Millen, “Big Baby”, Roy, Daunte, Drew and…
October 28, 2008 on 1:46 pm | In Uncategorized |For those of you haven’t read “Big Al’s” hilarious and informative blog, The Wayne Fontes Experience , he makes two exceptionally valid points that I hadn’t previously considered.
In regards to the Lions stiffing their deposed chief executive, Matt Millen, “Big Al” suggests that the Lions could be making a mistake by choosing to breach their contractual agreement with Millen.
The damage is not to their current reputation, which is irreparable, but to their appeal with future candidates. Future candidates, who could eventually assume the helm of the organization, or at least become in charge of the team’s personnel, which is infinitely more important than their sullied, “crack whore”-esque esteem in league circles.
The other thing that “Big Al” mentions that I wholeheartedly agree with, and I believe is particularly damning of Marinelli’s faculties as a head coach, is his concrete refusal to even consider playing QB Drew Stanton, the only rational thing left for Lions fans to pine for, as this Bataan death march of a season wears on.
Marinelli insists that the coaches need to indicate that Stanton is playing better than the “Polish Pop Gun” and gives them a better chance to win than Orlovsky does. As if any one of them actually has a clue, uhm…cough…gasp…wheeze… if an 0-7 start to the season, or 1-14 performance since last season’s midpoint, serves as an indicator of coaching aptitude?
That being said, after last week’s tete-a-tete with journeymen QB Tim Rattay, the Lions are reportedly meeting with retired/unretired journeymen QB Daunte Culpepper today.
As much I called for the consideration of a Culpepper signing entering the season, I see no logical reason to bring him in now, unless they view him as a potential stop-gap, in case their other stop-gap measure, Orlovsky, eventually leaves (or runs as fast as he possibly f@cking can!) the organization as a free agent next year.
Suggesting that Culpepper could return to his previous form in Minnesota might be a stretch, but it wouldn’t entirely hurt my feelings if the Lions were to sign him. He has thrown to a game-breaking receiver before (Randy Moss), and at least he understands that he has to find a way to get the ball to a weapon of Calvin Johnson’s magnitude, by hook or by crook!
I take back everything I ever said about Cowboys WR Roy Williams during his time as a Lion. Williams attended Mike Furrey’s Halloween fundraiser, get this, dressed as “The Bell Hop”, or ex-Lions RB Tatum Bell with Rudi Johnson’s luggage. The Lions Halloween events are injecting a much needed dose of brevity to the Lions failed seasons and add significantly to the lore of the franchise. I can’t wait till next year…
In regards to Roy Williams, and Lions trades, two things:
1) Williams was interviewed on an ESPN sports talk program this weekend and was asked about his current limited role in the Cowboys offense, obviously hoping to draw one of Williams’ patented bold statements, and Williams stated that he was just glad to play for a team that was actually winning, and that Sunday was his first win of the season.
2) Matt Millen’s trades obviously sucked, hopefully, Martin Mayhew’s trade doesn’t suffer from the same kind of 20/20 hindsight/perspective. The Lions Dre Bly (George Foster, Tatum Bell, and Johnny Balwin) and Shaun Rogers (Leigh Bodden and draft picks) trades have provided miserable returns, and Shaun Rogers’ 9 tackles and blocked FG (this weekend) serves as a reminder of sorely “Big Baby” is missed, despite his often surly demeanor!
I hate to even consider how deeply Williams’ future performance could burn into the darkened souls of long-suffering Lions fans..
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Mike–no, I have not been sniffing glue. And I think I am in my right mind. I live in New Orleans now, so have not seen a Lions game since…last Thanksgiving. I have a question that I would like your take on. Is it at all possible that Millen’s “build this team from the outside in” tenure is truly one of the worst tenures in NFL history for a GM, and not even Houdini could win with the current roster? When Marinelli took over, and was asked if he thought he had the talent to win, he said yes. He, I am sure, believed he had to say that–it’s his make-up. But I wonder how much he really believed it. I, for one, certainly didn’t. I don’t think many did. And I find it incredulous that he really did. In an era where the NFL bends over backwards to create parity, and your team consistently wins only 2-5 games a year, or 7 in a good year, not matter the coach–doesn’t that suggest the problem lies more in the box than on the side-line? My question: is there any possible way all this can be laid not at Marinelli’s, but at Millen’s feet? With Millen gone, does Marinelli have a better chance of winning? From what I am reading on your blog (and fear myself), the answer is, “No.”
Comment by Rev. Drew — October 29, 2008 #
Rev. Drew–Not only is Millen’s tenure the worst tenure as an executive, at any position in the NFL, it is more than arguable that the team he has built (31-88, counting games without him) is as bad as it gets in the history of pro sports.
You have a point, Marinelli is likely to play the “good soldier” and say that the roster has “talent”. That being said, he had A LOT of input on the last two drafts and free agency. He fired each a defensive and offensive coordinator, and is running out of bullets in his holster, as far the ability to defend his tenure goes.
Plus, Marinelli needs to publicly support the players, he can’t brutally honest. He also has faith in his system, his ability as a coach, and probably believed he could “coach up” any of the numerous laggards on the roster.
Ultimately, as much as I want/ed to believe in Marinelli, he has become a Lions coach, a metamorphosis which necessitates his tenure as near coming to it’s close.
I have long held the belief that Lions players realize that, in most cases, they will outlast the team’s coaches, which diffuses the strength of the coaching staff’s message.
I hate to psychoanalyze, too much, but I believe that most players are inclined towards trashing their coaches, especially as pros.
I really like your question, the real question, though, in my opinion, is: If Millen and Marinelli clearly aren’t the answer, who is, and how will it take, with the Ford’s still in charge, for them to actually regain respectability?
Comment by Steve — October 29, 2008 #
Mike–sheesh, thanks for the cheery picture :-)! I think you offer here an intriguing analysis of the “player-coach” dynamic that has developed in Detroit. What a great insight. As I mull it over, I wonder if this dynamic isn’t, in fact, true just about anywhere. I suppose even if it is, perhaps it is at such a critical point in Detroit that a solution other than “coaches and front office personnel” presents itself. I remember Dan Dierdorff making a comment, a very long time ago, on a Monday Night telecast that until the Detroit Lions are under new ownership, they’ll never turn this ship around. Am I hearing that sentiment from you? And, if I may be so bold, what say you about the guys who are now filling Millen’s shoes?
Comment by Rev. Drew — October 30, 2008 #
Rev. Drew, my name is actually Steve, by the way. Mike is a regular, and much appreciated “commenter” (sounds kinda like the “decider”) here.
I don’t think the Ford’s necessarily have to step away, although, it might be of benefit, but they do have to fully entrust the right person(s), with the caveat of that person(s) having the appropriate level of prior success and experience to warrant that consideration, to make the unfettered, correct decisions for the future direction of the franchise.
I think you are right about that “dynamic” being emblematic of the modern professional athlete, but I also believe it is particularly toxic rationale within the Lions organization, since it has come to fruition so often.
Hey I think the Roy E. Williams trade went much better than it could have for Mayhew. Ultimately, I think the eventual signing of Daunte Culpepper to a multi-year deal, and the decision to IR Jon Kitna will crap out on the Lions and Mayhew.
I don’t want the Lions to consider Lewand and Mayhew, even if they are likely strong candidates. Lewand is probably attempting to position himself within the organizational hierarchy as we speak, trying to convince W.C.F. #1 that he and Mayhew can actually fix Millen’s mistakes.
The right decision is to start anew. Completely detonate, and begin fresh…
Comment by Steve — October 30, 2008 #