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Did you know that in 1929 the Detroit Lions played as an independent professional team called the Portsmouth Spartans? In 1930 they joined the National Football League, and despite their success on the field, poor revenues and the Great Depression threatened the Spartans' survival. In 1934, a group led by Detroit radio executive George Richards (owner of Detroit's powerful WJR) bought the Spartans and moved them to Detroit. Richards renamed the team the Lions, as a nod to the Detroit Tigers. He also said that the lion was the monarch of the jungle, and he intended for his team to be the monarch of the NFL.
The Detroit Lions conference affiliation has changed throughout their history: Western Division (1930-1949), National Conference (1950-1952), Western Conference (1953-1966) and the Central Division (1967-1969). When the NFL split into two conferences during the 1970 season the Detroit Lions played in the NFC Central from 1970 through 2001 then in the NFC North from 2002 through today.
Who was the best Lions player in team history? Was it one of those listed above who had their number retired? Was it one of their Hall of Fame players: Lem Barney, Lou Creekmur, Jack Christiansen, Dutch Clark, Bill Dudley, Frank Gatski, John Henry Johnson, Night Train Lane, Yale Lary, Bobby Layne, Barry Sanders, Charlie Sanders, Joe Schmidt, Doak Walker or Alex Wojciechowicz? Tell us your opinion on Pigskin Fever today!
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