The Lions Register Their First Ever Bye Week Victory!!!!
September 24, 2008 on 12:32 pm | In Uncategorized |Now I know how Ol’ Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobin’s felt after beginning to administer “justice” to their perceived despots. To quote Maxie:
“To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency. To forgive them is cruelty.”
Amen, brother. Although, it is sad that Matt Millen lost his job today, he is still human (there’s the sum total of my sympathy), the move was INCREDIBLY long overdue, and was made out of necessity.
My friend Whitey and I, after week 2’s disappointing loss to the Packers, were discussing the need for a “sacrificial lamb” to be held accountable for the Lions continued failings. In my wildest imagination, I never conjured this eventuality. The Lions have made a LARGE step forward as a franchise today.
Immediately thrust into the frying pan is Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli. I would imagine he is being given 13 weeks to make a case for his being retained. I would still venture that his coaching the team next year would be facing long odds but, I believe the Ford’s will allow him every opportunity to prove his worth, like they did with the much-vilified Millen.
I also believe that the Lions players are all immediately being placed on notice. Whomever the Lions choose to run the player/personnel side of the operation, will have no previous loyalty or attachment to the team’s current roster. Expect a great deal of surgically-precise roster moves to occur this coming off-season.
One roster move that might occur more immediately, given the team’s unprecedented downfall, and the Ford’s improbable decision to terminate Millen, is the trade of Roy Williams, given his open insubordination and general lack of focus on the field, thus far.
To the fore, immediately come the Seahawks, Jaguars, Cowboys, and Titans, all who seem like logical mid-season trade partners for the talented Williams. The Seahawks, Jaguars, and Titans have a serious need for playmaking wideouts, and the Cowboys are an obviously logical destination, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, and Miles Austin be damned.
I hate to excise Roy from the current team, but if the Lions are actually going to move forward, it’s going to take a concentrated, finely-hewn effort for the entire organization from the top down, a situation where the total has to be greater than the sum of it’s parts, and it’s quite obvious that Williams won’t be on board with any of the team’s future organizational plans, in my opinion.
All I know is, that the 31-84 Lions can kiss my ass, the Lions are now 1-0 coming out of their bye week. (Ford’s, please don’t screw this up!)
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I’m so happy . . . no sorrow in sight . . . about freaking time. There is now a bit of hope that something positive may occur with this franchise. I have had a smile on my face since this came over the airwaves. The franchise can now start rebuilding! Now . . . who do we want for a replacement?
Comment by YUKON DAN f/k/a one unhappy camper — September 24, 2008 #
There will be names thrown out like Bill Cowher…Jimmy Johnson…ex-Packers chief executive Ron Wolf…
I expect their to be a wild card selected, much like Millen was when he was hired, however, I am hopeful that it will be someone who has earned the chance at the position (i.e. been involved in player/personnel for a successful franchise) and not someone who has a porn-stache, charisma, a “winning pedigree” and crusades in riding a motorcycle….How did we ever fall for that bullshit, anyhow?
Comment by Steve — September 24, 2008 #
Please hire this man:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Reese
Comment by Deryl G — September 24, 2008 #
Nice Call, Deryl. Reese has an excellent pedigree for finding talent, at least he did with Fisher in Tennessee.
No one can do any worse than Millen, that’s for sure…wait, it’s the Lions, it would be hard for anyone to do any worse :.)
Comment by Steve — September 24, 2008 #
The rumors coming out of the back office in Detroit are that Rod Marinelli is next on the chopping block and Bill Cowher is in range if that happens, is this true?
Comment by Nick — September 24, 2008 #
Nick–All I know is that rumors are rampant that “Coach Jaw” recently bought a house in Ohio, which would be a much closer weekly commute than Millen’s Pennsylvania trips were.
I think the Lions will reserve judgment on the coach, unless things go really bad, as if they can get any worse, but Marinelli is feeling the flames of joblessness licking his sorry ass, that’s for sure.
There are a ton of internet rumors about “Coach Jaw” and the Browns according to http://www.profootballtalk.com, but it is all soooo early, that conjecture and subterfuge will reign supreme until the Lions make their perfunctory announcements, at a presser, likely after the finish of the ‘08 season.
Comment by Steve — September 24, 2008 #
Deryl: I read some stuff about Reese today and the man certainly seems to know his talent. Since Millen proved that the time honored saying that “even a blind squirrel can find a nut” is not always true, it would certainly be an upgrade (and an intriguing one).
Comment by YUKON DAN f/k/a one unhappy camper — September 24, 2008 #
Don’t discount Old Man WC Ford from going against common sense and decide to keep the Martin Mayhew/Tom Lewand interim staff in place, especially if the Lions, I don’t know, say go 6-7 or 7-6, improbable, I know, but not impossible, and ostensibly avoid completely overturning the entire organization, like he should.
Rumors are that Mayhew is highly-regarded around league circles, but I feel like the tainted stench of Millen should hang like a storm cloud over his chances of taking over.
The organization needs a SERIOUS overhaul, not a half-assed one.
Comment by Steve — September 24, 2008 #
Let us put a halt to talk of “tainted stench” and “decomposing bile” for a day. Let us talk about a brighter future for the Lions–something our grandchildren can enjoy.
Comment by YUKON DAN f/k/a one unhappy camper — September 24, 2008 #
You know how it is with the Lions, Yuk. For every smile that they generate their is a subsequent lingering grimace buried somewhere…although, it’s still a wonderful day even if it’s brief…
Comment by Steve — September 24, 2008 #