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Measuring current trust in Detroit Lions owner, Martha Firestone Ford

By Michael Kirkland

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Detroit Lions owners Martha Ford on the sidelines prior to the start of the game against the Washington Redskins at Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Detroit Lions owners Martha Ford on the sidelines prior to the start of the game against the Washington Redskins at Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Continuity talk

Ford is doubling down on her assertion that these men can provide long and short-term plans and stability that will earn them more time in charge.

Many have quipped that the Detroit Lions have enjoyed continuity for fairly long periods of time with general manager Russ Thomas (1967-1988), head coach Wayne Fontes (1987-1996), general manager Chuck Schmidt (1989-2000), and president-general manager Matt Millen (2001-2008).

These periods of time netted markedly different results although protracted periods of continuity reigned. The best combination being the Fontes-Schmidt collaboration which happened to also include a certain former Oklahoma State running back drafted in 1989.

Fans have grown impatient with repetitive slogans and statements that yield no division titles or playoff wins. Martha has only been on the job for five years so it is fair to not hold her accountable for previous years. Ford’s rhetoric starting to be dialed back in the wrong direction while still including ticket sales pitches, though, seems to be getting to fans.

Ford’s status quo statement aside, no one has articulated what the road map going forward is although the family did apparently suggest that Patricia make staff changes. The Detroit Lions haven’t specified exactly what is wrong, in fact, they seem to be saying that nothing much was wrong but that it was bad luck or just the way the NFL is to be injured that much.

There’s no attention given to the fact that they tied a three-win Arizona Cardinals team during a pretty healthy first game. The Detroit Lions defense was in the lower half of the league before the injuries piled up, too. Near the trade deadline, the only move was trading away a vocal, defensive leader who was having a down year.

None of that backs up her assertion that the roster is right there, ready to win if only they were healthier. Quinn made moves but they were mostly to find backups for injured players after an early spending spree during the early free agency period.

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