Detroit Lions Weblog

The Lions Establish That There Will Be No Heirs to the Throne

The Lions, as all Lions fan’s are quite aware of, are the worst franchise in professional football, and quite possibly the most sad-sack, inept franchise in all of pro sports. The Lions, by continuing their never-ending coaching carousel and horrific on-field performances, seem incapable of ever emerging out of this 47-year cycle of disappointment and failure.

I have no sympathy for Steve Mariucci. He was quite deserving of termination (so were O-Line Coach Pat Morris and TE’s Coach Sugarman, as well as O-Coord Ted Tollner being worthy of demotion). Team President Matt Millen deserves to be blown out, too. Millen has captured the W. C. Ford’s good graces, so his job has been spared, for the moment. In regards to Mooch, he is probably a perfectly fine coach to assume the helm of a team who has veteran leadership and an already established track record for winning. He was without question, incapable of developing a franchise who has languished in the mire of mediocrity for so long. As I have mentioned before, I believe that the Lions should hire another front office executive to help impact the decisions which are being made going forward. Matt Millen seems to be slowly doing a better job, but how much more patience can the Ford’s have?

Dick Jauron will steward over this dysfunctional team with grace and integrity. I can’t believe that the Ford’s will strongly consider Jauron for the Head Coach position unless he were to accomplish the unthinkable, finish the season 5-0. One thing I hope that Jauron does accomplish, is to put a muzzle on the players. Has there ever been a more whining, back-biting, pack of malcontents ever on a Lion’s roster? Dre Bly thinks that the Lions are bad because of Joey, Roy Williams is not a punk (even if he celebrates a TD when the Lions are down by 20 points or behaves as if every catch he makes is an act of God), Jeff Garcia thinks that maybe there are more organizational problems than the head coach, and Joey thinks that head coach did not instill enough discipline. Oh yeah, Kevin Jones has no faith in this offense. Shut UP!!!!!!!!!! What have any of these players accomplished in Honolulu Blue to have the right to sound off about anything. At this point, they should all humbly go about their business of trying to turn around one of the most disappointing seasons in Lion’s history, period.

We all have seen the script to this season far too many times. We know that the team will pull together and eke out another win or two (heck, maybe three). The Lions will strongly consider hiring Jauron, which makes no sense. Meanwhile, while the playoffs are in full gear, the Lions will again be scouting college players for their Top 10 draft pick and assessing who will take the reins as head coach. This is all well and good, but when will it stop?

10 Things that have happened this season that offset (a little bit) the Disappointment I feel as a Lion’s fan (No particular order)

1) Samkon Gado and Ryan Fitzpatrick emerge from obscurity and contribute dramatically for their teams.
2) The Colts will threaten and possibly achieve the unthinkable, a perfect season.
3) LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander are having two of the finest season’s ever by NFL RB’s. You have got to see them play.
4) The Bears Defense is one of the most dominating of recent times. They will carry the Bears a long way in the playoffs.
5) Mike Tice and Brad Johnson gaining a measure of redemption by returning the Vikings to playoff contention.
6) No More T. O./McNabb-The tabloid stuff should never overshadow what occurs on the field of play.
7) Neil Rackers, who would have thought he could be so good.
8) The Bengals-especially QB Carson Palmer-their rise gives Lion fans hope.
9) The return of the ground game to prominence. More teams are winning by the winning the battle of the trenches, running the ball, playing mistake-free, and sound field position football. Not as highlight film worthy to watch, but makes games perilessly close and riveting as the season intensifies.
10) No More Monday Night Football-They have been horrible this year(The Whole Package).

The Lion’s Coach Watch, 5 Top Candidates
1) Mike Singletary
2) Dick Jauron
3) Russ Grimm
4) Kirk Ferentz
5) Tim Lewis