Ford issued a press release after the game that Marty and Tom will be our co-GMs next year.

I swear once Ford dies, they'll come out and admit he was actually "born partially mentally disabled." He's not even attempting to look elsewhere.

LOL

I'll take a wait and see approach to this one. He said he didn't know what capacity the new person would be, that it would depend on their experience.

If he hires Pioli and makes Meyhew the assistant again, fine.

if he hires some new shmuck and lets him be assistant there is a major problem.

This is the same reason that I expect Hot Rod to be retained for next year.

Just as they are not going to pay another coach while they are paying Rod, they don't want to pay a "real" GM while they are still paying Millen.

This sets the stage for more outrageous comedy, I'm really looking forward to the draft.

This sets the stage for more outrageous comedy, I'm really looking forward to the draft.

What colleges are located in Tampa? I'm sure any players from that area already know the Tampa 2...

South Florida is located in Tampa.

You may have a point here. We already have 5 players from Central Florida (Orlando) and 2 players from Florida State. Maybe he figured they are close enough to know the Tampa 2.

That means George Selvie (DE) and Tyrone McKenzie (OLB) are your first round picks.

God, I don't even know where to begin with the Lions.

I thought Rob Parker's question to Marinelli where he asked him if he wished his daughter had hired a better defensive coordinator was hilarious. Howie Long and a couple of the other puppet heads called Parker an idiot and said he doesn't know what he is talking about. I think those guys are the idiots, how can you not see this team has completely given up and the blame is on Marinelli along with the TAMPA players he brought in along with the defensive coordinator he picked.

Why is it that the management of our pathetic lions is kept away from the media. It seems as though every other franchise, there is more accountability and visibility to the executives of other teams. I don't even know if Bill Ford Sr. is still alive, b/c they might just be showing a loop of the same video from 3 years ago, when they zoom in on him at games. I never understood why Millen never had to appear at a press conference, ever. It seems as though the only time the executives from the Lions talk to the media is when they want to and it's only for 8 seconds. Our sports writers need to demand more visibility from Bill Ford, even though he won't give it.

It is so sad that the only way the Lions make ESPN highlights is because they are the worst team in NFL history. It just makes sense to keep the GM and his right hand man that have been here 13 and 8 yrs respectively. I usually don't care this time of year about the Lions b/c of the Pistons, but now all I have going for me is the Red Wings and college football bowl season.


Probably what Joey and every other person with a brain has said to Calvin after the game, "get the hell outta here as soon as your contract is up"

I'll take a wait and see approach to this one. He said he didn't know what capacity the new person would be, that it would depend on their experience.

If he hires Pioli and makes Meyhew the assistant again, fine.

if he hires some new shmuck and lets him be assistant there is a major problem.

The problem is that he's already put unnecessary conditions on anyone he would theoretically hire to run the organization. It could mean that whoever comes in will have to deal with these two and not be able to bring in his guys. That alone might turn off a good prospect who would actually have a shot at turning things around.

Personally though, I think what it really means is that Ford has no real desire to hire a top dog to turn this around. It means that the 0 and 16 camp were absolutely wrong; the Lions and Detroit get to live in NFL infamy and once more be the butt of jokes and stupid analysis around the country and to William Clay Ford Sr. it doesn't mean a damn thing. Even being part of one of the greatest sports failures in history isn't enough to spark the neurons in his brain to fire.

It's infuriating and crushing. I love sports. I love my Detroit teams. I've been going to Lions games since I can remember, my family having seasons tickets. I've never been a conditional fan for any of the teams, whether it was the Dead Things, the teal Pistons or the almost record breaking losing Tigers. I can't stand seeing such a silly little moron with the brain of an 8 year old making sure that rooting for the Lions is a painful experience.

I thought Rob Parker's question to Marinelli where he asked him if he wished his daughter had hired a better defensive coordinator was hilarious. Howie Long and a couple of the other puppet heads called Parker an idiot and said he doesn't know what he is talking about.


This probably isn't the thread for this but the talking heads are right on this; Rob Parker is an absolute idiot. Not just for the line itself or his going after Marinelli. The only thing that ever comes out of his mouth when he takes Joe Dumars dick out of it is stupid nonsensical complaining of all of Detroit's other teams he actually believes is criticism.

Rob Parker has three columns. He has the reasons-we-should-be-patient-with-the-Pistons-during-the-regular-season-it's-all-about-the-playoffs-column. He has the don't-worry-about-the-big-Pistons-playoff-loss-this-team-is-still-the-best column. And then he has the complain (rightly or not) about every other Detroit team column so that he can show he's not biased and that he's a tough sports writer.

I always imagine life with Rob as, "Smack, gurgle, hmmm...hold on Joe I have to finish this non-Pistons column...(other Detroit team) sucks because it always makes stupid decisions...OK Joe, I'm ready...gobble, gurgle, smack..."

I'm hoping the statement is that those 2 will be retained but not in charge or limited roles.

I'm hoping the statement is that those 2 will be retained but not in charge or limited roles.

I like that version of the story too, that way no one loses their jobs or their benefits!

http://gazette.gmu.edu/images/Albom.jpg


Lions lose and for an encore — Ford will stand pat!
BY MITCH ALBOM • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • December 21, 2008

You’ve got to be kidding.

William Clay Ford Sr., with the garbage product he disguises as a football team, actually said he wanted his two-headed front-office team to RETURN next year?

It’s beyond belief, isn’t it?

On a day when the Lions players showed how truly awful they had become, the owner one-upped them in ineptitude. It was like the owner of the Titanic, as the ship was sinking, announcing, “Next I’m gonna build an airplane.”

Ford wins the prize. He is the worst. He is the biggest problem in this franchise and easily the most maddening. The fact he can contemplate returning anybody or anything from what already has tied the worst single-season losing streak in NFL history is incomprehensible.

And yet there he was, telling a Booth Newspapers reporter before Sunday’s 42-7 loss that he wanted Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew back next year, possibly in their roles as chief operating officer and general manager. Those would be the current roles that have led to 0-15.

As for somebody new, somebody who could take total charge — the Bill Parcells-type guru fans have been praying for — Ford said: “Let’s see who’s available and what experience they have and see if they fit in any of our slots.”

What slots? Vice President of Losing? Chairman of Missed Tackles? General Manager of Blown Defenses?

There are no slots here. There is no organization. And nobody great will want to slide in beside Lewand and Mayhew. Mr. Ford, is there something about total failure that you simply can’t see? The place needs to be blown up.

And you first.

A time for bold action
Honestly. People have been waiting months for this hapless leader to say something. Show some direction. As NFL owners go, Ford already is perceived as Fredo in “The Godfather,” a guy with the right last name but little else to justify his power.

Now he proves it. This is the best he can do? Bring those two back?

No offense to Lewand, but he has been here 13 years. No offense to Mayhew, but he has been here eight. Both have been part of a lifeless machine that has sputtered, collapsed and crashed into historic failure. What on Earth qualifies them for next year?

This team needs a total makeover. Everybody out. Truth be told, it needs a new owner — but who can fire an owner? Among Ford’s many faults, the worst is his habit of staying with the wrong people too long. Russ Thomas. Matt Millen. And now, with the blinding glare of becoming the worst team in NFL history, he grasps for the same tilted steering wheel and says, in effect, “stay the course.”

Heck, he wouldn’t even knock Rod Marinelli.

“I’m leaving it open,” Ford said.

I thought that was how the Lions handled opposing receivers. Not how you ran a team.

The wrong side of history
But why expect anything else? On Sunday, the Lions’ utter incompetence was on full display, from men in ties to men in cleats. They began by giving up 60 yards on the opening kickoff, then allowed one Saints touchdown, another Saints touchdown and four more Saints touchdowns. New Orleans never had to punt.

“They’ve been fighting,” Marinelli said of his team. “They didn’t today.”

Right. Why fight today? Why fight when your pride and legacy are on the line? What possible motivation could they have had for playing hard Sunday at Ford Field?

No more pity. The Lions are not victims of cruel fate. They are simply bad. They lack the talent. They lack the coaching. Not to win a title.

To win a single game.

And Ford wants to keep things in place?

Blow it up. Ford has owned this team for 45 years and has one playoff victory. At that pace, he’ll be 118 when he gets another. Lions fans are like dogs jumping for a cat in a tree. The tree always will be tall, so the cat always will be safe. Ford owns the team. It drives you insane.

Perhaps the only answer is in the half-empty stadium Sunday. The games are already blacked out. Money is tight.

Why pay a dollar — or any attention — to this product anymore? The Lions are already the first NFL team to drop 15 of 15 in a season. Any thought that they would wake up from this bad dream before it really came true was silly.

And now, any thought that things will change may have been squashed by the blathering of an owner who, to put it politely, doesn’t have — and never has had — a clue.

Merry freaking Christmas.

I think Mitch needs to calm down a bit (although that's a nice picture of him). All we need to do is put our faith in the Fords to get this turned around. I think they know what they are doing.

Glenn, your sig fits that post perfectly.

He'll probably keep Meyhew as full time GM and bring in a guy like this:


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=jac) personnel chief James "Shack" Harris resigned Tuesday, taking the fall for a franchise that flopped this season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3789799

Sounds like a perfect Ford replacement

Screw Meyhew and Lewand....


Seth Wickersham - ESPN

DETROIT, Dec. 20, 2009 -- After watching Ford Field erupt in celebration, the 65,000 fans cry in joy, the players cry in joy, the new general manager and new coach and old owner cry in joy. The 2009 Detroit Lions, 0-16 a season ago, clinch the NFC North with two weeks to go in the season. It all seems so simple. So smart. So un-Lionlike.

"We just did what the '08 Dolphins did," said Josh McDaniels, the 33-year-old coach of the year shoo-in, especially after Sunday's division-securing 35-12 win over the Green Bay Packers. He's referring, of course, to the Miami Dolphins a season ago, coming off a 1-15 campaign in 2007. Somehow, the Lions have now won 10 games, tying the 1999 Rams for the best one-season turnaround in NFL history.

It seems absurd: 0-16 to division champ. And even more absurd that it's the Lions. But that's the point. The pendulum has a weird way of swinging in the NFL. The 1999 St. Louis Rams and the 2001 New England Patriots won the Super Bowl coming off losing seasons. It swings quickly, as we've learned. During the 2009 season, the Packers had their second straight post-Brett Favre slump. The Bears, old on defense, regressed. The Vikings still haven't figured out their quarterback situation. And somehow, the Lions capitalized.

As we know, the 2008 Lions were beyond listless. They were a chore to watch. Rod Marinelli, a good man who happened to be a lousy head coach, said that if the Lions went winless they'd be the worst team ever, and they proved they were. The team had no quarterback, no offensive line, no pass rush and no foundation of winning since … well, hmm …

Anyway, it was hard to know in January when William Clay Ford plucked Michael Lombardi out of blogging and back into an NFL front office that the move would pay off so quickly. But Lions GM Lombardi, the former Oakland Raiders personnel executive and close friend of Bill Belichick from their Cleveland days, brought a blueprint for success. The first thing he did was hire McDaniels, who'd spent eight years learning under Belichick and was the offensive coordinator on 2007's record-setting team and 2008's gutty, scrappy version. McDaniels might be young, but eight years under Belichick is equal to 60 under Marvin Lewis. Like Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano a year earlier in Miami, the duo brought instant credibility and got the locker room's attention not by theatrics or dropping trou in front of everyone like Mike Singletary, but by wowing the players with football knowledge.

"To be honest, I haven't paid such close attention in a classroom since sex ed," said linebacker Ernie Sims, who's been selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl. "I mean, Coach McDaniels knows his stuff. What's that they say in New England? Wicked smaht? That's him."

Of course, McDaniels couldn't have accomplished this success without his quarterback. Like Miami did with Chad Pennington last year, Detroit signed a heady passer with something to prove: Matt Cassel, the free agent who left New England ticked off at the notion that he's a system quarterback. Throwing to star receiver Calvin Johnson, Cassel, playing for a cap-friendly salary, has completed 63 percent of his passes, with 28 touchdowns and only 14 picks. Tailback Kevin Smith, whose solid 2008 rookie season was lost in the abyss of losing, is averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

"I wasn't the only difference in this team," said Cassel. "You have to give the Cowboys a lot of credit for giving us all this talent."

Oh yeah, we almost forgot the one thing that went the Lions' way in 2008: trading receiver Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for first-, third- and sixth-round picks. Williams has continued to underachieve, while Lombardi used the picks to shore up Detroit's offensive and defensive lines. He traded out of the top pick -- no need to lock up so much guaranteed money in a year with record underclassman turnout -- and got an extra first- and second-rounder next year. His draft class included Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith and second-day defensive tackle Nick Reed from Oregon and defensive end Phillip Hunt from Houston -- all starters.

"Last year, Detroit's linemen were softer than John Mayer," said Lombardi. "We had to make sure they were tougher than the rest." Spoken like a true Jersey guy.

Two hours after the Packers game ended, only one Lion remained in the locker room: tackle Jeff Backus, who was part of Matt Millen's inaugural season. This is the first winning season of his professional career.

"I can't believe I'm headed to the playoffs," he said. "I wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me a year ago that it was going to happen."

Here is an interesting rumor I found; I've been praying something like this happens (although I wish we would have at least waited to talk to Pioli if this is true). This would be one of my next best alternatives, however:

http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=282031&sid=490950c018a780693bdd421dd1d78d19

Parcells can opt out in Miami, and peeps are actually talking about him and the Lions.

Parcells can opt out in Miami, and peeps are actually talking about him and the Lions.

Schwing! or is it shwing? Just picture Wayne doing it.

I believe the Browns, Raiders, and Jets are also interested, in addition to the Li0ns.

Mayhew has been promoted to GM and Lewand to Team President. :(

We can still bring in another talent exec though, like Parcells (Parcells is currently a VP of some sort in Miami).

Terrible. Parcels won't come here to be second fiddle. Neither will Pioli (he already is).

"We" are fucked. Looks like we'll be wasting 5 of the top 83 picks.

Meyhew will bring in his coach, who will probably end up having a huge say in the picks. Unless it's a good coach, he'll want his guys like Rod did to play his specific style and we'll end up passing on better talent.

Stupid Ford Sr.

How is it they are retaining Coletto as OL coach? shouldn't that be up to a new coach?

BTW, Cower told the Browns he's not interested in them.

How is it they are retaining Coletto as OL coach? shouldn't that be up to a new coach?

BTW, Cower told the Browns he's not interested in them.

Because we are a fucked organization. We suck. We don't know how to do shit.

I can't believe that the old son of a bitch would actually promote from within an organization that is so fucking shit filled with shit and more shit. We suck. Our owner sucks. He is full of shit and his brain is made of shit and monkey shit. Fuck him. Fuck Mahew for not firing himself. Fuck Lewand for looking like a piece of shit. They all suck. Fuckin pathetic pieces of shit all of them. They are all shit.

Anyone listening to this presser?

Rod can't believe all the negativity. He thinks everyone should focus on the positive. LOL. When the positive is less than %5 of the equation, what do you expect?

He reminds me of that Stuart Smalley character on SNL. "You're smart enough, and dammit people like you"

Anyone listening to this presser?

Rod can't believe all the negativity. He thinks everyone should focus on the positive. LOL. When the positive is less than %5 of the equation, what do you expect?

He reminds me of that Stuart Smalley character on SNL. "You're smart enough, and dammit people like you"

Doggone it, Chris! Get it right! :mad:

Oh yeah. It's been a long time since I saw that. The one with Jordon was hilarious.

The one with Martin Lawrence (where he calls Stuart a homo) was the best.

I tried to defend Sr here and there, but this sin is unforgivable.

I tried to defend Sr here and there, but this sin is unforgivable.

Seniors have to stick together.

Don't fuck with me this moring Bird Man!

I went to bed thinking that maybe that pos would seriously consider the Big Tuna after GD and Wojo mentioned him, then I wake up with DrRay posting that the piece of shit promoted from within, FROM WITHIN and organization that sucks so fucking bad its hard to describe.

BTW, Cower told the Browns he's not interested in them.


Ahh, best news I've heard all day.

I heard in another report that he's not going anywhere at all though.

That's fine, too.

I just don't want to be forced to dislike him.

If he never coaches again, that will keep that from happening.

This is a disgrace. I'm a Bucs fan now, I have the tenuous connection of my sister living in Tampa and I'm using it.

Nice try Browns fan!

This is a disgrace. I'm a Bucs fan now, I have the tenuous connection of my sister living in Tampa and I'm using it.

Yeah, right, and Grizzly Adams had a beard.

http://cdimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CD&Date=20081230&Category=FREE&ArtNo=812309984&Ref=AR&Profile=1069&maxw=250
Tom Lewand, left, and Martin Mayhew met the media on Tuesday.
Photo credit: Nathan Skid/Crain's Detroit Business

Mayhew will make Lions' football decisions

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALLEN PARK (AP) -- New general manager Martin Mayhew will make all the football decisions for the Detroit Lions.

Mayhew and new president Tom Lewand met the media Tuesday and both said their combined 21 years with the franchise and seeing the mistakes that were made under previous president Matt Millen makes them the best men to turn it around.

Both will report to team owner William Clay Ford.

The team became the first in NFL history to go 0-16 after Sunday's 31-21 loss at Green Bay.

The Lions, who haven't had a winning season since 2000, fired coach Rod Marinelli on Monday after his teams went 10-38 in three years. Lewand said the team hopes to hire a new coach "as expeditiously as possible."

Stop changing my thread titles, Glenn.

Fine, you can change it back to "'Meyhew and Lewand are GMs next year" if you want to.

Changed

This is %100 speculation but here you go:


Tom Kowalski on WDFN: Detroit Lions may tab Philadelphia Eagles' Tom Heckert for personnel position

by Philip Zaroo | MLive.com Tuesday December 30, 2008, 4:06 PM


With the promotion of Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand to general manager and president, the Detroit Lions are looking to fill the personnel department with one more person.
Tom "Killer" Kowalski claims there's no chance the team will pursue someone who wants full control over all organizational matters (i.e., Bill Parcells or Bill Cowher). But the MLive Insider says it's a less-glamorous name who has the inside track right now.
"Right now, if I had to bet on it," Killer tells Art Regner, on WDFN-AM (http://www.wdfn.com/), "I would say it would be Tom Heckert, who is the general manager, right now, of the Eagles. But, he's losing some juice in that organization. They've made some adjustments. He doesn't have the power that he had before.
"And then there are other candidates. But I would think that if Heckert wants to come, and he's able to come, then he would probably be the guy. He's got all the experience and that kind of stuff."

I want Shanahan!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768

I want Mark Dantonio.

I want Mark Dantonio.
More cricket-shit from you?

I have it on good authority that Dantonio is interviewing for every head coaching job in the NFL.

I have it on good authority that Dantonio is interviewing for every head coaching job in the NFL.


Adam Schefter just confirmed it a few min ago.

Hollinger says his odds of getting an NFL job are 1 in 2,000 though.

Did anyone listen to his press conference? Martin Mayhew says you cannot blame him because of his association with Millen, but then turns around in the next sentence and wants praise for working with winners in his past. How is he not being a hypocrite? You can't blame him for associations with losers but you have to give him recognition for working with winners.

Pat Kaputo had a great response when he said, "well Millen also worked with some of those guys and other winners and look what happened".

Yeah, the press conference was a load of politics and BS, duck and cover while trying to tout himself.

He says judge him by his actions, not his history or words.

Although I do hope we develop an organization-wide philosophy like the Steelers' system, as they kept mentioning, I don't really see it happening under Mayhew. I hope I'm wrong.

The press conference was typical Lions bs. The media didn't ask the tough questions, AGAIN. The organization leaders avoided any question. They said they have a philosophy and then didn't go into any detail. Mayhew is a joke.

The best analogy I can think of is if the Lions were a company that went bankrupt and you promoted the assistant to the CEO that ruined the company as the man to fix the company.

The Lions decisions defy all logic. I give up on them.