Tag: Barry Sanders

Lomas Brown ‘flabbergasted’ when named a semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Brown blocked for Barry Sanders during his 11 years with the Lions

Fittingly, Lomas Brown was at a turkey giveaway on Tuesday morning when he got the call that he is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I was just flabbergasted,’’ Brown said at a press conference on Tuesday. “I didn’t have words at that point. I’m still kind of short of words to say what this means to me.’’

Brown, an offensive tackle for the Lions from 1985-1995, said he is thankful for the chance to get in the Hall and to all those who have helped him including the Lions media relations staff and the Lions organizaion. After an 18-year NFL career, he retired from the Buccaneers in 2002 and has been eligible for the Hall since 2007.

“I’m just thankful today to be able to get to a point I’ve never gotten in the Hall of Fame selection. I’m just thankful,’’ Brown said.

The seven-time Pro Bowler was drafted by Detroit in 1985, stayed for 11 years and then went on to play for the Cardinals, the Browns, the Giants and the Buccaneers where he was on the 2002 team that won the Super Bowl. 

He was teammates with coach Dan Campbell on the Giants in 2001-2002.

“Unbelievable teammate, always upbeat, never a bad day, willing to do whatever for a teammate and just a helluva player, a productive player,’’ said Campbell who played tight end. “You talk about reliability, dependability, that was him.’’

At the time Brown didn’t see Campbell as a potential NFL coach, but he did see something in him.

“I was in my 15th year, he was in his second when I got to New York. You couldn’t say he was going to be a great coach but there was something different about that dude,’’ Brown said.

Brown remains engaged with the Lions as part of the radio broadcast team. He’s also involved in charity work in the community which started when he was drafted in 1985.

“As an offensive lineman you’ve always — there’s something about you where you want to protect people — make sure everyone is having success,’’ Brown said. “And I think for me when I first got here in ‘85 my thing was instead of making a big impact on the field I thought about making a big impact off the field. It thrust me into the community and you guys live here, this is a great community. We know there’ s a lot of need out there. They say to those who much is given, much is expected. I kind of took that moniker.’’

The next step in the Pro Football Hall of Fame process is to narrow the field from the 26 semifinalists to 15 which is expected by the end of the year.

Lions Jahmyr Gibbs named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

23-year-old running back continues to develop

ALLEN PARK — In his third NFL season, Jahmyr Gibbs continues to develop. It was never more evident than in Sunday’s win at Washington.

Gibbs’ efforts earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award, announced on Wednesday. In that 44-22 romp, he had 142 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and three touchdowns (one passing). He joins Barry Sanders as the only Lions running backs to win the award on multiple occasions.

Gibbs and the Lions were coming off a less-than stellar performance the previous week in a loss to the Vikings.

“One thing inside of that hoodie is he has a tremendous amount of pride in his performance. I had no doubt the kind of game he was going to come back and have, his demeanor in practice was a very, very serious demeanor. He usually doesn’t say much but there was a certain level of intensity from not doing what he expected to do in that game,’’ said Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach/wide receivers coach.

Quarterback Jared Goff said Gibbs is good at “kind of everything.”

“Obviously his speed jumps out right away and we can get him on the perimeter in some things. It’s pretty impressive what he can do,’’ Goff said. “Then out of the backfield, his hands and his route-running ability is getting so much better, it’s hard to imagine where the ceiling is for this guy.’’

Montgomery pinches himself every now and then when he sees Gibbs run a play,

“His ability to cut is continuing to get better. He’s starting to understand these vertical cuts — when to put his foot in the ground,’’ Montgomery said. “This guy is super-talented and he’s gifted but the long run (43 yards) he had if you watch it, he’s waiting on blocks to set up, he knows exactly what he’s doing, he can feel the outside presence of the corner and knowing when to hit it, so he’s just doing a really really good job.’’

While it’s Gibbs’ third NFL season, he is only 23 years old. He was successful as a rookie and has just kept growing.

“The game has probably always been pretty slow for a guy that runs that fast. Now with the cerebral part of it he’s starting to play at a different level,’’ Montgomery said. “I just love where he is, especially in some of those tight area runs that people are not talking about. One of his better two or three runs in this game were 3-yard gains, 4-yard gains, where early in his career those would have been TFLs (tackles for loss) because he would’ve tried to spin out. This week he put his shoulder down, stayed tight to the double team, got 3-4 yards off of it.’’ 

Gibbs continues to make his mark on the record book. He joined Barry Sanders as the only players in franchise history to produce at least 10 touchdowns in each of a player’s first three-career seasons. 

He recorded his 11th-career multi-touchdown game (his third this year), tied with Billy Sims for the second-most multi-touchdown games by a running back in franchise history. He also joined Sanders and Sims as the only players in franchise history to top 4,000 scrimmage yards through three-career seasons.

UP NEXT: LIons (6-3) at Eagles (7-2), 8:20 p.m. on Sunday.

Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown just getting started on NFL journey

After signing 4-year extension, he’s most thankful

ALLEN PARK —  Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Cinderella NFL journey started three years ago when the Detroit Lions drafted him in the fourth round.

“When I got drafted this is the one team I didn’t want to go to. If you told me I was going to Detroit I was like, ‘Damn,’’’ St. Brown said on Friday.

Now looking back on it, he realizes it was the best possible NFL landing spot for him.

“The people, the organization, the coaches, the players, the fans. I didn’t know what kind of fans there were here. I knew it was, for the most part, a losing franchise. … I remember my rookie year the fans were out almost every game and we weren’t winning games and they were supportive,’’ St. Brown said during a Friday press conference after signing a four-year extension worth $120 million.

When he first heard the deal was done, he said he was emotional after briefly talking to his Dad and getting a text from a close friend.

“I was close to crying, but I didn’t. I was super excited. I felt like a lot of weight was lifted off my shoulders. When I didn’t cry I was OK, it’s time to go now, it’s real,’’ St. Brown said.

It’s not the end of the story for St. Brown, it’s just a new chapter that is starting. And what better way to kick if off than at the start of the NFL Draft in Detroit on Thursday night to welcome fans from around the world.

St. Brown took the stage with teammates Jared Goff and Aidan Hutchinson. They were joined by Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson. Also Eminem, a Detroit favorite, was with them whipping up the crowd. St. Brown mentioned he got a selfie with Eminem.

Detroit broke the NFL record with 275,000 fans for the first night. It looked like a sea of mostly Honolulu blue. It was amazing.

“I knew there were a lot of people there, but I didn’t know how many (without) looking at it in person. I’m walking out, I’m like, ‘Damn ‘ve never seen this many people in my life.’ I’ve played football games, I’ve been in front of 100,000 people, 90,000 people, whatever … it was like I was Travis Scott in concert,’’ St. Brown said. “… There were so many people it was awesome to see the fans, the city all come together. i just feel like everything’s happening all at once, at the right time for the city and the fans.’’

And for the Cinderella man.

“If you would’ve told me three years ago I’d be here today, I don’t know if I’d believe you. This is — everything that’s gone on these past three years, the whole journey, it’s been amazing,’’ St. Brown said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.’’

(The Lions have one second-round pick on Friday at 61st overall. Rounds 2-3 start at 7 p.m. on Friday. The draft wraps on Saturday with rounds 4-7 starting at noon.)