It’s easy to underestimate the hiring of new Lions GM Bob Quinn and the mold he is putting on this franchise.
Though the Lions team has yet to hit the field and win, the environment is quietly being forged into one of dignity, honor and collectivism. In his first interview after being hired as the new GM for Detroit in January, GM Bob Quinn was asked by Lions reporter Tori Petry, “What do Lions fans need to know about your philosophy in running a football franchise?” Quinn’s response: “It’s a consistent building of the football operations, scouting, coaching, training, strength & conditioning….. all those components need to be strong to put a winning team on the field” – (Bob Quinn – 01/11/2016). Though the response may sound cliche to some, the off-season acquisitions and lack of boasting are seeming to coincide with Quinn’s subtle words. The aim for collectivism is clearly evident within this remark which leads to my next point.
The Detroit Lions have never been a collective team.
During the 90’s, Lions fans highly exalted the performance of Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders. The Sanders era led to only one Playoff victory. For the last half-decade, Lions fans have screamed for former Lions WR Calvin Johnson (recent retiree) and former DT Ndamukong Suh (currently with the Miami Dolphins) who through their tenure managed only two post-season berths and no NFC North Divisional titles. Though these big names bring highlight memories to Lions fans worldwide, the lack of team success does not bring honor to the glorious career of the aforementioned players. Perhaps too much individualism within the franchise is what has hindered the Lions from getting a Playoff victory within the last decade. Without a team collective effort, Lions administration has thrived on selling season tickets while true Detroit Lions fans have bathed in the shame of supporting one of the most losing franchises in NFL History. Well after several administrators received their pink slips this off-season, Bob Quinn has come to eradicate all such mediocrity from the Lions organization.
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Bob Quinn brought some close colleagues with him into Detroit including Ron Miles (scout), Harold Nash (strength & conditioning), Kyle O’Brien (director of scouting), and even created a new position for Kevin Anderson as chief of staff just to illustrate how imperative cohesiveness is to a organization. There isn’t a position within the Lions administration that Quinn finds non-essential and in order to forward such humility within the organization he hasn’t hesitated to state boldly that each and every starting position (with the exception of QB Matthew Stafford) is undecided. If the argument is that the Lions will look like an expansion team in 2016 then so be it. At least they’ll be the expansion team more worried about team unity than their perception amongst their opponents. Surely, the demolition and renovation of arguably the most humiliating team to cheer for in the NFL is finally due its revival. Thanks Bob Quinn.
