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Barry Sanders Comments on Calvin Johnson, Retirement Trend in NFL

Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders joked Thursday night that he's going to spend the rest of the offseason trying to convince Calvin Johnson to come out of retirement.

Jordan Heck of the Sporting News passed along comments the 10-time Pro Bowler made during an interview with Steiner Sports about players walking away early. The report noted New York Jets lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Buffalo Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley as examples from this week alone.

Sanders famously retired in 1999 despite having rushed for nearly 1,500 yards the previous season. He's a bit surprised other players are following in his footsteps by leaving the sport when they could still have productive seasons ahead:

It is kind of interesting now, to see how the tables have turned and guys retiring because of the whole concussion thing.