Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Response: Lions v. Knicks

Blake, at the end of your post about the Lions and Knicks you concluded that the Lions were in worse shape since Thomas will no doubt be fired at the end of this year. I have to disagree and here is why: Guaranteed contracts. The NBA has them and the NFL doesn't. All those bad contracts you listed are stuck with the Knicks until they expire; with the Lions' bad contracts can simply be cut (however, you still lose the signing bonus).

As bad as Matt Millen has been for the Lions, his mistakes can be rectified by a competent executive and intelligent coach in a single season. Last year the Saints were down right terrible. In one off-season they have completely turned themselves around and are arguably the best team in the NFC. As bad as the Lions are right now, this same turnaround can be made as early as next season. Remember, for good or bad, parity rules the NFL.

With ever new news story on Matt Millen it appears more and more likely that he, like Isaiah Thomas, will be let go at the end of this season. While the Knicks will still be coping with the aftermath of the abortion that is the Isaiah Thomas Era, the Lions will be well on the road to recovery. So all you Lions fans out there, rejoice! Because the NFLPA does a lousy job negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, your team is closer to respectability than you may think.

~Travis~

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Valid points. However, I think in football, more than perhaps other sports, pride comes into play a lot. I don't think the Lions in general will just cut loose all of their "mistakes" some of these guys they really are stuck with.

Anonymous said...

By the way, Matt Millen looks like a demon in that picture.

Anonymous said...

William Clay Ford needs to sell the Lions and someone needs to restore the pride to the team.
Ford is just thumbing his nose at the fans along with Millan.
Neither of them care what the fans are complaining about as long as they are stupid enough to still go out and buy tickets.
Until fans stop buying seats and quit watching them on T.V., Ford , etal will laugh all the way to the bank!

Tim Fry said...

One thing to remember about the Lions - they were incredibly mismanaged before they brought Millen in. Tons of mediocrity and a lack of a plan by the Fords. I remember thinking Millen was the savior of the franchise, he would have a plan. Clearly that didn't work out. He will soon be fired. But I see no reason to be optimistic about the next guy.

At least the Knicks have a city that won't put up with it and a team competing near by to force a change. Detroit frankly does not have that competition. I am afraid that it will be a long time before the Lions amount to anything.