Detroit Lions football player Dominic Raiola has more than served his time as a member of what has already become a sad-sack franchise that in many ways is undeserving of a loyal and enthusiastic fan base. Detroit is a great sports town and desperately craves a National Football League winner. Sadly, it has been quite some time since the Detroit Lions were NFL significant in a winning way. So, it is no surprise that there has been a lot of venom coming from the local sports media in Detroit as well as the fans toward the franchise. Unfortunately for so many of the football players on the Lions, much of the anger is naturally aimed in their direction. Why would it not be aimed at them? The players are right on the field, the most accessible and the ones we feel we know. But, blaming management of the Detroit Lions for efficiently running this franchise into the grown kamikaze style. Raiola made local, state and national headlines with an obscene gesture directed at fans he felt had crossed the line with their verbal assaults of him and his teammates. To be sure, there is ample frustration that is natural when a team is 0-13 and headed toward a dubious record: being the first team to finish 0-16. Frankly, the Lions have a great shot at this historic mark. But, I would suggest that fans of the Lions spend less time berating the players and more time berating management and hold these individuals responsible. The players are working hard, but the Lions are mostly over matched from a talent standpoint in many of the games they’ve played this season. Twice they could have and perhaps should have beaten Minnesota. But, for the most part, the Lions have really not been very close. The players play, but it is the responsibility of the coaches to put the right people in the right positions. This franchise, from a management standpoint, has proved to be inept in assembling a team. It’s time for a bold change and it’s time to bring in someone with a strong track record of winning championships. Whether it’s Bill Cowher or someone else, the Lions need to bring in someone who demands respect, adds credibility and truly is determined to become a winner. Matt Millen became the laughingstock of front-office management and head coach Rod Marinelli has been only slightly more credible as a coach (factoring in that he is playing with a hand that is not all that great). Detroit needs credible football people with relevant experience and success that can not be disputed making football decisions. Anything short of that continues a disturbing trend of professional football futility.
AP/Yahoo Sports story:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-raiolasgesture&prov=ap&type=lgns
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