Former Detroit Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell has expressed his anger and disappointment at the way he was portrayed in a new documentary on the legendary running back Barry Sanders. The documentary, titled “Bye Bye Barry”, was released on Tuesday on Amazon and covers Sanders’ 10 seasons with the Lions, leading up to his shocking retirement in 1999.
Mitchell feels betrayed by former teammates
Mitchell, who played with Sanders from 1994 to 1998, said he felt betrayed by some of his former teammates, who criticized him in the documentary for his performance and leadership. Mitchell said he was especially hurt by the comments of former offensive lineman Lomas Brown, who admitted in a 2012 interview that he once intentionally missed a block to get Mitchell injured in a game against the Packers in 1994.
“I was disappointed in Lomas,” Mitchell said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press. “He was a guy that I respected and looked up to as a leader on our team. And to hear him say that he wanted me to get hurt, that he didn’t like me, that he didn’t think I was a good quarterback, that hurt me. I mean, that’s a guy that I trusted with my life on the field.”
Mitchell said he was also surprised by the negative remarks of former wide receiver Herman Moore, who was one of his favorite targets on the field. Moore said in the documentary that Mitchell lacked confidence and charisma, and that he was not the right fit for the Lions’ offense.
“I don’t know where Herman is coming from,” Mitchell said. “We had a great relationship on the field. We had a lot of success together. We broke a lot of records together. I always thought he was a great player and a great person. I don’t know why he would say those things about me.”
Mitchell defends his legacy with the Lions
Mitchell, who ranks third in Lions history in passing yards with 12,647, behind only Matthew Stafford and Bobby Layne, said he was proud of his accomplishments with the Lions, and that he felt he could have won a Super Bowl with the team if they had stayed together longer. He said he was frustrated by the constant changes in coaching staff and personnel, and by the lack of support from the organization.
“I think we had a really good team,” Mitchell said. “We had a lot of talent, a lot of weapons. We had Barry Sanders, who was the best running back of all time. We had Herman Moore, who was a Pro Bowl receiver. We had Lomas Brown, who was an All-Pro lineman. We had a lot of guys who could play. And I think I could play too. I think I was a good quarterback. I think I proved that.”
Mitchell said he was especially proud of his 1995 season when he led the Lions to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance. He threw for 4,338 yards and 32 touchdowns, both franchise records at the time. He said he felt he had a great chemistry with Sanders, who rushed for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns that year.
“I think we complemented each other very well,” Mitchell said. “Barry was such a unique player because there’s not a lot of players who when they touched the ball there’s always a threat of scoring a touchdown. He was so elusive to defensive players but he was also elusive to me. I never knew where he was going to go. But I learned to trust him and to give him the ball as much as possible. And he trusted me too. He knew I could make plays with my arm. We had a lot of fun together.”
Mitchell hopes to reconcile with Sanders and his former teammates
Mitchell said he has not spoken to Sanders since he retired, and that he has not watched the documentary yet. He said he hopes to reconnect with Sanders and his former teammates and to clear the air with them. He said he has no hard feelings towards Sanders, and that he respects his decision to walk away from the game.
“I love Barry,” Mitchell said. “He’s a great guy, a great teammate, a great friend. I don’t blame him for retiring. I know he was unhappy with the situation in Detroit. I know he wanted to win. I wanted to win too. I wish we could have done more together. I wish we could have stayed together longer. But I understand why he did what he did. He had to do what was best for him.”
Mitchell said he hopes the documentary will not tarnish his reputation or his relationship with the Lions fans. He said he still considers himself a Lion, and that he cherishes his memories with the team.
“I hope the fans will remember me for the good things I did, not the bad things,” Mitchell said. “I hope they will remember me as a guy who gave his best, who played with passion, who tried to win. I hope they will remember me as a Lion because that’s what I am. I’m proud to be a Lion. I always will be.”
