JimBobTressel

November 29th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

Yeah, kid's a douche. Detroit, if they fire Schwartz...it's clear at this point that this regime's #1 issue IS. NOT. KNOWING. HOW. TO. SCREEN. KIDS. FOR. CHARACTER. I mean, tell me, who's going to pop up as the next arrest? 

lilpenny1316

November 29th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^

He bypassed Janoris Jenkins because of character issues, so he's acutely aware of character issues being a problem.  Unfortunately, he's had a pretty good season.  When you strip down an entire roster and rebuild through the draft and affordable FA's, you run this risk.  

Unfortunately, Schwartz was not the first choice as HC.   No coach with name recognition wanted to take over an 0-16 team.  If they knew Megatron would blow up, Stafford would be a top-10 QB and one of the best front sevens was here, Rex Ryan or some of the other available candidates may have jumped at the job.

Maybe we can outspend Dallas to get Sean Payton?  Payton without Gregg Williams is a good get.

M-Wolverine

November 29th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^

That's the Drew Sharp and Michael Rosenberg of the Dallas Morning News. They have no more credibility than me saying "Scotty Bowman should take over for Red when he retires." Because both came from the same place- our asses.

And if you think they should have gotten Rex Ryan, you'll probably have your chance. His seat is hotter than Schwartz's right now, and will likely be available.

GoBlueInNYC

November 29th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^

People always say that the Lions skipped over Jenkins, but don't forget that he was taken early in the 2nd round. The Lions only bypassed him in that they took Reiff, a great prospect at a position of need, in the 1st.

You didn't say this, but I've seen a lot of people complain that the Lions took Broyles instead of Jenkins, totally ingoring the fact that Jenkins was gone by the Lions' pick in the 2nd round.

lilpenny1316

November 29th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^

And it was known before the draft that Jenkins wasn't coming here unless something crazy happened like all the other CBs being taken in picks 1-22.  

I find it funny that people would be upset about the Broyles pick thinking that Jenkins was still on the board.  People really did that?  Hilarious.

GoBlueInNYC

November 29th, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^

I think the Reiff pick was a good one. The Lions needed to attend to their OL. I'm definitely happy with it.

Mostly I've seen people who either didn't follow the draft or have forgotten where Jenkins was taken complain that the Lions passed up a CB to draft "just another WR."

EDIT: Not to mention, after the Burleson injury and the continuing nonsense with Young, that Broyles pick up isn't looking like too bad of an idea any more.

xxxxNateDaGreat

November 29th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^

I would not like the Rex Ryan hire at all. He is a better coach than Schwartz, sure, but if we are firing Schwartz at the end of this season (which I doubt), it would be because the circus is finally getting out of hand more than the number of losses. The "rabid New York media" story angle that ESPN likes to trot out aside, Ryan has not yet shown that he can control (or even help Mayhew build) a team any better than Schwartz.

And Sean Payton is not coming here. If the Saint's somehow screw this up and lose him, then he'll be gone to Dallas. NO ONE outspends Jerry Jones...

GoBlueInNYC

November 29th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^

Get rid of him. The guy has been underperforming on the field and a toxic personality. Broyles has shown to be a better target already, and without all the character issues.

Magnus

November 29th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^

You know, I commend Boise State for winning a bunch of games (against some high quality opponents) with a bunch of under-the-radar prospects; but you have to wonder if those guys stay under the radar for reasons like Young's behavior.  I'm sure not every kid who goes to Boise State is this selfish, but yeah, this is one of the lamest things I've heard.

In general, I really don't like the direction the Lions are going.  They have more talent now than they had a few years ago, but they've taken some risks on guys with questionable character (Fairley, Suh, Young, etc.) and it's biting them in the butt.

CRex

November 29th, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^

Pre Character Issue Lions:

On 3rd and 4, the other team gains 10 yards.  The Lions look helpless.  

Post Character Issue Lions:

On 3rd and 4, the other team is stuffed in the backfield for a 2 yard loss.  The defense commits at least one of the following:  Hands To the Face, Roughing the QB, Facemask, Late Hit.  Team gets a fresh set of downs thanks to a 15 yard (+auto first down) call.

I have to say, I'm not enthused with the work of the defense staff or the HC here.  This needs to be correct or seats need to get really hot, real fast.  

JeepinBen

November 29th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^

As Ditka likes to say "you get what you tolerate" when it comes to behavior and penalties. Schwartz is firey and it costs his team. Look at the Thanksgiving Day Flag. It's OK to be emotional, but when you're emotional and wrong it costs your team.

The HC does it, and tolerates it from his players.

/I wish Schwartz the best, seemed like he had righted the ship, but either some people have to start gettting cut/benched/fined/something from the team, not just the league.

GoBlueInNYC

November 29th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^

Serious question: how many of these guys had character issues prior to the Lions drafting them?

I remember Fairley being a really dirty player in college, but I don't remember Suh being nearly as bad as he is now. And I don't really remember any of these guys getting in legal trouble. The Lions are clearly at fault for not keeping their house in order, but I'm just curious as to how many were actually considered character issue guys at the time.

Magnus

November 29th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^

We're not really privy to ALL the dirt that these general managers dig up prior to the draft, but Fairley had issues that were known to the public, and I never liked that pick.  They've had guys getting arrested, getting multiple tickets, etc. and they have't done much about it.  LeShoure has been arrested, Delmas, Fairley, etc.  You have to make an example of someone and suspend them or cut them.  Maybe this is a step in the right direction with benching Young, but they might need to go further than that...

goblueram

November 29th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^

I wouldn't characterize this as selfish, I would call it idiotic.  A selfish motive would include the desire to be as successful as possible, which would help your team.  Titus Young's behavior is just plain dumb, because it is detrimental to his career's success, as well as his team's success.

JohnnyV123

November 29th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^

I'd give him another chance but if he pulls anything like this again get rid of him.

I'm annoyed the Lions keep jeopardizing their chances in games with players acting selfishly. This was such a classless move by Young....

....and then a guy like Suh doesn't understand you don't have to KILL the quarterback when you hit him....just get him down and help the team or go for the ball force a fumble. It's like his one intent is to destroy the QB when he's in there and that's great as long as you do it within the rules.

Part of it on defense I think has to do with Gunther Cunningham. That guy is rough around the edges. Check out footage from Hard Knocks.

WMUgoblue

November 29th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^

He punched a saints player last year in the Sunday night game and was benched the rest of the game, he also headbutted Janoris Jenkins in the season opener against the Rams and was benched as well.

He's had a multitude of chances to redeem himself to his coaches and teammates and continually comes up looking like a punk.

Don

November 29th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^

Are you serious? The fact that the Lions have not yet booted his ass off the team is an indictment of both the head coach and the management. But I would expect nothing less from the nearly 50-year dumpster fire that the Lions have been under William Clay Ford Sr. and Jr.

But really, I can't ultimately blame the Fords. They know that regardless of how crappy the product on the field is, 60,000+ gullible saps will fork over their hard-earned money for each home game. Every few years, after Lions have drafted one or two good players with their string of high draft choices, they'll manage to put together a deceptively promising winning season against an easy schedule, get into the playoffs, and lose in the first round. Like clockwork, the next season's schedule is much more difficult, and the combo of lousy player personnel decisions and mediocre coaching will sink them right back down to the lower levels of their division. And then the cycle repeats itself.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

November 29th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^

By the way, it was also mentioned that Young motioned Tony Scheffler over to a different spot when Scheffler was actually lined up correctly.  Everyone thought when that came out that Young simply didn't know the play.  Very interesting to hear he was probably trying to sabotage Scheffler personally, too.

Young might very well have cost the team the game, as I recall more than a few Stafford passes that went absolutely nowhere and it looked like someone ran the wrong route.  That being the case, fuck that guy.