Detroit Lions most important asset: Matthew Stafford or Matt Patricia?

The Detroit Lions believe they have assembled the foundation of a championship team, but who is their most important asset; Matthew Stafford or Matt Patricia?

The Detroit Lions have opened training camp with a new head coach, new players and new philosophies on both sides of the ball. But the important thing is; Training camp has started.

Ah yes, once again the air is filled with the sweet aroma of training camp. The sounds of pads popping, the smell of sweat and the camaraderie of players running through drills.

Does it get any better than this?

Actually, it does. If your team is the last one celebrating, then it gets a whole lot better. Unfortunately for long-suffering Lions fans, this is a feeling that no one under the age of retirement has any concept of.

Everyone loves training camp because it is the dawn of a new season. Hope springs eternal and every fan feels good about their team until the season opens and many find out just exactly how flawed their squad is.

That is the usual cycle here in Detroit. Happy training camp good feeling that become morose, bitter feelings of anger as we find out just how bad our team is. Remember in 2008 when the Lions went undefeated in the preseason and stirred up the fans? There was optimism around Detroit. Maybe the team was ready to compete?

Four months later we felt like we had been emotionally abused by the worst Lions team in franchise history as they became the first team ever to finish a season 0-16.

When the Cleveland Browns joined the club last season I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, because that was a feeling you pretty much don’t wish upon your worst enemy.

However, the Lions parlayed that abhorrent season into the number one pick which became Matthew Stafford.