Rookie CB meets Lions Hall of Famer

Discussion in 'NFC North' started by Big Frame, Aug 19, 2010.

  1. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    http://www.freep.com/article/20100811/SPORTS01/8110342/1049/rss14

    Amari Spievey insists he was joking. Charlie Sanders isn't so sure.

    Either way, Spievey, the rookie cornerback, got a lesson in Lions history during his first week of training camp.

    Spievey and Sanders, the Hall of Fame tight end, were sitting next to each other at an after-practice autograph session last week when Sanders said Spievey asked him, "What position did you play, running back?"

    "And I said, 'Pardon?' " Sanders said. "He said, 'Well, my dad told me there was this great running back ...' And Calvin (Johnson) was sitting out here and he said, 'Are you (kidding) me?' "

    Believing he had been mistaken for former Lions running back Barry Sanders, Sanders brought his Hall of Fame jacket to practice the next day as part of a practical joke.

    When the Lions huddled after practice, coach Jim Schwartz asked Sanders to join him in front of the team.

    "Jim called everybody together and said, 'Some of you young guys don't understand the game, where it came from. Half of you guys don't even know who played here,' " Sanders said. "So he called me up and then he called Spievey up and introduced me to Spievey. And then Calvin came out of back of the group with the jacket. Put it on him. And I shook hands and introduced myself."

    "He was good-natured about it," Schwartz said of Spievey. "He took it well. You're going to have times like that when you're a rookie."

    Asked about the prank Tuesday, Spievey wanted to set the record straight.

    He said he has seen Charlie Sanders' picture in the hall at the Lions' practice facility, and while he didn't know Sanders' storied history, he knew he wasn't Barry Sanders.

    "That's my favorite running back of all time," Spievey said. "Growing up I was a running back, so of course I know who Barry Sanders is. But I was just joking with him. I guess he was joking with me back, put me on the spot."

    A third-round pick out of Iowa, Spievey can expect to be on the spot a lot more now that his nagging side injury is close to healing.

    He took part in individual drills Tuesday for the first time in about a week, and though he's "frustrated as hell" having to miss some time, he's working hard to catch up.

    "The problem with his missing time here is he also missed a lot of time in the OTAs" with a hip injury, Schwartz said. "That sort of set him back, and then missed time here. He's behind. It doesn't mean he can't catch up. He can sure catch up."

    Once he does, Spievey said he hopes he can look back on the Hall of Fame jacket prank as "a foreshadowing of what's to come."

    "Hopefully, I'll be wearing one of those later on," he said.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2010
  2. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    This is kinda funny becouse me and my friend was arguing on what position Charlie played.
     
  3. Pack Attack

    Pack Attack The KISS Army

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    The Lions have a hall of famer? =)
     
  4. DP

    DP He shoots, he scores!

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    Lol. I never thought the Lions knew about the Hall of Fame.
     
  5. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    I didnt see a Packer go in this year
     
  6. DP

    DP He shoots, he scores!

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    Mm, me neither. But in all seriousness. It would be the coolest thing to meet a Hall of Famer from the team you are preparing to play for.
     

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