Detroit Lions: The Lions and former team member Barry Sanders are in the midst of a dispute about whether the team still owes him money.

Sanders, the leading rusher in franchise history, says the Lions still owe him an option payment of $700,000 included in a clause in his last contract, The Detroit News reported in a Thursday story.

In 1997, Sanders signed a six-year, $36 million contract, that carried an $11 million signing bonus. He retired shortly before the 1999 season began.

The Lions say he didn't qualify for the option payment because he retired before it would have been available. It is unclear what year the payment was due.

Arbitration began May 6 in San Francisco.

Most of the negotiations are being handled by the Management Council and the players union, said Tom Lewand, Lions vice president.