Detroit Lions: State of the franchise and your fandom
Detroit Lions draft picks, front office, coaching
The Detroit Lions have a good amount of draft picks in the upcoming 2019 NFL Annual Selection Meeting. Although some of the conditions of traded picks are not public, it is likely that the Lions have nine draft picks, but could have as many as ten or as few as eight. Due to the rash of losses, the Lions draft slot is between 7-10, currently.
Bob Quinn brought in his guy as head coach, Matt Patricia, who has had an up-and-down year as a first year HC. Quinn himself is only in year 3, too. For that matter, Martha Firestone Ford, aged 93, has only owned the team for a couple of years, as well.
The Ford’s have been loyal to a fault. That is undeniable. So, it means that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia will get several years together to figure things out before anyone makes an exit.
Many fans have fairly criticized Quinn for saying that the record of former head coach, Jim Caldwell, wasn’t “up to the standards” of he and the Ford family while he’s brought in a coach who will not win 9 games (Caldwell went 9-7 the previous two years).
State of the Franchise
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That’s it. The Lions have limited franchise players to build around, no matter what your opinion is of Stafford. That also includes a Pro-Bowl cornerback, a couple of young players on each side of the ball, and a few support players who are worth keeping. They have some unproven players, too. They have a good amount of draft capital to spend in the upcoming draft.
The Detroit Lions front office is all just a few years into their current jobs. The head coach has had a rocky first year at the helm. The owner has been around the team for a long time but not been the sole decision-maker for the duration.
The franchise has had a historic drought of championships that is even getting mocked on Jeopardy. Infamously, this year marks 61 years since their last NFL Title. The Ford’s didn’t own the team then. The correlation is hard to escape.
As good as the Ford brand has been for the city of Detroit, the Ford’s have been at least as bad to the team and its fans as owners. Detroit Lions fans deserve better, there’s no question.
One playoff win in the Super Bowl era is not only unacceptable, but it’s also downright pathetic. The Lions haven’t even earned a division title since 1993 when the division was called the “Central.”
Does all of that add up to a team that you can support no matter what? If it does, it is more likely that it says something about your determination to see your home team make a comeback than the team’s ability to earn your trust or build a winner.
Next. How many current Wolverines could play for the Lions?. dark
You have two choices, either wait and see what Quinn and Patricia can do together, or stop being a Lions fan. You decide. What did we miss? Leave a comment below!
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