The Lions continue to talk, but say little that’s actually believable

I brought up the cannibalistic tendencies of Chuck Darcy yesterday. But he’s not the only one who’s been speaking. Over the past week, other Detroit Lions have spoken out about one thing or another. Some of it contradictory…

QB in waiting Drew Stanton had kind words for Mike Martz.

"“The big thing is that I learned a lot from Coach Martz … as far as my mechanics are concerned, but also the game itself,” Stanton said. “He’s so knowledgeable, and I remember writing down everything that came out of his mouth.”"

Who knows if Stanton will ever live up to his 2nd round draft status without the direction of a man whose coaching made Kurt Warner and Trent Green wealthy men. I’d like his chances better with Martz, but it was obvious he was a dead coach walking before the 2007 season was over. I hope Stanton kept good notes.

Still, it’s pretty effusive praise regarding a coach who was fired without anyone actually saying the words, “He’s fired” till a good two weeks after he was shown the door. In fact, it’s surprisingly effusive when hearing Tatum Bell was not nearly as happy with the deposed offensive guru when speaking to the Denver media.

"Yeah cause the running back coach [Montgomery] telling me this and that, and then Martz telling me this and that…Obviously they weren’t on the same page…So my thinking is my running back coach probably lying to me the whole time. I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t want to put nobody under the bus. But I know Martz didn’t like nothing about me, so I can blame everything on him."

One thing I’ve learned over the years, is when someone says “I don’t want to put nobody under the bus,” he’s actually throwing someone under the bus. I also enjoy the it’s not my fault I was benched for 11 games comment, “I can blame everything on him.” Now that’s a stand up kind of guy!

With comments like those, is it any wonder no one else in the NFL was lining up to sign Bell, save the running back starved Lions? Despite his awful 2007, Bell gave this tidbit to the Detroit papers…

"Bell said his goal is to run for at least 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns."

Um, yeah… Awful big talk from Bell. Before you get carried away, and actually give him the benefit of the doubt, let me remind you all of something.

The only two Lions to ever exceed 1300 yards rushing in a season were Barry Sanders (9 times) and Billy Sims (twice). For that matter, Sanders is the only back to ever have as many as 15 TD’s in a season (16 in 1991). So we have the benched, blame the coach for doing so Bell on one side, and a 1st ballot hall of famer and another who was well on his way to the hall of fame before suffering a career ending knee injury, on the other.

When I think of Sanders and Sims, I think of game changing backs who were a threat to go all the way every time they touched the ball, from anywhere on the field. No one in their right mind would ever compare Bell to Sanders and Sims, as it’s an insult to the best running backs I ever witnessed with my own eyes. If Bell runs for 1300 yards and 15 TD’s in 2008, I’ll eat my Barry Sanders jersey. Happily, actually.

Two other nuggets from Bell talking to the Detroit beat writers caught my interest. First was Rod Marinelli claiming the offensive coaches desperately wanted Bell back…

"“The offensive staff stood on the table for him,” coach Rod Marinelli said. “They fought. They really wanted him back.”"

…And Bell saying (In so many words) the Lions were basically the only team interested in his services.

"Bell said he talked to the Lions’ coaches once or twice a week. He still tested the market. Other teams showed interest but apparently backed off. The Lions made the best offer — one year, $1.6 million."

So the Lions offensive coaches, whom have a fraction of the reputation of Mike Martz, the immortal Kippy Brown and Jim Colletto, HAD TO HAVE TATUM BELL, while the rest of the NFL has little to no interest in him. Hmmm…Who would you tend to believe? Mike Martz and the entire NFL, or Kippy!?

‘Nuff said.