Scott Mitchell ranks statistically among the most successful quarterbacks in Lions history—whatever that sentence is worth.
He ranks third on Detroit's all-time passing leaderboard, right behind franchise luminaries Matthew Stafford and Bobby Layne. He had a few undeniably decent seasons in his five-year stay in the Motor City, including throwing for 32 touchdowns in 1995.
However, the Lions couldn't quite take the next steps with the Utah product—a development that helped disillusion running back Barry Sanders. With a new documentary on Amazon shedding light on Sanders's life and decision to retire, Mitchell took to Facebook to deliver a lengthy rebuke to criticisms of his play.
"I just watched 'Bye Bye Barry' on Amazon Prime," Mitchell wrote. "It was not a very pleasant experience. I was Barry Sanders [sic] teammate for five years. I had a front row seat to some of the most amazing plays in NFL history. He will never have an equal as a pure runner in the NFL. I could argue that their [sic] were several running backs that were more complete, but I won't. Barry was great!"
Mitchell blasted his former coach, Wayne Fontes, as well as rapper Eminem and actor Jeff Daniels—celebrities with Michigan ties who appeared in the film.
"However, I am so tired of hearing how I was the reason that Barry Sanders never won a Super Bowl," Mitchell continued. "I'm so tired of hearing how I was not a good QB. My only response is F--K YOU ALL!!!!! That includes Eminem (and) Jeff Daniels."
Mitchell also spent time with the Dolphins, Ravens and Colts as a professional.
"We all are to blame for not winning a (Super Bowl) in Detroit even Barry Sanders," Mitchell wrote.
