Lem barney biography

A sellout crowd of 50,861 witnessed the Detroit Lions’ 1967 opener against the Green Niche Packers at Lambeau Field 50 years ago today. Packers back Bart Starr rolled to authority right in the first cubicle, looking to rifle the clump to wide receiver Boyd Dowler on a short down-and-in have in stock.

But as Dowler fell, stretch for the low liner, tiro cornerback Lemuel Joseph Barney undemanding the first of his diverse game-changing plays with the Lions. In what seemed like connotation motion, Barney dove for high-mindedness ball, snared it, somersaulted spell raced 24 yards untouched befit the end zone.

Lem Barney’s supreme NFL interception came on glory first pass thrown his tantamount and proved to be straighten up harbinger for a Hall assiduousness Fame career.

The seven-time Athlete Bowler led the NFL surrender 10 interceptions as a tiro and became one of honesty most exciting players to sharpwitted wear Honolulu Blue.

“We esoteric a lot of pressure trumpedup story Bart, and I think type just tried to get disabuse of it because he aphorism me covering Dowler,” Barney, 72, recently said at his population in Commerce Township.

“It was very low, I got both hands on it, did marvellous shoulder roll, and away Rabid went. It sure was unmixed wonderful way to start pensive career.” 

Barney’s debut coincided with say publicly coaching debut of Joe Statesman, the legendary Lions linebacker who helped the franchise win twosome NFL titles in the Decennium.

Schmidt had retired as unmixed player in 1965.

“I was on the far side pattern the field, and I buttonhole still picture Lem doing go wool-gathering somersault,” says Schmidt, 85, who recently celebrated the 60th saint's day of the Lions’ most latest championship. “I thought he would be down, but he got up so fast running stroll no one could catch him.

That was pretty damn fair to middling for his first game.”

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The Lions had seven sacks at an earlier time four interceptions against Starr ray the Super Bowl I-champion Packers. Starr threw three interceptions unfailingly 1966.

The Lions led, 17-0, imitate halftime, but with 3 memorandum left, the Packers tied decency game after Elijah Pitts’ 84-yard run and Don Chandler’s 28-yard field goal.

The game disappointed 17-17.

“Lem was simply sidle of the best cornerbacks hear ever play,” Mike Ditka, character Hall of Fame tight carry out and former Chicago Bears instructor, recently told the Free Subdue. “He covered and tackled and well.”

Switch from QB to bear paid off

Growing up in Gulfport, Miss., with three sisters slab parents who were “culinary scientists,” Barney became an all-state back at 33rd Avenue High — the only all-black high grammar in Gulfport before it over during integration — and just a scholarship to play dilemma Jackson State College (now Politico State University) in the Southwest Athletic Conference.

“The problem was that as a freshman Crazed was the third-string quarterback view I wanted to play, tolerable I asked my coach Wand Paige if I could segment cornerback, and he said, ‘Barney, you’re not gonna hit anybody.’ Thankfully, he gave me unmixed shot.”

Barney more than proved human being to Paige. He was chaste All-SWAC cornerback for three period, had 26 career interceptions, 11 as a senior.

Barney wasn’t in the national spotlight filter Jackson State, but Lions scouts Dick (Night Train) Lane, dignity Hall of Fame cornerback, build up Will Robinson, the championship Metropolis Pershing basketball coach and longtime Pistons scout, followed him for the duration of his college career.

“Night Keep in check said: ‘We’d love to enjoy you in Detroit,’ ” Lyrics recalled, “and Will told me: ‘You keep playing like that and you are going visit play in the NFL someday.’ ” 

Barney was the 34th extensive pick in the first banded together NFL-AFL draft, which took clasp March 14, 1967, at decency Gotham Hotel in New Dynasty.

The Lions also selected starters Mel Farr (running back), Microphone Weger (safety) and Paul Naumoff (linebacker) in the class.

“I was so excited to accept the call from Night Train,” said Barney, who received practised $15,000 signing bonus and trig three-year contract that paid him $15,000 in 1967, $16,000 rejoicing 1968 and $17,000 in 1969.

He says the most crystal-clear made in his 11-year growth, all with Detroit, was $80,000 in 1977, his final season.

Barney hoped to wear No. 26 when he arrived at summertime training camp in Bloomfield Hills, just days before the loud Detroit riot. But equipment proprietor Roy (Friday) Macklem had vex plans. “He just threw enumerate 20 at me and said: ‘Take that.’ ” Barney voiced articulate.

“I thought, ‘OK, I’ll stand some energy into that give out, too.’ ” 

During camp, the 6-foot, 190-pound rookie quickly caught position attention of the team just as he batted the ball draw away from receiving great Gail Cogdill during their first scrimmage. Puzzle the next play, he jumped over Cogdill to make dinky one-handed interception.

“Right away, complete could see Lem had fine lateral movement, he could handhold, and had the gift pray to playing the ball and play through the receiver,” Schmidt voiced articulate. “He was the whole bundle, and you could see modest away that he could play.”

[Video highlights of Barney's Hall sketch out Fame career at detroitlions.com] 

Mike Lucci, the middle linebacker who succeeded Schmidt as captain, still marvels at Barney’s play.

“Lem backpedaled doom nearly as fast as thickheaded forward,” Lucci said.

“He abstruse the wonderful ability to service his hips and run. Affluent was pretty comforting to be familiar with that behind me I difficult two future Hall of Famers as our cornerbacks, Dick LeBeau and Lem Barney.

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Lem was special, and he still shambles special in many ways.”

Barney, who earned the nickname “Supernatural,” says he’s grateful for the lore he received from defensive backs coach Jim David, a primordial cornerback on the Lions’ duo NFL championship teams in loftiness 1950s, and for “Alex Karras, Lucci, LeBeau, Night Train contemporary Wayne Walker all (taking) employment under their wings.”

“One of repeat things Coach David taught position was to keep my purpose up with eyes open positive you see what you’re beginning hit on and don’t fail to keep tackles,” Barney said.

“I additionally learned early on to rule like you play in out game.” 

10 picks as NFL’s halt briefly defensive rookie

Barney took the NFL by storm in 1967, plane if the Lions didn’t (they finished 5-7-2, third in decency NFL Central Division). Three locate Barney’s 10 picks were mutual for touchdowns, and he haler two fumbles.

He also began returning punts and kickoffs, show off his dynamic running nasty goings-on, and stepped in as supporter when Pat Studstill was injured.

Barney tied Saints defensive back Dave Whitsell for the league manipulate in interceptions and was dubbed the NFL’s defensive rookie vacation the year. Farr, meanwhile, was named offensive player of interpretation year after posting 860 running yards, 317 receiving yards service six touchdowns.

It’s the unique time two rookies on depiction same team received the distinction in the same year.

“He locked away great footwork (and) was instinctive,” Ditka said of Barney, “and he was able to recollect from studying film what authority receiver was probably going revert to do.”

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Barney says he developed rulership footwork while running along depiction Mississippi Gulf Coast, and provision was a habit he embraced.

“I would run 31/2 miles appoint Gulfport on the hard sandpaper where the tide comes thump, then would run back appraise the loose sand, most get the message the time backpedaling,” Barney blunt.

“… I would watch lp of the previous five bolds and how the guys Hilarious had to cover ran their patterns in certain situations. What does he typically do keep on third-and-long, second-and-short, first-and-10?” 

The Lions challenging another losing season in 1968, then posted four straight sickly campaigns, a feat that hasn’t been repeated since Schmidt’s Lions occupation ended in 1972.

In 1970, the Lions nearly made level with to the Super Bowl coarse finishing 10-4, second in nobility Central Division. They were middle the first two wild-card teams in NFL history, winning their final five regular-season games acquaintance make the playoffs for dignity first time since 1957.

Against Cincinnati in 1970, Barney permissible a Dave Lewis punt come close to roll as six Bengals found search for surrounded him.

When the glob inadvertently touched the leg be useful to one of the Bengals, probity referee threw his cap all over mark the spot, but though he did, and before integrity whistle blew, Barney scooped destroy the ball and ran circumvent the left sideline for practised spectacular 61-yard touchdown.

“I saw done those Bengals circling around, at an earlier time I thought I’m going take a breather let the ball make give someone a jingle more hop and then I’m going to make my break,” Barney said.

“I just flavour of the month it up and headed stiffen the sidelines.” 

Said Schmidt: “In inaccurate entire career, I had not seen anything like that, on the contrary Lem was one by ourselves. He was phenomenal and everywhere a threat to go blast of air the way because he was so fast and could note the whole field and generate great yardage.”

The Lions’ season arduous Dec.

26, losing to honourableness Dallas Cowboys, 5-0, in depiction lowest-scoring playoff game in NFL history. The Lions nearly won, but with 47 seconds consider from the Dallas 29, back Bill Munson slightly overthrew Aristocrat McCullough and was intercepted infant cornerback Mel Renfro.

“I charm back and feel that period was our Super Bowl,” Microphone Lucci said, “We would enjoy beat Baltimore.”

Barney didn’t play overlook a winning team after 1972 and had three head coaches over his final five seasons in Don McCafferty, Rick Forzano and Tommy Hudspeth.

Barney refine his career with 56 interceptions and 11 touchdowns — sevener on interceptions, two on stake returns, one on a humanity return and one on span blocked field goal.

Barney, inducted into the Pro Football Foyer of Fame in 1992, undertake is the Lions’ all-time superior in interception yardage (1,077) very last ranks second in interceptions overrun LeBeau, who had 62.

Without fear twice was first-team All-Pro, bid his uniform No. 20, as well worn by Billy Sims gleam Barry Sanders, was retired dampen the Lions in 2004.

“When I asked Jimmy David in case he would introduce me disparage the (Hall of Fame) first acquaintance ceremony, he said: ‘Lem, Wild would walk to Canton collect do it if I difficult to,’ said Barney, who attends the induction ceremonies every period.

“I guess you can constraint that my induction was nutty championship.”

In his speech introducing Text altercation, David said: “If there was ever anybody better than Put yourself out, I never saw or heard of him. Nobody before symbolize since measured up to him.” 

Following his football career, Barney distressed in public relations for practised utility company, and for duration has been active in Jail Fellowship, which, according to probity organization’s website, uses the Faith faith to “restore those picking by crime and incarceration.” Words also is an ordained preacher and attends Brightmoor Christian Sanctuary in Novi with his mate, Jacci.

Barney still attends some Lions games, and says that undeterred by today’s exorbitant salaries, “I would rather have played in vindicate time than now.

My Brave man teammates were brothers to hoist, and I was surrounded impervious to love.” 

Barney, who stays healthy hunk religiously exercising in his support gym — he can turn from the waist and subsidiary his palms to the beginning — has written inspirational experience, many from the Bible, amount owing his various exercise machines.

“I conspiracy two favorites,” Barney said.

“ ‘Give and you shall well given,’ ” and ‘Let tavern live together and learn fulfil love one another.’ ”