11/05/24
October 13, 2015
Matthew Stafford: the $53m mistake costing the Detroit Lions dearly: The former No1 overall pick has been in decline for years, and has wasted his access to a strong defense and one of the game’s great receivers. Stafford is destined to replace Scott Mitchell in the hearts of Lions fans everywhere, if he hasn't already.
posted by billsaysthis to football at 08:39 AM - 13 comments
As a die hard Lions fan for sixty years I cannot blame the terrible Lions offense solely on Stafford, the Lions have had no running game since Barry Sanders and until last year a defense that couldn't stop anyone. Since Stafford became a Lion they could score (2011 4th highest in the NFL) until last year when the defense won games. The only thing that changed with the offense the last two years was the coaching staff with Lombardi destroying the offense. No Stafford isn't a superstar but Tom Brady couldn't help the Lions with Lombardi running the offense. My beloved Lions will continue to lose but I won't put the blame on Stafford alone, Lombardi has to go.
posted by ic23b at 07:52 PM on October 13, 2015
Oh by the way, no player will ever replace Scott Mitchell as the Lions biggest mistake and to compare Stafford to Mitchell is just wrong.
posted by ic23b at 07:56 PM on October 13, 2015
the Lions biggest mistake
That would be a close vote - may I present: - the hiring of Matt Millen, and not firing the guy until 4 years after it was obvious he had to go. - creating an environment where one of the top 5 running backs ever just decided it was a bad employer to work for and walked away from the game ... in his prime.
I'll vote for the latter.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:37 PM on October 13, 2015
Millen has to be the all time big mistake. And the coaches and draft choices...gawd.
But meanwhile, Jim Caldwell is in the midst of a freaky reenactment of his coaching trajectory with the Colts. Well, the last two years of it anyway.
posted by beaverboard at 11:35 PM on October 13, 2015
Mitchell the biggest player mistake and yes Matt Millen the biggest Lion mistake of all time. Can't stand seeing Millen on TV acting like he knows something about football.
posted by ic23b at 02:25 AM on October 14, 2015
Matt Millen is the Mike Milbury of football.
posted by MeatSaber at 08:18 AM on October 14, 2015
no player will ever replace Scott Mitchell as the Lions biggest mistake
You have to have faith.
posted by yerfatma at 08:37 AM on October 14, 2015
Hey, the Mitchell comparison was from the article not me. I don't even remember Mitchell as a player.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:07 PM on October 14, 2015
I don't even remember Mitchell as a player.
Would you be willing to donate a small unit of blood to help formulate an antitoxin? Think of the suffering. It's for the common good.
posted by beaverboard at 12:50 PM on October 14, 2015
The worst part about the Lions is the apathy that pervades the entire organization.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:37 PM on October 14, 2015
My blood is available for a price, beaverboard.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:41 AM on October 15, 2015
The worst part about the Lions is the apathy that pervades the entire organization.
And, to a certain extent, the fanbase -- "Same old Lions". Failure is anticipated, and even getting hosed in the playoffs last year was met with more of a "Well, it's their own damn fault for letting it be that close" than "We got screwed!"
posted by Etrigan at 03:07 PM on October 15, 2015
Yyyep.
Unless we see an 11-game win streak and more than one game in January, he's done. Hometown boy Connor Cook next year, maybe?