Lions great Charlie Sanders dies at 68

[kalinecountry]

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/07/02/charlie-sanders-death-detroit-lions/29634347/
Lions legend Charlie Sanders dies at 68.
freep

Charlie Sanders was a fabulous tight end. rip

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...of-famer-charlie-sanders-dies-at-68/29637295/
Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders dies at 68.
detnews

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...all-of-fame-te-charlie-sanders-dies-at-age-68
Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders dies at age 68.
NFL.com

http://www.nfl.com/photos/0ap1000000159640/0ap2000000159511
Charlie Sanders through the years.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/spor...-hall-of-famer-charlie-sanders-dies-at-age-68
Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders dies at age 68.
from the OaklandPress

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/07/detroit_lions_hall_of_famer_ch.html
Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders dies at 68.
mlive

http://www.detroitnews.com/picture-...lions-hall-of-famer-charlie-sanders/29638161/
Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders. Many great pictures.
detnews

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/7/2/8887195/charlie-sanders-passes-away-at-68
Charlie Sanders passes away at 68.
from Pride of Detroit

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...ons-great-sanders-everything-wanted/29651571/
Lions great Sanders 'had everything you wanted'.
detnews

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/07/02/charlie-sanders-pro-football-hall/29643523/
Flashback: Charlie Sanders gets face time in Canton.
This story was originally published in the July 29, 2007 edition of the Detroit Free Press.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

One of the true greats to wear the blue and silver.

RIP

 

[Mitchrapp]

Way too young. Reposi in pace.

 

[sggatecl]

Sad news. Met him a couple times, very nice man. Wish I'd been able to see him play. I saw his daughter Mary in a few boxing matches.

 

[cheeno]

He was a staple at Lions games in recent years, he owns a BBQ place at Ford Field and as a pregame and halftime color commentator for the Lions he'd be around always interacting with the fans. By all accounts a genuinely good guy. RIP

 

[tonyballs]

RIP, brother. Met this man a few years ago and he was a gentleman.

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...it-lions-charlie-sanders-visitation/29799499/
Lions great Charlie Sanders' visitation Friday.
freep

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...nders-will-public-visitation-friday/29747353/
Sanders public visitation will be on Friday.
detnews

 

[byco42]

One of my favorite sports images ever.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

One of my favorite sports images ever.

We've had some great Sanders's's's's's's'

 

[kalinecountry]

One of my favorite sports images ever.

Charlie Sanders was always making those acrobatic catches, sometimes in a crowd.

I will always remember his HOF induction speech, talking about growing up without his mom and how he could not say 'Hi Mom' to the camera like every other player in a successful moment. and then he did at the end of his speech looking up to the sky. I don't think there was a dry eye there that day.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/07/10/detroit-charlie-sanders/29995407/
Hall of Fame dedicates Detroit race to Charlie Sanders.
freep

 

[biggunsbob]

Charlie was a fantastic Tight end... RIP Charlie ...

 

[kalinecountry]

Charlie was a fantastic Tight end... RIP Charlie ...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...symbolized-great-player-greater-man/29997765/
Charlie Sanders symbolized a great player, greater man.
detnews

 

[tonyballs]

Charlie Sanders was always making those acrobatic catches, sometimes in a crowd.

I will always remember his HOF induction speech, talking about growing up without his mom and how he could not say 'Hi Mom' to the camera like every other player in a successful moment. and then he did at the end of his speech looking up to the sky. I don't think there was a dry eye there that day.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/07/10/detroit-charlie-sanders/29995407/
Hall of Fame dedicates Detroit race to Charlie Sanders.
freep

Probably the QBs fault

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.freep.com/picture-galler...lions-friends-mourn-charlie-sanders/30017947/
Lions, friends mourn Charlie Sanders.
freep

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/07/former_detroit_lion_charlie_sa_1.html
Former Detroit Lion Charlie Sanders remembered.
mlive

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/07/detroit_lions_charlie_sanders.html
Charlie Sanders leaves lasting impact on Detroit Lions' organization, community.
mlive

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...symbolized-great-player-greater-man/29997765/
Charlie Sanders' exceptional effort, talent remembered by ex-players.
detnews

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...legacy-rooted-in-consistency-loyalty-to-lions
Charlie Sanders' legacy rooted in consistency, loyalty to Lions.
NFL.com

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/06/16/charlie-sanders-case/85996538/
Charlie Sanders? $1.175M goes to wife, kids, trust.
Detnews

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...-hockenson-number-charlie-sanders/3668018002/
T.J. Hockenson: Wearing Charlie Sanders' No. 88 'an incredible honor'.;
Freep

For Lions' T.J. Hockenson, wearing Charlie Sanders' No. 88 'an incredible honor'.
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/...rs.jpg?width=540&height=&fit=bounds&auto=webp
Allen Park ? As if expectations for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson weren?t lofty enough after being selected No. 8 in last month's NFL Draft, the former Iowa standout now carries the added weight of shouldering the legacy of No. 88 in Detroit.

That's the same number once worn by Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders.

NFL uniform guidelines prohibited Hockenson from wearing the No. 38 he sported in college. And with four to the 10 possible choices already taken, the rookie settled for the number formerly worn by Sanders.

It?s a distinction not lost on Hockenson.

?It?s an incredible honor,? Hockenson said. ?Charlie Sanders was a great player here and just looking back, him being a Hall of Famer and doing a lot for this community, a lot for this team, a lot for this organization, it?s a special number. It?s a big honor for me to be able to wear that number and just to be able to carry on his legacy. It really means a ton.?

Sanders, a third-round pick in 1968, spent his entire career with the Lions. A seven-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro, he caught 336 passes for 4,817 and 31 touchdowns during his career. He would go on to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2007.

After Sanders retired in 1977, he remained with the organization in various roles, serving as a color commentator on the team?s radio broadcasts before becoming an assistant coach, scout and finally a front office executive, where he served until he died in 2015.

Hockenson, a rarity as a tight end selected in the first 10 picks of the draft, will attempt to break Sanders? franchise record of 40 receptions for a rookie tight end.

Detnews

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2019...family-responds-tj-hockenson-jersey-number-88
Family of Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders responds to T.J. Hockenson taking #88.
Charlie Sanders? daughter expressed some disappointment and appreciation towards the Lions organization.
POD

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2019...etroit-lions-retire-charlie-sanders-number-88
Should the Detroit Lions retire Charlie Sanders? number?
Should 88 be retired or is that setting a tough precedent?
POD

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.detroitlionspodcast.com...-end-position-of-the-past-present-and-future/
Tight End Position of the Past, Present and Future.
Detroit Lions Podcast