Lions GM Bob Quinn has instilled winning culture
By Jack Ozark
Van Noy trade proves things will be done differently under Bob Quinn.
When the Detroit Lions went on a firing spree last season after a dreadful start everybody wondered who could fix this losing franchise. After building off the Millen tree for years, the Lions finally looked elsewhere. Enter Bob Quinn.
Earlier this week Quinn traded away struggling linebacker Kyle Van Noy for a 6th round draft choice to the Patriots. Though this move may look minor, it’s something that the team hasn’t done well as of recent, admitting to their mistake.
This trade is just another way that Quinn shows he knows what he is doing. Van Noy wasn’t going to do anything for this team, and even though he was a 2nd round pick in 2014, getting something for him was a steal. Van Noy never made the impact Detroit hoped for. And the players behind him in Antwione Williams and Josh Bynes are just as good if not better.
This isn’t the first time since Quinn came in that he made a move like this. As the preseason ended the team decided to part ways with Gabe Wright and Caraun Reid. These two young defensive linemen had potential but weren’t getting the job done. It was a move that looked to be risky, but those two were holding valuable roster spots. With them gone, the Lions gained two surprises, Kerry Hyder and Kyrie Thornton.
When the Lions brought Quinn in they hoped he could bring a winning identity to a team that didn’t get one win just a few seasons ago. And he’s already showing why he was a great choice.
It’s a branch of the “Patriots way” that so many teams have wanted to copy for years. In the NFL it’s hard to say goodbye to a player that just hasn’t worked out. Losing out on their potential or getting burned by them someday in the future is scary. Still, for every time that a player like LeGarrette Blount gets cut and becomes a viable player somewhere else, there are hundreds of Roy Williams trades that don’t pan out for the buyer.
It’s hard to deal with, but the best way to get better is moving on. It’s exactly what the best teams in football do. Before last season the Denver Broncos fired John Fox, who was successful with them. Last season they win the Super Bowl. This season the Dallas Cowboys are actually considering going back to Tony Romo. So when they flame out in the end of the season it’s only going to prove this point more.
The future is going to be fun, but when your favorite player has to go because they can’t get it done anymore, just know it’s part of the winning process.