Not everyone is a fan of Barry Sanders’ new documentary, “Bye, Bye, Barry.” Scott Mitchell, Sanders’ former quarterback, recently took to social media to express his dissatisfaction with how he was portrayed in the film. Mitchell’s frustration stems from the fact that many guests featured in the documentary blamed him for Sanders’ failure to win a Super Bowl. In a lengthy Facebook rant, Mitchell voiced his grievances while also name-dropping famous Detroit superfans Eminem and Jeff Daniels.
The Burden of Blame
Mitchell began his post by expressing his admiration for Sanders’ skills on the field. However, he quickly shifted focus to address his critics and their constant blame directed towards him. Mitchell was tired of hearing allegations that he was the reason behind Sanders’ lack of championship success. His frustration with the situation was evident as he capitalized on his choice of words to vehemently dismiss such claims. He vented, “My only response is F*** YOU ALL!!!!! That includes Eminem (and) Jeff Daniels.”
As Mitchell delved further into his critique of the documentary, he expressed his disappointment in hearing his former coach, Wayne Fontes, openly discuss his desire for legendary quarterbacks Joe Montana or Warren Moon to lead the team. Mitchell felt let down, believing that the lack of support from his coach hindered his performance and ultimately prevented Sanders from becoming a champion. Mitchell felt betrayed, stating that Fontes never had his back.
Mitchell did not place the blame solely on himself, as he held Sanders accountable as well. In his view, Sanders had everything in Detroit to succeed. The city adored him, and the team was built around him. However, Mitchell argued that Sanders’ lackluster playoff performances in 1994, 1995, and 1997 proved that he too had a part in their collective failure. Mitchell pointed out the contradiction in Sanders’ position by asking, “How many yards did Barry have in the playoffs in ’94, ’95, ’97? I’ll give you a hint: not very many.” According to Mitchell, the blame for the lack of Super Bowl victories in Detroit should be shared among all members of the team, including Sanders.
Mitchell concluded his rant by expressing his belief that the Detroit Lions could have achieved greatness if they had been more patient. He maintained that a little more support from the coach and the team could have made a significant difference. However, the dream of achieving a Super Bowl victory was not realized, and Mitchell lamented that he will likely not be invited to future Lions reunions due to his outspoken criticisms.
Scott Mitchell’s scathing critique of Barry Sanders’ documentary sheds light on the complexities of their time together on the Detroit Lions. Mitchell rejects the notion that he was solely responsible for Sanders’ lack of Super Bowl success. Instead, he points to a variety of factors, including the lack of support from his coach and Sanders’ underwhelming postseason performances. Mitchell’s perspective challenges the popular narrative surrounding Sanders’ legacy and prompts a reconsideration of the shared responsibility for the team’s failures.
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