Gene Myers, former Detroit Free Press sports editor, reflects on Barry Sanders' career with the Detroit Lions and whose fault is it that he left. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Gene Myers arrived at the Detroit Free Press from the University of Kansas in May 1983. He spent his last 22½ years as sports editor, retiring in late 2015. (TheDetroit Lions had nine head coaches during his tenure.) Myers, 59, was in the Pontiac Silverdome stands when the Lions won their only playoff game since 1957 and when Barry Sanders reached 2,000 rushing yards the day Reggie Brown nearly died.