 Tharpe was the starting right tackle for the Lions for 15 games in 1997, and helped running back Barry Sanders become the third player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards during the season.Sanders won the NFL Most Valuable Player award after the season, and was named to the Pro Bowl.He invited Tharpe and the rest of the Lions' offensive line to Hawaii to join him, and gifted them gold bracelets commemorating the historic season.