Detroit Lions: The draft is always predicated on free agency
By Robert Jones
As the Detroit Lions and the rest of the NFL prepare for the draft smorgasbord, the importance of the free agency appetizer shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Detroit Lions are at the starting gate ready to do business. Just like all the 29 other teams that don’t get an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl next week.
Once the New England Patriots defeat, I mean, play the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday, the 2018 season will be in the books and it will be time to turn the page. It will be time for the whole league to start the process of trying to improve themselves with dreams of the Super Bowl dancing in their heads.
In a way, we should feel lucky as Lions fans to never have to worry about our offseason concentration being interfered with by playing in the Super Bowl.
If that sounds pathetic, that’s because it is. Unfortunately, that’s the type of spin-doctoring Lions fans do to make themselves feel better about annually being at or near the bottom of the NFL barrel.
For Lions fans, the NFL draft is their Super Bowl. The real deal hasn’t been a reality in the Motor City ever since it’s inception on January 14, 1967, when the Vince Lombardi led Green Bay Packers drubbed the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.
Even in 1991 when the Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the NFC Championship game against the Washington Redskins, they were 14 point underdogs. Which actually would have been a merciful loss compared to the reality of the Redskins trouncing the Lions 41-10.
So while Lions fans spend every offseason plotting and planning for the perfect draft scenario that will ultimately send them to the Super Bowl, it has all been fools gold. This franchise that is the epitome of underachieving just can’t seem to get it right.
But now, despite a disappointing season that didn’t come close to meeting the overblown expectations of Lions fans, maybe general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia can get it right. Maybe…