That's right, 32 seasons and the only Pro Bowlers were Bennie Blades in 1991 and Dre' Bly twice in 20. I don't want to put you in a dangerous situation.Unfortunately, 1977 was a very long time ago and while there has been some decent defensive backs like James Harris and Ray Crockett over the years only two Lion defensive backs have made the Pro Bowl since then. I glad you got this opportunity, but I just wish you would have gotten this opportunity in high school or college. He did play good, but Coach Schmidt took him aside after and said, 'Marvin, I like what I see. I believe the first time I touch the ball I'm going to score a touchdown.' He told Coach Schmidt he wasn't going to regret it. Coach Schmidt told me to tell Marvin that he'd give him a tryout in the off-season, and Marvin said, 'Lem, this is it. Marvin said tight end, wide receiver, fullback, linebacker, whatever. Marvin didn't play in high school either. So Schmidt asked if he had any tape from high school. He asked if Marvin could give him any tape of him when he played in college. Our coach, Joe Schmidt, found out and asked me what I knew about it. He went on the Johnny Carson show and said that he was going to try out for the Lions. But he worked out with Mel and myself in Ann Arbor during the off-season, so he started talking about trying out for the Lions. He never played football or basketball or baseball, but he did play golf. "Marvin was big, probably 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, but he never played any sports in high school. Didn't tape up my ankles or anything and got on the field when there were still doing calisthenics." Eventually I looked at my watch and couldn't believe that we had talked so long, I only had 30 minutes before our night scrimmage, and Outer Drive to Cranbrook is a long drive. Come on in.' We sat there talking and talking. I saw you when you came to Jackson State, and I just wanted to meet you.' He said, 'Lem Barney? The player the Lions just drafted? You're a great player. He said, 'Who are you?' I told him 'I'm Lem Barney. I was about to push it again, when the door opened and it was Marvin Gaye. I drove right to his house and rang the doorbell. But they told me I could drive to his house, just go 7-mile to Livernois to Outer Drive. I went in the clubhouse, and they said he usually golfs but wasn't listed. So as soon as the morning practice was over, I went to Palmer Park to see if he was there. They thought he lived on Outer Drive, but weren't sure. In my first camp, I asked people on the team if they knew Marvin Gaye or where he lived. When I got drafted by Detroit, one of the first things I wanted to do was meet Marvin Gaye. "When I was at Jackson State, Berry Gordy brought his Motown show to campus, and Marvin Gaye was part of it. I'm still in good condition despite everything. We had names for them, but they were never called concussions. Back then, they were known as dingers, stingers and bell-ringers. He looked again and told me that I had at least seven concussions. He asked how many concussions I had when I played. Then the doctor started looking in my eyes. I went to the hospital, and they took all kinds of x-rays of my head and stuff. I woke up and was getting ready for a game. The second year after I retired I was working as an analyst for BET for their weekly football game. I had seven concussions when I played, and I didn't even know it. There is more awareness now, and the NFL has made changes and is doing things to help. A lot of guys I know have problems with concussions. "Football is a great game, a great, competitive game.
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