "He's sick of losing. He's sick of the whole situation. I told Barry, 'You ought to go in and tell people you want things done. As long as you don't say anything, they're going to keep misusing you."'

The elder Sanders remarks aren't a complete surprise, some say. Officials in the Lions' front office say Sanders hasn't been in touch with the team since the off-season. He didn't attend a mandatory mini-camp for veterans and rookies April 23-25 at the Silverdome.

And he reportedly hasn't returned phone calls from coach Bobby Ross.

"He wants to win. He used to love playing football," William Sanders told The Detroit News. "I think the spark he had, like a kid playing the game, I think he's losing it by the way they're using him."

The Lions ended the 1998 season with a 5-11 record.

Sanders, 30, has been with the Lions for all of his 10 NFL seasons. He begins the upcoming season needing just 1,458 yards to top the NFL career rushing record of 16,726 held by retired Chicago Bear Walter Payton.

But according to his father, Sanders is considering retirement.

"I wouldn't blame him if he walks away from the game," William Sanders said. "The whole city ought to be sick of it."

Sanders has four years left on a six-year, $36 million contract signed in 1997. His father said he would honor his contract.

Chuck Schmidt, the Lions' chief operating officer, said he isn't surprised to hear that Sanders has lingering frustrations from last season.

"I'm sure he felt that way," Schmidt said. "We know he was unhappy. Who wouldn't be, with the way things resulted? We've made some changes in the offensive line that we think ... will be positive for the team and Barry included."

William Sanders says the two-back formation Ross installed when he took over in 1997 is ill-suited to Sanders, who played most of his first eight seasons in a one-back formation, with a fullback as a lead blocker.

"He's not a power back. He doesn't need a fullback and a tight end in front of him slowing him," he said.

He said Sanders would like to play for someone more offense-minded.