Lions Ownership Discussing Firing Jim Schwartz
December 30th, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^
How many billionaires do you think there are in Detroit these days? If that team gets sold, it's going to Los Angeles.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^
lol @ the Lions moving.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
Yes. For the love of everything. Get us new owners. The Fords are the most incompetent family in the world. I wish I could be a completely stupid billionaire simply because my great grandpa was a genius.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^
Obviously William Clay Ford Sr. hasn't been a good owner but you could give his son a chance.
December 30th, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^
His son who they tried to put in charge of Ford Motor and quickly realized that he had no idea what he's doing, and sent him back to play with his father's real life train set that is the Lions?
December 31st, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^
A gross exaggeration of what happened. Bill Ford Jr. had a lot of really solid ideas for Ford that were way ahead of their time (like developing hybrids and getting into the public transportation business). Ford was in a shit spiral and bringing in a first time CEO was probably a really, really awful idea. And Ford himself stood aside in favor of someone with more experience.
The guy's an MIT grad, I'm pretty sure he can figure what it takes to get an NFL team running smoothly.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
Yeah having the DeVoses own a sports team is an awesome idea. Amway logos on the jerseys, just exactly what I want associated with my state.
December 30th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
*cough*ORLANDOMAGIC*cough*
December 31st, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 1:33 PM ^
This isn't based on anything tangible. All of the wealth and power in this state are firmly entrenched in Oakland County, and everywhere outside of Detroit itself in the Detroit area posted growth at the last census. Grand Rapdisites can keep on dreaming, but odds are much better that Southeastern Michigan continues it's evolution into a polycentric urban area ala the Ruhr area of Germany.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
From the OP: "Mayhew put this roster together, and has to shoulder as much blame as anyone."
Sure about that? The Fords (as others have noted, the common thread in all the dysfunction of the past fifty years) are legendary for their micromanaging. Don't assume that they weren't calling the shots on some of the picks and roster moves. It has happened before (three straight WR as first round picks, etc.).
December 30th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
In a dream world the Ford's would sell to Illitch or someone. At least the Cunningham and Linehan should hit the road. Both are predictable play callers. Schwartz is immature as a coach and his team resembles that.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
Can't. NFL owners are not allowed to own other pro teams if I'm not mistaken.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
Except he said "in a dream world."
December 30th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
Saints owner Tom Benson bought the N.O. Hornets recently. Also, T.B. Bucs owner Malcom Glazer also owns Man U. Not a U.S. pro team, but a pro team nonetheless.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
You are. NFL owners can't own teams in competing NFL markets, but they can own teams in their own markets and in markets without NFL teams (Paul Allen owns the Seahawks and the Trail Blazers, Tom Benson owns the Saints and the Hornets)
December 30th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^
That's a different story... soccer is exempted from ownership restrictions altogether, so any NFL owner can own any soccer team.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
Fuck it. Hire Nick Saban. After he skullfucks Notre Dame, of course.
I don't think Schwartz is going this season. Next year, OTOH, the hot seat is going to burn his asscheeks off.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
Nick Saban+Blank Check=Success. I don't care about his Miami stint, get him here and get him here fast.
This franchise reminds me of the car industry--built in failure to break it and move it somewhere else.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
Nick Saban+Blank Check=Success. I don't care about his Miami stint, get him here and get him here fast.
This franchise reminds me of the car industry--built in failure to break it and move it somewhere else.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
We should hire Nick Saban as our head coach and Chip Kelly as our offensive coordinator.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
if Saban would be on-board w/ Chip Kellys extremely unsafe pace of play.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:33 PM ^
John L. Smith as HC and Charlie Weis as OC. They couldn't do any worse.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:34 PM ^
John L. Smith as HC and Charlie Weis as OC. They couldn't do any worse.
EDIT: Oh, oh. The dreaded double post. Don't know how that happened.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
I put the blame on Schwartz not Mayhew. The Lions have playoff level talent (not Super Bowl talent, mind you). There is no excuse for this team to be 4-11 and the amazing ways that they got to that record are mostly on Schwartz. He has no control over his team.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
I didn't liked Schwartz in the begining, but after last year I came around to thinking that he might actually be the guy to bring the Lions around to respectability. Instead I sit here in Wisconsin and have to watch the Lions choke away another game against the Packers and have to listen to people bitch about the Lions being dirty.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
and see how he reacts. The Fords can afford this now.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
As much as I like this idea, I can't imagine Detroit fans getting behind a former OSU coach. I also can't imagine the MSU component of the Lions fans getting behind Saban.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
I'm afraid your imagination is lacking. Lions fans will approve of Saban or Urban if they win. In fact, why would any Lion fans be unhappy to see Urban ditch OSU after one season? Other than among the small contingent that are also OSU fans I think he would be a popular hire.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
Why not? If he wins, Detroit would be more than happy to have him. Seems to me we had a LB who personified the franchise for years and was a total buckeye from head to toe plus never let anyone forget it. He was loved and still is for his grit and passion.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
if it fucks over OSU, I'm for it.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
I'm imagining your avatar speaking those words, and I like it.
Seriously, I guess you are all right. If Urban would dump the Buckeyes after one year, most Michiganders would embrace it. (The Spartan contingent will still hate Saban forever, or at least until that generation dies.)
December 30th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
In contrast to other years, are the Lions such a laughable product now?
* Have people at skill positions (running game not included)
* Have some pieces on defense (secondary not included)
* continuity in ownership (yeah, I know its the fords)
But compared to other slots that might be opening (NYJ, Cleveland, Jacksonville) and compared to previous years, coaching the Lions might be one of the better jobs out there.
NB: Sure, I'll do it. Sign me up.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Ya I agree it is time to get rid of schwartz, lots of terrible game management and an inability to get this team to the next level with all of our talent says a lot
December 30th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
That franchise hasn't made a wise or proactive decision in 55 years...who honestly believes that they will get this one right?
December 30th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
they drafted Barry and Calvin... and that is it in 55 years
December 30th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
Billy Sims was pretty good, before a knee injury ended his career.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
You are just on a roll here
December 31st, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
December 30th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^