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Have the Detroit Lions ever really ‘won’ the NFL draft?

By Robert Jones

NEW YORK - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands with Detroit Lions #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands with Detroit Lions #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Lions’ lack of success has led to the fans anticipating the NFL draft like it was the Super Bowl, but have the Lions ever really won the draft?

The long-suffering fans of the Detroit Lions have watched their team fail on the field in every way possible for over six decades. That is why the NFL draft is so big to this fan base.

Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970 which included the beginning of the common draft as we know it today, the Lions haven’t made much noise on the playing field. With three division titles, 13 playoff games and only one postseason win to their name since then, fans of the Honolulu Blue and Silver have known little success.

In 1980 an up and coming cable channel called ‘ESPN’ requested the opportunity to broadcast the NFL draft live. Pete Rozelle who was the NFL commissioner at the time didn’t think it would be very entertaining for fans but agreed to the request.

In 1988, the league moved the draft from being held on weekdays to the weekend and ratings took off. In 2010 the draft took on its current format of turning it into a three-day event by televising the first round in primetime on Thursday night, the second and third rounds on Friday evening and the completion of the draft on Saturday.

The draft is now one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Draft niks from all over tune in to see if their favorite team will select the players of their preference. The joy of ‘victory’ and agony of ‘defeat’ is every bit as applicable for fans watching the draft as it is when their team plays on Sundays.

For Lions fans, the NFL draft is their Super Bowl. This is the opportunity those fans crave to shine in front of the entire world. Their opportunity in ‘win’ on the big stage. But in truth has Detroit ever really ‘won’ the draft?

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