OT: Where are they now? Loins Edition
So, some news just came across the wire. The Washington Football Team has hired Martin Mayhew as its new general manager. This is noteworthy as it marks the first time any fired Detroit HC or GM has been given another chance at an equivalent role. It's also interesting, because WFT just happens to need a quarterback, and guess who was Mayhew's first ever draft pick?
Also, for those curious to see how the Urban Meyer experiment in Jacksonville will unfold, it appears he has settled on erstwhile Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as his first OC.
So maybe there's life after Allen Park after all.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:51 PM ^
It’s Urban’s offense...SOMEONE has to have the title of OC.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:51 PM ^
WFT so close to WTF. Can't just be a coincidence.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:00 PM ^
Even a few cockroaches survive nuclear war.
I wouldn't recommend it as a "stepping stone" towards NFL greatness.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:06 PM ^
“Very very interesting. But stupid.”
but seriously, I don’t understand what Washington is doing. Mayhew was decent, but originally not gonna help Wahington get better.
Bevell has a good reputation in the league. Probably will help Urban with the adjustment. Maybe chip Kelly could have used a “Bevell.”
January 21st, 2021 at 10:20 PM ^
Didn’t Mathew preside over the 0-16 season?
January 21st, 2021 at 10:36 PM ^
Millen fired after week 4. Mayhew replaced him.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:17 AM ^
Mayhew passed on Donald to draft Eric Ebron. Enough said
January 21st, 2021 at 10:38 PM ^
Sort of. Millen was fired in-season, and Mayhew took over as interim GM. He was then officially given the top job after the season, fired Rod Marinelli, and hired Jim Schwartz. He then took Stafford #1 overall in the ensuing draft.
January 21st, 2021 at 11:56 PM ^
And the rest is history!
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:50 AM ^
Sadly, the Mayhew/Schwartz team was the most competent staff the Lions have had since...the early 90’s?
I don’t think Mayhew is a savant but I don’t think he’s incapable. There were much bigger problems than him and the HC in Detroit. We will see if Sheila can change things.
As for Bevell...I wish him the best. Hope he can find that HC job regardless of what happens in Jacksonville. It will be interesting to see how Meyer’s staff shakes out.
January 22nd, 2021 at 8:15 AM ^
I am legitimately surprised at how difficult it's been for Meyer to round out his staff. If he were to jump in t this situation it would seem he had guys lined up to some degree. It continues to point, to me, that he will not be a success and was taking an ego driven leap that will end in his failure. Not sad, to be honest. Just wished he stole from OSU as he crashed terrifically to the ground.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^
Not really. 2008 was Matt Millen's team, though Mayhew was an assistant GM. Mayhew's subsequent years:
2009 (Mayhew+Schwartz): 2-14
2010 (Mayhew+Schwartz): 6-10
2011 (Mayhew+Schwartz): 10-6 (lost in wildcard)
2012 (Mayhew+Schwartz): 4-12
2013 (Mayhew+Schwartz): 7-9
2014 (Mayhew+Caldwell): 11-5 (lost in wildcard)
2015 (Mayhew+Caldwell): 7-9, Mayhew fired mid-season
7 seasons, 47-65 (41-63 if you exclude the games in 2015 after he was fired), 0-2 playoffs
Draft highlights include Quandre Diggs (6th Rd, 2015), Kyle Van Noy (2nd Rd, 2014), 2013 Draft (Ansah, Slay, Warford). Stafford and Suh were also good picks, but I'd be hesitant to give Mayhew credit for making relatively obvious draft decisions.
Draft lowlights include Eric Ebron (1st Rd, 2014, passing on OBJ/Aaron Donald), 2011 and 2012 were pretty bad
By "Lions Standards" I would say Mayhew was . . . fine? Eric Ebron stands out to me as the most egregious mistake. I can sort of understand passing on Donald because DT wasn't a "need" with Suh on the roster, but Suh was on the last year of his contract, and you can fucking play Suh and Donald at the same time . . . and OBJ would've been the better pick if you wanted weapons on offense.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:58 AM ^
Unless it was a different Ebron, I saw he's still in the league on the Steelers, still dropping passes. Cannot think of a more "looks like Tarzan, plays like Carlton" guy in the last decade or so.
I'm not sure how much I blame Mayhew for that one. The guys should be a star.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:36 PM ^
I prefer lamb loins
January 21st, 2021 at 11:57 PM ^
I want a woman who will arouse my intellect as well as my loins.
January 22nd, 2021 at 7:06 AM ^
Most 17th century women are sadly no longer with us.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:38 PM ^
Don't bad teams usually try to hire guys that worked for good teams?
January 21st, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
Something doesn't add up with the Bevell hire. Urban said he only wants staff members who are elite in EVERYTHING. Otherwise, do not apply. Maybe this is a different Darrell Bevell?
January 22nd, 2021 at 7:08 AM ^
Yes, but it’s his other brother Darrell. According to brother Larry.
January 22nd, 2021 at 5:06 AM ^
Clearly we've entered a new and heretofore uncharted NFL coaching and administrative landscape where your time with the Detroit Lions no longer counts against you.
Guys, freshen up those resumes...there may yet be life after Detroit...except you, MIllen...you should just TALK about football stuff and fantasize about drafting more wide receivers on your own time.
January 22nd, 2021 at 7:52 AM ^
As a local (I live about a 10 minute trek from the foot of the Lions' offices in Allen Park), there has to be life after Allen Park, otherwise you're just picking at an omelette over at The Glass Onion for the rest of your days, and as good as they are, you can't help but wonder if there is something more.
January 22nd, 2021 at 8:17 AM ^
The Glass Onion is a perfect name for a store that exclusively sells water bongs.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:35 AM ^
There is store named the glass onion down the street from my house in Kalamazoo that sells exactly that
January 22nd, 2021 at 8:55 AM ^
My loins have been where they've always been.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:08 AM ^
Aren't Marty Mornhingweg or Darryl Rogers available?
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
"This is noteworthy as it marks the first time any fired Detroit HC or GM has been given another chance at an equivalent role."
I know it seems that's the case with Lions head coaches since virtually nobody can remember the Before Times preceding William Clay Ford, but several Lions HCs coached other pro teams after they left the Lions before Ford assumed total control in 1963.
The last one was George Wilson, who was fired after the '64 season by Ford. Wilson returned to the pros in 1966 as the first HC of the new Miami Dolphins franchise in the old AFL. Wilson lasted four years in Miami, and was let go after the '69 season and was replaced by some guy named Shula.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
So what you're saying is that George Wilson set up Don Shula for success?
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^
Funny you should say that... I looked up the Dolphins roster for 1969, Wilson's last year in Miami, and a good portion of the core of Shula's great early Miami teams was already in place:
Griese, Csonka, Kiick, Mercury Morris, Dick Stanfil, Larry Little, Manny Fernandez, Nick Buoniconti, Dick Anderson
Shula deserves all the credit for making the Dolphins competitive, but Wilson deserves credit for putting a lot of outstanding players in place for Shula to work with.
Not for nothing is Wilson the last Lions head coach to win an NFL championship.