this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)
NFL
51 readers
8 users here now
A place for NFL news, game highlights and everything that excites you about American Football.
founded 11 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I always thought it was more of a passion issue. Like that, he had expended his mental energy with football and just didn't have the will to keep going after that. Barry talking about the guys who left the prior years who had battled with for a while makes sense in that the bond he had with the team was slipping. As another extremely competitive person, I get it. You never want to fight for something not giving 100%. If he didn't have that in him anymore, then it makes sense he retired.
This feels most likely. From his retirement fax and the scene with his sons in the documentary, it feels pretty clear that the state of the franchise, the exodus of his teammates, the coaching style of Bobby Ross, and the unlikelihood the Lions would be much better anytime soon just sapped that passion.
If you take away the chances to win, to collectively complete with people you enjoy, and then you're someone who doesn't care about accolades... What was left for Barry to play for?
As a teenager, it was certainly shocking, sad, and confusing. As someone now older than Barry was when he retired, I understand the investment he needed to put in want matched by the remaining passion he had to play