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5. Lem Barney

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5. Lem Barney
Coming out of Jackson State, Cornerback, Lem Barney made an immediate impact for the Lions winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and leading the NFL in Interceptions.  He wouldn’t duplicate that feat as opposing offensive coordinators knew to avoid him like the plague but he was still a seven-time Pro Bowler with 56 total picks and over 1,000 Interception Return Yards.  Barney was also a major asset on the return game.
Barney would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, and his number 20 was retired in 2004 alongside Barry Sanders, who also wore that number.  Barney would later be part of the first Pride of the Lions class in 2009.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Cornerback
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 2nd Round, 34th Overall in the NFL Draft 3/14/67.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1977 Season.
  • Games Played: 140
  • Notable Statistics: 108 Games Started
    56 Interceptions
    1,077 Interception Return Yards
    7 Interception Return Touchdowns
    17 Fumble Recoveries
    163 Fumble Recovery Yards
    143 Punt Returns
    1,312 Punt Return Yards
    2 Punt Return Touchdowns
    50 Kick Return Yards
    1,274 Kick Return Yards
    1 Kick Return Touchdown
    113 Punts
    4,006 Punting Yards
    144 Approximate Value

    No Playoff Games
  • Major Accolades and Awards: AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (1967)
    First Team All-Pro (1968 & 1969)
    Second Team All-Pro (1973)
    Pro Bowl Selection (1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975 & 1976)
    Most Interceptions (1967)
    Most Interception Return Yards (1967)
    Most Fumbles Recovered (1968)
    Most Fumble Return Yards (1975)
    Highest Approximate Value (1969)
Last modified on Monday, 18 July 2022 15:40
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