Herman Moore was on the 1999 Detroit Lions team that saw superstar Barry Sanders abruptly retire before the start of training camp.
Moore said he and some of Sanders’ closer teammates knew it was potentially coming, but it still sent shockwaves through the organization.
That 1999 team did a pretty good job absorbing the blow, however, and managed to start off the season 6-2 and hold on to make the playoffs at 8-8, though they lost in the opening round.
Calvin Johnson, the best player the Lions have employed since Barry Sanders, is contemplating his own early retirement this offseason at the age of 30.