Barry Sanders Discusses Marketing Pursuits, His NFL Future, NFLPA

Sanders Still Cashing In On NFL  Success With Marketing Deals

Pro Football HOFer BARRY SANDERS certainly passes most of his time these days tending to various business and charity interests, spending time with his family and working on his golf handicap, but he still has found time to lend his name to several marketing efforts. In addition to work with Reebok and various merchandisers, Sanders currently is participating in the Chex Mix Celebration Legends promotion and the Alltel Wireless “My Circle Gridiron Getaway” sweepstakes. In the Alltel promotion, fans can win a chance to attend the college or pro football game of their choice, highlighted by an opportunity to tailgate with Sanders before the game. Staff writer Erik Swanson recently caught up with Sanders to discuss his marketing pursuits, potential future involvement in the NFL and the future leadership of the NFLPA.

Q: You’ll be joining fans at the game of their choice with Alltel. Which game would you choose?

Sanders: Obviously there are a lot of great games this year, college and pro, and I’m kind of partial to, I think it’s October 12, New England will be playing the San Diego Chargers. I think it’s the weekend after Minnesota plays Chicago. Of course, to see ADRIAN PETERSON play against Chicago, that will be interesting also. But you’ve got TOM BRADY against LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, two great teams on October 12, and the matchups in the NFL don’t get much better than that during the regular season.

Q: What attracted you to this particular deal?

Sanders: I think it’s a great way to draw interest from the fans. I’m still a big fan of the game, so whether it’s college or pro, to get a chance to see a great game live is always fun.

Q: What do you look for in a marketing deal or sponsorship?

Sanders: I have people that help me, and we discuss it and whether it meets a certain standard of quality, whether it’s something you believe you want to be associated with, those kinds of things.

Q: What do you think of former NFLers like EMMITT SMITH and JERRY RICE competing on "Dancing with the Stars?" Would you ever do it?

Sanders: It’s a personal choice. I’ve never been that comfortable on the dance floor, so I think it’s great to challenge yourself and have that much confidence to be able to go out and do something like that in front of a national audience, so God bless them.

Sanders Not Ruling Out Return To NFL In Some Capacity

Q: Would you consider getting involved in the NFL again in some capacity?

Sanders: Maybe at some point. I think it’s a great business to be in and it’s certainly something that I kind of have an understanding of. I don’t think it will be anything I pursue anytime soon, but I won’t completely rule it out.

Q: Would that be in the front office perhaps?

Sanders: I don’t know, I may want to be closer to the action, you never know. But there are various things to choose from obviously that allow you to be close to the game, so maybe down the road at some point in time that’s something that could happen.

Q: What are your thoughts on the search for the next NFLPA Executive Director?

Sanders: I just hope they have a heart for the players as GENE UPSHAW did. I think you can tell that from day one his bottom line was, ‘How can I allow for the players to share in the tremendous financial success of the NFL?’ I think he did that, and he should be commended for that and always remembered for that. I think he always bargained fairly. People that got to know him realized that he’s a very decent, good man to have bargaining on your behalf, and he did all he could for players.

Q: Is a former player best suited for the position?

Sanders: It doesn’t have to be. I think it could be a former player, or it could be an attorney who has experience with collective bargaining, or something like that. But certainly someone with a track record of having some sort of experience or association with the NFL and with those types of issues that they would have to face in that position.