Happy New Year from TWFE!

Another year has gone by the books, and we are on the verge of 2008. Jesus, 2008?!

In some ways, I'm sad to see 2007 go, as this was year TWFE began to truly spread it's wings. Especially over the last half of '07, when I realized that I was on to something with TWFE, and made a concerted effort to take the next step with this little blog.

So far, so good! There has been a steady growth in visits and page views, especially over the past 3 months. Visits in 2007 have tripled over 2006.

When I started TWFE 1 year and 362 days ago, I was happy with 1 post a day. Now my goal is 4 posts daily, and I want to increase that as the blog matures. I don't always reach that goal, you can debate the quality of the posts, and trust me, sometimes it isn't easy to write on a slow sports day. But I try to remember one of my favorite quotes, written by Robert Browning...

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”

OK, enough pretentiousness...

When I decided the time had come to do more with TWFE, I also made a conscious choice to keep TWFE as Detroit-centric as possible. There's plenty of excellent blogs where you can get a funny/smart/snide perspective on national stories. That's why I want to keep TWFE first, last, and always, a Detroit blog.

As for TWFE itself, there will be changes as '08 progresses (Things are happening that I can't talk about publicly just yet), but the content will remain the same. Smart assed and snarky!

In closing what has become a state of the blog address, I want to thank every single one of you readers. It means a lot to me that you take a portion of your day to read TWFE!

Now go out and enjoy New Years Eve! It's amateur night out there, so please be careful...

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next year!

Answering the Detroit Lions week 17 "Burning questions"

The Detroit Lions are done for the season. Which means it's time for the final regular season edition of TWFE answering Mike O'Hara's burning questions!

Topics include: Should William Clay Ford's give Millen a "Win or else" ultimatum, how much Mike Martz is to blame, why the defense has gotten a free pass in comparison to the offense, and just how much better are the Lions over last season?

Let's finish off the year with a bang, and light this candle!

Burning questions following the Lions' 34-13 loss to the Packers on Sunday and the end of another failed season:

Q: What should the owner, William Clay Ford, do immediately?

O'Hara: Ford should give everybody this message: last chance.

That means make the playoffs in 2008, or the owner changes everything from the top down. There should be no excuses -- for injuries, poor performance, lack of continuity in the coaching staff or the personnel department.

Whatever it takes to win in 2008, no matter how ruthless decisions must be, it has to be done. And he should say it today -- to everybody in the organization.

Big Al: Ford? Last chance? LAST CHANCE? Get serious, Ford loves Millen too much to ever say such a thing. He would never offend his porn 'stached buddy. Of course, a Glengarry Glen Ross style ultimatum of "Make the playoffs or you're fired!" is exactly what's needed. The Lions front office desperately needs that sort of "Hit the bricks" kick in the ass. Though needed, could you even imagine Ford putting his uber-rich, aged, creaky foot down, and demanding a playoff berth, or else?

Me neither.

Q: Will Ford do that?

O'Hara: He has done it twice in the last 13 seasons, and he should do it again. He did it in 1995, when he had a good team that was not living up to its potential. The Lions were 3-6 and had just been blown out in Atlanta. After the game, Ford held an impromptu press conference and issued an edict for coach Wayne Fontes: If the Lions didn't make the playoffs, Fontes would be fired. The team responded and won seven straight games for a 10-6 record.

And at the end of the 2000 season, when the Lions wasted an 8-4 start and lost the last game of the season to miss the playoffs, Ford made the most sweeping changes since he became owner in 1964. He hired Matt Millen and gave him the authority to run the franchise. Millen cleaned house.

Big Al: No. Next question.

Q: The Lions haven't won in Millen's seven years as president. What difference would it make for Ford to come out so strong?

O'Hara: It shakes people up when the boss puts everyone on notice. Nobody could ask for a more benevolent or supportive owner than Ford. He has written enough big checks without getting a payoff. There's nothing that would carry more weight than Ford putting everybody on notice that they have to win to keep their jobs.

Big Al: Even though Ford's not going to "Come out so strong," if he did, it would eliminate the complacency that has settled within their Allen Park HQ. Maybe the threat of their livelihoods would kick start the Lions front office. Lions personnel have been compensated quite handsomely for very little in the way of results.

You'd think that they'd have a little more pride in their efforts, highly paid or not.

You'd think wrong.

If Millen and his cronies were given the choice of making the playoffs, a set of steak knives, or being fired? Personally, screw the playoffs. Making them would be a total fluke. I hope they get shitcanned. With extreme malice. They can keep the knives...

Q: One person who doesn't need to get the message is Mike Martz, the offensive coordinator. There are reports that he's out after two years. Is it a mistake for the Lions to let him go?

O'Hara: No. The offense is more fun to watch than it used to be in the previous regimes. The plays are better, and they gain more yards, but they haven't won enough games.

Teams that win consistently in the NFL have offenses that can make big throws and tough, short runs. The Lions lack the ability to run. Martz hasn't given the offense any sense of continuity. The lack of a running game after two years is stunning.

Big Al: I was as gung ho as the next guy when Martz was hired. He was the dream hire, the man that would make us forget the "Wet toast" offense of Mooch. I'd seen plenty of "The greatest show on turf," and couldn't wait to see Martz implement his offensive show in Detroit.

Well, we got a show, alright. It blew goats, but it was a show.

Martz deserves to get the ziggy. But the Lions cannot sell his ouster a cure all to what ails them. Marinelli is just as much to blame, as he hired Martz, and allowed him to run his offense without any checks and balances. Marinelli would say every Monday that he wanted to run the ball more. The next Sunday, Martz would ignore the running game. Then the circle would begin again. Just who was in charge?

It's ultimately the head man who needs to be held responsible. In another lifetime, I was a manager, in charge of quite a number of employees. If one of my people screwed the pooch, who would corporate come down on? Me. Because that person was MY responsibility. I trained them, I told them what to do, I was their boss. If they failed to follow orders, violate rules, fuck up in any way, it was MY fault.

Marinelli is Martz's boss. He should be held to a higher level of accountability than his soon to be scapegoated coordinator.

Q: How much blame does the defense get?

O'Hara: Not enough. It's been horrible most of the year, and it looked disorganized against the Packers. Two weeks ago in San Diego, Chargers third-stringer Darren Sproles ran for 122 yards, a career high. Sunday, it was second-stringer Brandon Jackson's turn. He ran for a career-high 113 yards. That should never happen.

Big Al: I agree. Not nearly enough blame has been assigned to Joe Barry and his Tampa 2 defense. His defense is last in the NFL. What else is there to say? Well, I'll try...

The offense is bad, but the defense is beyond awful. Where's the accountability? Donnie Edwards was fired as defensive coordinator at the end of the 2006 season, thanks to the defensive issues. We hear nothing of the same in regard to the status of Marinelli's son-in-law. Why isn't Barry on the chopping block? Do I really need to answer that question?

Again, Marinelli is ultimately responsible for the team's failings, the defense included. It's especially galling when you remember Marinelli was sold to the fanbase and MSM as a defensive guru, a master of the hot Tampa 2 defense, the man who made Warren Sapp an All-Pro.

I've seen none of that from Rod Marinelli. We've been sold a bill of goods.

Q: Overall, are the Lions better with a 7-9 record in 2007 than they were with a 3-13 record in 2006?

O'Hara: Absolutely. But it doesn't matter. They weren't good enough. They were 1-7 in the second half of both seasons, and that's what defined them both years. They had no chance in '06, but they blew their chance this year.

What matters most is that for the eighth straight season, the Lions are out of the playoffs.

It's time for the owner to say that everyone has run out of last chances.

Big Al: Better? Record wise, sure. It was a mirage, nothing but smoke and mirrors, but 7 wins is 7 wins.

But the question everyone asks is if the Lions are any closer to being a playoff team? After the 1-7 finish, the only answer is the Lions are as far from being a playoff team as they've ever been during the Millen era. Thus, I don't expect a playoff berth in 2008, 2009, 2010...

Next season, Millen, Marinelli, along with anyone and everyone associated with the Lions organization need to be working to keep their jobs. Nothing short of making the playoffs should be accepted.

It should be put in black and white by William Clay Ford. A public statement needs to be made that Millen will be held to a "Win or else" ultimatum.

Ford: Make the playoffs, you keep your well compensated jobs. Miss the playoffs, you're fired. That goes for very single member the Lions coaching staff and front office.

As nice as that sounds, I don't expect any sort of "Win now" order being given to Millen. Ford doesn't work that way. Mediocrity is the best we can hope for.

Think of it this way. Of 2nd generation Fords, Henry Ford II was the shit. A total bad ass, a great businessman, a leader of men, he's the Ford brother who took the family company to great heights. Hank the Deuce's brother, William Clay Ford, on the other hand, didn't do shit with FoMoCo. He was lost in the large shadow cast by the charismatic Deuce. William Clay was ultimately shuffled out of the decision making process altogether, and left to play with his toy, the Detroit Lions.

William Clay was/is/always will be known as the mediocre Ford. He was with Ford Motor, and he is with the Lions.

Mediocrity is all he knows...

Above the Fold - Lions post mortem

The NFL season is over in Detroit. The MSM and blogosphere poke at the remains of one of the most disappointing Lions seasons in memory, and find nothing encouraging. Absolutely nothing. The roster is lacking talent, the head coach is looking for a scapegoat, and the front office remains clueless.

2008 will be another season of discontent. Such is out lot as Lions fans...

The Freep's Drew Sharp agrees with me, it's past time to blow the Lions up.

They're worse now than ever.

And that's after a Matt Millen-record seven wins in a single season.

The answer isn't sacrificing the offensive coordinator or writing one-way bus tickets out of town to the malingerers. The solution rests with changing a culture of institutional privilege that owner William Clay Ford Sr. has condoned for four decades. Politics is rewarded more than performance in this organization.

That's why nothing ever changes.

And nothing is going to change. Mike Martz will be martyred, scapegoated, and blamed. He deserves his fair share of the blame, but what ails the Lions runs much deeper than an out of control coordinator. The Lions are rotting from the inside out. Until the core is purged, they'll remain rotten to the core. And as Sharp says, a purge isn't going to happen.

With their A-List columnist hanging out with the Wolverines in Orlando, the News sent the functionally retarded one to cover the Lions. What does it say about your organization when the worst columnist in America is calling for your head, and he's not being contrary in saying so, but speaking the truth? It says that even the mentally incompetent recognize what's wrong, yet the Lions themselves can't, or won't, see the obvious.

Mike Martz shouldn't be the only one asked to leave town.

The Lions also should dump starting quarterback Jon Kitna.

Although there has been no official word on his departure yet, Martz appears to be done as offensive coordinator after two lackluster seasons. The same should be true for Kitna.

Kitna shouldn't be cut because the Lions lost seven of their final eight games -- including Sunday's 34-13 loss to the Packers -- and finished 7-9, below.500 and out of the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

He shouldn't be whacked because he predicted at least 10 victories and that he'd throw 50 touchdowns in Martz's system.

Kitna should be replaced because he's simply not good enough.

If Wobb had listed everyone that needed to be jettisoned from the Lions, it would have taken the entire front page of the sports section.

At Mlive, the Killer claims that several members of the offense disagreed with the philosophy of Mike Martz, and quit on him. Hash words from an insider. If true, it's a damning indictment as to how ingrained the culture of losing is in the Lions locker room.

There was no true universal commitment to what Martz wanted to do, but was it because it was too demanding physically and mentally and the players couldn't handle it? Did the players resist Martz because they really believed it was the wrong approach -- or because they wanted to take the easy way out?

Maybe the players were right and the Lions' offensive failures this season were rooted mostly in a lack of the running game. If that's true, then you've got to give them credit for standing up and making sure changes were made.

Winning football, though, cannot exist in a democracy. Coaches must have total control over the direction of a football team and the players, whether they like it or not, have to be committed to that approach.

Does anyone actually believe that some Lions took a stand against Martz? Considering the very checkered history of the Lions, the players will never get the benefit of the doubt. The thought they just didn't want to dedicate themselves to making the offense work, because it was just too hard, seems much more likely. Why? Because finger pointing, blaming coaches, and quiting on the season is the Lions way.

At the Oakland Press, Pat Caputo blames both Matt Millen and Rod Marinelli for the Lions sad current state of affairs, and in their scapegoating of Martz...

They can claim they have made a major change when, in truth, we all know it is not nearly enough. What is this? Kippy Brown to the rescue. Yippeee!!!

It took six and a half seasons, but the Lions of Matt Millen hit their apex after eight games this year when they compiled a 6-2 record. It appeared, however, that the Lions were living on borrowed time, which proved to be correct as they limped home with a 1-7 finish that has left this town wondering, what's next?

I think Rod Marinelli read up on Wayne Fontes tenure as head coach. Wayne-o would give the ziggy to a coordinator at the end of near every season, buying himself more time with the Fords. It worked long enough for the Big Buck to coach 7 full seasons. God forbid we have 7 full seasons of Marinelli and Millen...

Even with the scapegoating of Martz, it won't make any difference in the Lions future. The Book sees no hope. Talk about depressing...

Millen has no plan. He is running the ultimate fly-by-the-seat-of-his pants operation. As for Marinelli, "The Attitude Card" has been played too often. Just what is he trying to accomplish while piecing together a winning roster? Honestly, that's the more pertinent issue, but it doesn't sound like he has a plan, either.

No plan + no talent + no change in the front office = No hope for Lions fans

Eno joins the "Blow it all up" brigade. He knows it's tiresome to say, but "Fire Millen!" Marinelli should be in hot water too...

Marinelli, in my mind, is writing his own termination papers with the statements he makes. Every time the Lions lose -- and when they lose, they lose BIG -- he confesses to an abject failure in all areas of football: offense, defense, special teams, and worst of all, effort.

"It's on me," is his new favorite comment. It's admirable that he wants to fall on the sword, but sooner or later the person admitting to all this derelict in duty must be shown the door.

Again, not enough. President Matt Millen, clearly, isn't cutting it. If Bill Ford allows Millen to hire a fourth head coach in the face of such a hideous won/loss record, then that surely must be off the charts in terms of continued faith in a front office individual. Only the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, who have somehow kept Elgin Baylor employed for so long, could rival that.

Matt Millen is the worst GM in the history of organized sports. He makes the bumbling Elgin Baylor look like Branch fucking Rickey. Unfortunately for Marinelli, he will always have the stain, much like Moronweg and Mooch, of being associated with the incompetent boob. That's a stain that can NEVER be removed.

Lions Den calls the 17th straight road loss to the Packers "the most painful of all."

The Lions are not finishers. They do not finish blocks, runs, tackles, receptions, nothing. They have disintegrated in all phases of the game as the season as worn on, like the 6-2 start wore them out. The first pass to rookie prize Calvin Johnson he immediately dropped. The coaching staff may be preaching the message, but the Lion congregation is yet to believe. But they remain a big help to their opponents, kind of like the NFL’s version of the Washington Generals or New York Nationals, making everyone who play them look unstoppable.

The Detroit Lions: A bunch of hapless losers who accept their lot in life as clowns and stooges. I like the analogy to the Washington Generals. Which would make William Clay Ford the NFL's version of Red Klotz!

Lionbacker gives a short eulogy on the 2007 season as part of their always through game recap.

Frustrating is an understatement given the Lions 6-2 start and still not able to make the playoffs. Frustrating is being outplayed by the Packers second and third stringers. Frustrating is being a Lions fan!

Another losing season draws to a close, time to start thinking about free agency and the draft again. Happy New Year!

Lionbacker has it right. The Lions Super Bowl, otherwise known as the NFL draft, is only 4 months away!

I'm going to close with those Don Quixotes at Fire Millen, who are in a very melancholy mood, thanks to their futile, quixotic quest to have Millen shitcanned. Even they admit that it may never happen...

The loss yesterday means the seventh straight losing season for the Lions. Those represent the seven seasons Matt Millen has been the GM of our team. This is the third season FireMillen.com has brought to a close, and yet he is still here. I wonder if Millen will ever be fired.

That's "Above the Fold" for Monday, 12-31-07!

Mlive comment of the day

The Mliver's are not happy, not happy at all. Yesterday's loss to the Packers reserves has sent even the most optimistic of Lions fans over the edge.

The optimism of 2 months ago has turned into a mixture rage, hate, disgust, and apathy. On most sites, that's a volatile mix. But on the loopy Milve? Hide the women and children...

The Mliver's have taken a scorched earth policy in regard to the Lions, especially the front office. Blow the organization up, and let God sort 'em out. As you might guess, there are some novel length comments in the Killer's Lions recaps and commentary. But sometimes, the simplest comment is the best comment.

chrisput1024 keeps it simple. One word simple...

Cornbread!!!!!!!!!!!!

That says it all about the Lions.

Before every season, we fans eagerly slurp up the Lions cornbread, and drink the Lions Kool-aid. But we never learn. As always, the cornbread is stale, and the Kool-aid is spoiled. So at the end of every season we have a bad case of Lions indigestion. It's worse than ever today...

Blow it up: Final thoughts on Lions-Packers

First, linkage to the final Detroit Lions live blog of the year. I hope I'm a better man for suffering through the pain that is watching the Lions...

Only 4 torturous quarters left in the season: 1st quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

Is the season over yet? 2nd quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

Just end the season already! 3rd quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

I hate the Lions: 4th quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

1. What else is there to say? We all saw this game. The Packers reserves beat the Lions best, their 1st string. They could have pulled some cheese eating fans off the street corners of Green Bay, and they would have beaten the Lions 1st string. It was THAT bad. The Packers clearly outclassed the Lions in every phase of the game. Remember, I'm talking about the Packers 2nd and 3rd string outclassing the Lions starters.

The Lions are a team that is sorely lacking in talent on both sides of the ball. Yet the same bozo who "built" this team will be in charge of upgrading the roster this offseason. I'm not at all confident that the Lions be able to make any significant changes for 2008. How could you, if you go by Matt Millen's track record in the draft? The Lions 2007 draft class was awful. So was 2006, 2005, 2004...

2. Amazingly, this season is the HIGH WATER mark of the Matt Millen era. 7 wins, with 1 one those wins coming in the final 8 games. Even with that 7-9 record, Millen is now 31-81 as Lions GM. We all know Millen will sell that 7-9 record to William Clay Ford as progress, and the senile old coot will buy it. Ford believes every word that comers out of Millen's porn 'stache covered mouth, and we fans are the worse for it.

The only cure to what ails the Lions is also the most painful one. The team, from ownership on down, through the front office, the coaching staff, and the roster, needs to be blown up. Sky fucking high. Nuked to high heaven. Blown up good, real good. Bombed back into the stone age, where the team can be rebuilt correctly, from scratch. Unfortunately, it'll never happen.

All the names have changed over all these long years, but one. I hate to go there, but nothing will ever change till William Clay Ford passes on. We all know it's true. I know it's horrible to think in those terms, but do you know of any other way the Lions culture of losing will change? It's awful to think that the only chance the team you grew up loving has to win is for the owner to go towards the proverbial light.

3. I said in the final sentences of my live blog that I had more hope at the end of last season than I do now, despite the Lions winning 4 more games. Why?

Rod Marinelli has not impressed me at all. He still commits major gaffes in his in game decision making. He let Mike Martz do whatever he wanted, which was pass the ball 90% of the time, even though Marinelli claimed that the Lions would run the ball more. He then used Martz as a scapegoat. Marinelli talks a good game, and looks like a football coach, but results speak volumes louder than his "pound the rock" words. And his results suck.

The starting QB will be 36 years old in 2008. I'll admit that Kitna is a leader. But he led the Lions to all of 10 wins in 2 seasons. Kitna proved over the final 8 games of 2007 that the only things he's good at is putting up empty stats, and turning the ball over. He's definitely not good enough to take the Lions anywhere other than to hovering around .500.

The backup situation at QB is a joke. No one knows is Drew Stanton will be any good. Even if he is, Stanton is a long way from being NFL ready. From what little we did see him play, we do know that JT O'Sullivan isn't any good. Dan Orlovsky sucks by proxy, as he can't beat out O'Sullivan.

The offensive line needs to be rebuilt, as Kitna ran for his life all season, and Kevin Jones ran nowhere. Speaking of which, Jones had a career threatening, season ending injury for the 2nd time in 2 seasons. He's a question mark for 2008. His backup, TJ Duckett is a free agent, and unlikely to come back. In other words, the running game is in shambles.

The Lions have a solid wide receiving core, but they didn't come close to living up to the pre-season hype. But they are the best unit on the team. Thank goodness for small favors, there's one unit that doesn't need help!

The defensive line, once again, as they are most every season in recent memory, was overrated. Especially Shaun "Buffet destroyer" Rogers, who was nowhere to be found, other than in an all you can eat diner, over the last 8 games. Rogers is so out of shape, the defense literally rests when he's in the game. Ernie Sims is the only linebacker who can make plays on a consistent basis. The rest are mediocre, at best. The defensive backfield is a bigger joke than the backup QB situation.

You look at the Lions' roster, then review the last 8 games, and you come up with the following...

Lions aren't very good, and are likely to get worse. Much worse.

That's why I have less hope than ever.

I hate the Lions: 4th quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

The Packers start the 4th quarter having to punt, Furrey, is back for the Lions. It's a MONSTER! It's over Furrey's head...And it's downed at the 1 yard line. Jesus, that was a 73 yard punt!

The Packers will challenge, claiming Furrey touched the ball, making it 1st down, Packers ball at the 1. I have no idea what they were looking at, but the replays show that it was close, but Furrey didn't touch the punt.

Play stands as called. Thanks for wasting 5 minutes of my life, Green Bay.

The Lions are bunched tight, and Duckett falls forward for maybe a yard.

"NUGGET ALERT!" HUH? I HATE FOX!

Kitna drops back on 2nd down, ALMOST steps on the end line when rolling out, then throws it away. That was close... The Lions say "Fuck it," and just run Duckett off tackle on 3rd down, getting a yard. Miller and Brandstatter are calling out the Lions for pussing out on 3rd down when they are losing by 3 scores.

Brandstatter: "A dive wouldn't have been my choice."

Now the damn Wolverines mouthpiece gets brave, in the final quarter of the season, offering a little criticism towards the Lions. Will wonders ever cease?

That Pack will take over on the Lions 40 after the punt. Let's get this game over...

2 runs, and a Nall completion to a 6th string wide out, have the Pack at the Lions 19.

You can see Nall gaining confidence in his throws. Who wouldn't when playing against the worst defense in the NFL?

It's now 3rd and 9 from the 18. Nall calls a time out. Fuck me. Run clock, you SOB!

The TO does no good, as Ball overthrows his receiver on 3rd down. Crosby will come on for the 38 yard field goal attempt.

It's good. The Pack extend their lead to 34-13, 10 minutes left in the Lions season. 10 minutes too many...

The Lions will start at the 31 after another meh Cason return.

A Kitna to McDonald connection gets 19 yards. FOX tells us that completion has put Kitna over the 4000 yard mark on the season.

He's the 8th QB in NFL history, and the 1st Lion, to have consecutive 4000 yard passing season. He has another record as well. The 2 emptiest 4000 yard seasons in NFL history.

On 2nd and 10 from the Pack 36, Kitna throws towards a double covered Johnson in the end zone, but overthrows EVERYONE.

On a 3rd and 10 pass, the Lions are called for holding. Make it 3rd and 20. False start on Woody, make it 3rd and 25. That's the Li0ns I know and HATE!

Kitna is pressured, dumps a pass to Cason, who DROPS it. Typical Lions. They will have to punt. Can we just punt the entire damn season?

After the kick, the Pack will start at their own 15, will 6:52 left in the season.

Let's hope the Packers run clock. So far, so good, 2 runs have the Pack facing 3rd and 7, with 5:30 left in the season. GO CLOCK!

Ah, Hell. Packers call time. Fuck!

FOX pimps the BCS, the Lions radio homers are talking Patriots. I'm fed up with both broadcasts...

A 3rd down run is short of the 1st, Pack will punt. Under 5 minutes left in this cock punch of a season.

Kitna comes back out as the Lions will start at their own 27. WHY PLAY KITNA? It's well past time to see what Orlovsky or O'Sullivan can do.

We already know what Kitna is capable of doing. He will put up empty stats, and turn the ball over at the most inopportune times. Book it for 2008!

A few Kitna completions have the Lions 1st and 10 at the Packers 46, with 3:50 left. GO CLOCK!

A pair of completions have Detroit to the Green Bay 26, with 3:09 left. GO GO GO CLOCK! RUN RUN RUN CLOCK!

Om 2nd and 10 from the 26, Kitna looks in the end zone for McDonald. He has a couple of steps on the DB, but...you guessed it...Kitna overthrows the receiver....again.

A dropped pass by Duckett have the Lions 4th and 10 at the 26. This may be the last offensive play of the season! We can only hope...

Kitna drops back...It's a dump off to Sean McHugh at the 20, and that's where the drive ends. 5 yards short of the 1st down. How Harrington-esque, you think?

We have the 2 minute warning. I think we can close the book on the Lions season.

They'll finish 7-9, wth a 6-2 first half, and a 1-7 second half. 1 and fucking 7. 1 God damn win in the last 8 games, when the pressure was on. I hate to say it, but I can't think of anything more fitting...What a bunch of gutless wonders.

The Packers are taking a knee. It's all over but the crying. The Packers take a final knee, and the Lions season is mercifully over.

Just blow this team up. I honestly believe that this is the high water mark for this group of Lions. I have no faith in Marinelli, who has only shown that he talks a good game, as he sure as Hell can't coach one. Mike Martz is toast, so there will be a different offense next season. The other coordinator is Marinelli's son-in-law, so he's going nowhere, even though the Lions have the lowest ranked D in the NFL. Tampa 2 my fucking ass.

Let's not even talk about the moron that hired them all. We all know he's not going anywhere...

To be honest, I had more hope at the end of last season, even though they had a much worse record, than I do now.

That's life as a Lions fan. There's no hope. No hope at all.

Just end the season already! 3rd quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

On FOX, they are discussing the fact that the Packers did what they wanted, getting the starters some playing time, and no one getting hurt. The Lions radio guys are talking about brats. That's both teams in a nutshell. The Pack are going to the playoffs, the Lions are a bunch of dogs...

The Pack starts on their 35. It's a handoff to Jackson...He breaks a few tackles...And he's off to the races down the left sideline! Jackson is finally run out of bounds at the Lions 19. Yep, let's mail this fucker in, boys!

Just under 30 minutes to go, and you stiffs can all collect your final checks, and call it a season.

Red zone time. A Jackson run gets 5. Nall drops back...And is snowed under by the Lions rush. Shaun Rogers has made his one play for the day, that's the last we'll hear from him. 3rd and 19.

Nall hits Robinson at the 15, and is brought down. it's 4th down, and the Pack will kick the chippie FG.

Crosby drills it through from 33. Packers extend their lead over those hapless fucks known as the Lions, 24-10.

After the kickoff, and a Lions penalty on the return, the team that crushes all hope in my souls will start at their 17.

Duckett gets 2 off tackle. Now Martz decides to run the ball?

FLAG! Woody with the false start. It's isn't a true Lions game without at least one false start.

A Duckett run leaves a 3rd and 9. Kitna's back, Furrey is open about 15 yards downfield...And Kitna leads him too much, incomplete. Kitna's throws have been UGLY today.

Lions will have to punt...again.

The Pack starts at their 37 after a Harris punt. When you think about it, the only Lions who has been consistently good all season is Nick Harris. Can the punter be team MVP?

The Pack fumbles the snap! Let the refs unpile the bodies...Lions ball at the Packers 39!

Kitna with a deep drop...He's drilled as he throws to a TRIPLE covered McDonald...And the Pack DB DROPS what was a sure interception! Damn, that was an another AWFUL throw by Kitna, he caught a big time break. That should have been pick number 3.

After a couple of incompletions, and a penalty, it's 3rd and 18. Kitna rolls right, running for his life, and hits Johnson right at the stick. 1st down at the 29.

The radio guys made it sound like the play of the fucking season! God damn clueless homers.

A slant to Furrey gets another 1st down at the 19.

On 2nd and 10, Kitna throws ANOTHER pass that's totally up for grabs, as he underthrows a jump ball intended for Johnson...2 Packers have a shot at the pick, but can't hold on! Jesus Christ, Kitna is having a horrific game!

On 3rd down, Kitna continues to suck, as he badly misses an open McDonald in the end zone.

Yep, that's the man Marinelli wants under center, a god fearing QB who would rather proselytize than complete a fucking pass.

Hanson comes on to kick a 38 yard FG. 24-13 Packers.

The Pack will start at their 31. Dan Miller is saying something about the Lions desperately trying to get to 8-8. Jesus, does it make a difference? I want them to LOSE! I HATE having to root against the Lions, in a desperate, futile hope the doddering old coot Ford will shitcan EVERYONE, so the Lions can just start over.

A Packers run, and an incompletion have them facing 3rd and 6. Nall scrambles for the 1st down.

Miller says Nall was "Running like Herman Munster!" To be fair, Miller has to say Kitna is "Throwing like Gilligan!" Maybe the Skipper? Nah, he had a good arm...

On 1st and 10 from the Lions 40, Nall throws high to Robinson...He's pancaked by Alexander! Nall hung his receiver out to dry! 2nd and 10.

On 3rd and 2, the Pack are stuffed on a running play. The Pack are going to go for it!

Nall drops back...Martin is WIDE OPEN at the 5! Fakes out of his jock, Alexander whiffs on the tackle, and Martin scores easily. Touchdown by the Packers 5th string!

It's 31-13 Packers after the PAT. The Lions can't even stop the Packers reserves. Pitiful.

FOX shows another replay of the Pack TD, and show that Shaun Rogers was 10 yards back in coverage. Why do you have a 400 nose tackle back in coverage?

FOX spends the next 2 minutes making fun of Rogers weight. GOOD! The fat ass SOB...

After the kickoff, the Lions complete a couple of passes, somehow find themselves in Packer territory. Can you tell I'm losing interest?

On 2nd and 10 from the Packers 47, Kitna drops back...BLITZ! Kitna unloads the ball 15 yards out of bounds...FLAG! Intentional grounding, as he was still in the pocket when he threw the ball away. Make it 3rd and 20.

Kitna is rushed heavily on 3rd down,and has to roll out and throw the ball away...again.

The Pack will start inside their own 20 after the punt.

Miller is going off on the Lions radio broadcast, as a Jackson run that should have been stopped for no gain, instead gets 9 as the Lions miss a couple of tackles. Wow, a little criticism from the homers!

The quarter ends as Nall fumbles, then recovers, the snap on 3rd down.

31-13 Packers after 3. Holy mackerel, the season is almost over! Thank fucking God!

Is the season over yet? 2nd quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

The Pack start with a short pass over the middle, that leaves a 3rd and 3 from the 4.

On 2nd down, Favre drops...Pressured...Rolls right...And finds a wide open Bubba Franks standing at the goal line, as 3 Lions defenders are...are..Well, they sure as Hell aren't defending. They were just sort of standing around Franks. Another EASY drive for the Pack.

With the kick, it's 21-3 Green Bay.

Disgusting performance by the Lions. Moose is speculating that may the the last we see of the Packers starters. For the love of GOD, I hope so. I've had more than my fill of Favre love today. Though you can't deny he's played damn well.

Moose: "Detroit has shown no signs, no signs, of being competitive." Damn straight.

A pass to Duckett has the Lions in Packers territory. Cason running left gets another 1st down. A Kitna to Johsnon pass gets 6. Cason gets 3 off tackle. It's 3rd and a 1 from the Pack 24. Good drive so far, not that it means a fucking thing.

Kitna drops back...This time it's Johnson with a step on the DB in the end zone! And Kitna OVERTHROWS HIM! The 2nd time today Kitna has misfired on a sure TD. Yep, that's the QB Marinelli wants under center...

The Lions go for it on 4th down, and Duckett falls forward to convert. woo.

On 2nd and 6 from the Pack 19, Kitna drops back, throws...TIPPED at the line...PICK! Williams is run out of bounds by Kitna at the Packers 34. Christ almighty, this game SUCKS!

Why does Marinelli insist on playing Kitna in a game that means bubkis? We know what he can do. We have NO IDEA what Dan Orlovsky can do. Today would have been a good day to find out, but NOOOOO. Marinelli is playing for today, rather than the future. Thing is, today means shit, all they have is the future....

I'm not even all that pissed off, as I've accepted the fact the Lions blow goats, and no amount of bitching is going to change anything. Anything at all.

The Pack have called it a day, as 3rd string QB Craig Nall is in the game. He leads the Pack to a quick 3 and out. The Lions only shot at getting back in the game is the Packers packing it in, and it appears they've done just that...

Lions start at the 28 after the punt. 2 incompletions later, it's 3rd and 10. Kitna rolls right, is pressured...And misses Middleton badly. Whatever, it would have been short of the marker, anyway. 4th down.

The Pack will start at their 36 after the Harris punt.

Christ, the Lions can't even stop the Pack's 2nd string running back, as Jackson gets 8 on 1st down, and 5 more to get the 1st. Why am I doing this?

The Lions get penetration on 1st down, and stuff Jackson for a loss. a 2nd down pass to Franks bounces to him, it's 3rd and 12 from the 46. Nall is 0-3 through the air.

Nsll gets his 1st completion on a screen, but it's stopped 4 yards short of the 1st down. This game is going to be a snoozer from here on out, I'm afraid.

The Lions will start DEEP in their own territory, as the Pack down the punt at the 6. Duckett gets 4 yards on 2 rushed up the gut. A little more than 4:00 left in the half. It can't end soon enough.

Kitna drops back on 3rd down, throws a jump ball for Johnson down the sideline...He brings it down at the 37! Where has that been all fucking season?!

It's a McDonald end around, the Pack sniff it out, and blow it up. But they are also called for a personal foul, so tack on 15. I have no idea what happened, FOX has no replay of the penalty. Anyway, the Lions are at the Pack 46.

On 2nd and 10, Kitna leaves Furry hung out to dry, leading him to much on a short pass, but the Packer DB shows pity, and lets up, rather than decapitate him. Furry holds on for a short gain.

It's Kitna to Furrey again, as the catch is made at the Packers 30. 2 minute warning! ALRIGHT! I wish someone would have warned me as to how damn painful this season was going to be!

After the break, the Lions start with..Yep, you got it, a pass! But it works this time, as McDonald is WIDE open at the 10, and runs to the corner of the end zone. Touchdown Lions. The Pack blew an assignment, as no one covered McDonald.

21-10 Packers after the Hanson kick. As I used to say when I was 10, big whoop.

The Pack will start at their 23. 1:44 left in the half. Run clock, run clock!!! PLEASE! Get this game over with, pronto!

The Pack listen to my pleas, as they call an off tackle run. But the Lions call their 2nd time out, the fuckers.

Another off tackle run gets 2, and the God damn Lions stretch out the agony by calling their final time out. Come on Packers, get the 1st down so you can run out the clock! GO PACKERS!

YES! The 3rd string QB hits the Pack's 4th string tight end for the 1st down. Less than a minute left, the Lions can't stop the clock. Finally...

2 Packer runs do the trick, and polish off the clock. The 1st half mercifully comes to an end, with Green Bay leading, 21-10.

Well, that half sucked balls. If the Packers hadn't willfully let off the throttle, and began resting players for their playoff game, they'd be leading 35-3, instead of 21-10.

Only 4 torturous quarters left in the season: 1st quarter Lions-Packers thoughts

The NFL season is 3 hours away from ending for the Detroit Lions. 3 excruciating hours.

The Lions were exposed as frauds by their road game ineptitude, so it's quite fitting that their most disappointing season since 2000 ends on the road, against a team they haven't beaten in their own stadium in 16 seasons. Even with the Pack having nothing to play for, I don't expect the road losing streak to end today.

We are watching live the always frozen tundra at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. We are joined by the FOX C-team of Kenny Albert, Moose Johnston, and sideline reporter personality, who's only notable accomplishment is being a fat guy on a Super Bowl winning team, Tony Siragusa.

As Mike Martz is a dead coordinator walking, I'm curious as to how he calls today's game. Will he go out in a blaze of glory, having Jon Kitna throw the ball 60 times? We shall see...

Holy SHIT! Avieon Cason takes the kickoff, rumbles 52 yards, only brought down by a illegal trip! With the tripping penalty tacked on, the Lions start at the Pack 32! I didn't see that coming.

On 2nd and 9, it's CASON(?) catching a swing pass, getting a 1st down at the Packers 20! Cason will see plenty of time, with Tatum Bell, despite the season ending injury to Kevin Jones, being deactivated. Bell's bags are already packed. He can't get out of the D quick enough...

2 TJ Duckett runs leave the Lions 3rd and long. Kitna drops back...Furry has a step on the DB in the end zone...And is overthrown! Bad throw by Kitna, who had plenty of time.

Jason Hanson comes on, lines up for a 35 yard chip shot FG attempt. It's good! 3-0 Lions over the Packers on the frozen tundra.

The Pack will start at their own 39 to start their 1st drive. On 2nd and 5, Favre rolls right...There's no Lion within 20 yards of him...And Favre strolls 19 yards into Lions territory. The aged Favre is running wild! Boy howdy, were the Lions fished in on the misdirection.

On 2nd and 4 from the Lion 28, it's a handoff to Ryan Grant...He cuts back...And is UNTOUCHED as he glides into the end zone. That 4 play drive couldn't have been easier for the Pack. The Lions D was nowhere to be found.

After the PAT, it's 7-3, the playoff bound Packers lead the Motor City Kitties.

HUH? The Pack tries an onsides kick? What the fuck? the Lions easily recover, and will start at the Pack 45. Strange call for such a meaningless game.

2 Duckett runs have the Lions facing 3rd and 3. Albert is going on about Marinelli wanting EFFORT, while the Lions are showing little.

Kitna drops back...Calvin Johnson is wide open on a crossing pattern, and DROPS the fucking ball. That would have been a 1st down! CJ has been disappointing, to say the very least. Remember the talk of his winning rookie of the year?

Moose is busy making excuses for him from the broadcast booth. "Lions fans haven't seen the real Calvin Johnson!" We better not have, or the Lions are FUCKED.

Nice play by Mike Furrey to down the punt at the Packer 3 yard line. Hey, at least one guy showed up.

2 Grant runs have the Pack facing 3rd and 6. And the Lions have to call a time out for not having aenough men on the field. It's the last game of the season, and they still don't have stuff like who's supposed to be in on a certain formation down? Says a lot about Marinelli.

On 3rd down, Grant has a hole big enough for Siragusa to run through, getting 20 yards! So much for Ernie Sims saying they were going to keep Grant from getting a 1000 yard season! He's has more than half the 101 yards he needs in the 1st 10 minutes of the game!

Favre fades back...And hits MIA Bubba Franks for 24 yards! The Lions are mailing this one in so far.

2 incompetions have the Pack 3rd and 10 at the Lions 49. A stop would be nice...

Not gonna happen, as a swing pass to a back gets 12, and the 1st down. Then a Favre pass to Koren Robinson has the Packers at the Lions 16.

1st and 10, FLAG! Lions are offsides. Figures. 1st and 5 from the 11. I expect a Packers TD.

A Favre to Jones pass gets the Pack another 1st down. Word from the bench says Grant has a stingers, and may not be back. He may not get his 1000 yards after all.

On 1st and goal, Favre with a 3 step drop...Robinson is wide open in the end zone. Touchdown Packers.

After the PAT, it's 14-3 Pack. The Lions are once again playing like utter shit on the road. How can anyone say the Lions are improved, despite the 7 wins, when they are getting blown out in the 1st half of road games?

Lions will start at their 27 after more typical Cason return.

Martz has abandoned the running game, has he has Kitna looking deep on 1st down...He looks for CJ down the middle...PICK at the Lions 41! Awful pass. Just awful. Play Orlovsky! Play O'Sullivan! Play ANYONE ELSE!

An end around, and a Brandon Jackson run have the Pack at the Lions 24. A screen to Jackson gets 13 more yards. This is just too fucking easy. 1st and 10 at the 11.

The quarter ends on a Jackson 1 yard run. Thank fucking God.

After 1 quarter, the Packers have dominated the Lions in every phase of the game. For all the talk from Marinelli about "Every down" and "Pounding the rock," his team knows this game means dick, and are playing like it.

14-3 Packers over the Lions.

So much for the Mike Martz experience...

Word comes from the LA Times tonight that Mike "Running game? What's a running game?" Martz, as expected, is out as Lions offensive coordinator after tomorrow's Packers game. Why the LA Times? Because Martz may be taking the advice of Horace Greeely seriously. That being "Go west, young man."

But Martz may not be out of a job long. San Francisco is expected to pursue him to take over for offensive coordinator Jim Hostler. Martz, who coached the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl in 2001, appeals to the 49ers because of his familiarity with the NFC West and his ability to develop quarterbacks, as he has done with Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Jon Kitna.

Martz might as well call himself Paladin, and hand out business cards that say, "Have passing game, will travel."

Not that it's going to make any difference, now that Martz has all but one foot out the door, the Killer believes current receivers coach Kippy Brown will be promoted to take Martz's place. Between you and me, I wouldn't trust anything, especially an NFL offense, run by someone named Kippy.

Looking back, if one thing can be gleaned from 2 seasons of watching a Mike Martz run offense, it's that Martz isn't exactly a genius, and it's the players make the scheme, not vice versa. You want to know the main reason why Martz failed miserably in Detroit? Jon Kitna, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, and Kevin Jones aren't Kurt Warner, Issac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Marshall Faulk.

Without that all-pro talent, the "Greatest show on turf" never made an appearance in Detroit. Not that Martz didn't try, with his picking up any and every former Ram that hit free agency and the waiver wire. Turned out that Az-Akim isn't Torry Holt either...

So what is the final verdict on Mike Martz's 2 seasons of running the Lions offense?

Put a sock in it, Sims

Despite their 1-6 record in the second half of the season, the Detroit Lions continue to write checks their asses can't cash...

For the Lions' defense, there’s a chance to keep Packers running back Ryan Grant under 1,000 yards rushing — a major goal for the Packers’ offensive line.

Grant took over as the Packers’ top running back in the seventh game of the season, and needs 101 yards on Sunday to hit 1,000 for the season.

“We’re definitely going to make sure it doesn’t happen,” linebacker Ernie Sims said. “We feel like it’s all on our shoulders for him not to get that 1,000 yards. Whatever it takes, that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Is that a guarantee? From the tone of Sims' comments, it sure sounds like one.

Will the Lions EVER learn? I've never heard a team that talks such a big game, yet continually fails to back it up. Fails miserably...

The Lions have had big ass mouths for decades. From Jimmy Allen's "Another One Bites the Dust," to Lomas Brown's guaranteeing a playoff win over the Eagles, to Roy Williams' claiming the offense will score 40 points a game, to Jon Kitna's predicting a 10 wins season, the Lions have made a habit of talking big. Too big for them to back up what's spewing out of their pie holes...

Now you can add Sims' boast to that sad list. The only thing I'd bet on stopping Grant from reaching 1000 yards against the Lions is the Packers taking him out of the game because it doesn't mean a damn thing. They are locked into their 2nd playoff seed, and have absolutely nothing to play for, other than personal accomplishments. Well, there's that, and beating the Lions for what feels like the 100th consecutive time at Lambeau Field.

When it comes to the Lions and their boasts, predictions, and guarantees, a certain Mark Twain quote comes to mind...

It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, than to open it and remove all doubt.

With the Lions, there is no doubt at all.

Mlive comment of the day

If you are looking for cheap entertainment, it doesn't get much better than perusing the comments at Mlive. Killer Kowalski's articles get the most attention from the crazy ass Mliver's, and today is no exception.

In the Killer's piece about Mike Martz's future, or should I say, the lack thereof, the aptly named LionCrap isn't happy that Martz is a dead coordinator walking. He likes the pass first, last and always, running game be damned, offense. His use of multiple exclamation points, and a plaintive cry to TOM! shows LC's intense frustration with the Lions...

Figures! Our Defense sucks so we run our offensive coordinator out of town. I like pass-happy it's fun to watch and on any given play it could be a touchdown. We don't run the ball because Kevin Jones SUCKS!!!!! HE BLOWS!!!! Why does all the media in this town love KJ????!!! TOM!

Fun to watch? This offense has been FUN TO WATCH!!!??? Dude, are we watching the same games?

As for Kevin Jones, the only time the Lions offense became truly effective were in the games that Jones was running the ball well. Don't you think that it's somewhat out of line to blame a running back for the offense's woes when he touches the ball all of 7 times a game? Jones may not be an ALL PRO!!!, but he doesn't SUCK!!!! TOM!

I'm a member of the Gus Johnson Cult

Hat tip goes to Detroit Bad Boys for pointing this out this wonderful news!

Pistons play by play man George Blaha is in Orlando this afternoon to work his Sparty gig, and call the Champs Sports bowl game. So he'll be unable to work tonight's Pistons - Pacers game. As much as I'll miss the legendary Blaha on tonight's broadcast, the Pistons have replaced him with...Mr. NCAA tournament....GUS JOHNSON!

Yes, THE Gus Johnson! The man who literally owns March Madness, the favorite son of Awful Announcing, who brokered peace between the warring Bill Simmons and Isiah Thomas, who could make a meaningless Lions game sound like a Super Bowl, will be broadcasting from the Palace tonight.

Yes, you can count yours truly as a member of the Cult of Gus Johnson. I became a huge fan thanks to his thrilling NCAA tournament calls, and now make a point to catch a Gus Johnson called game whenever possible. He's that good.

Yet CBS doesn't treat Johsnon with the respect he deserves. CBS committed a criminal act in replacing Gus with the AWFUL play by play of James Brown for the 2007 sweet sixteen. In my book, that's an unforgivable offense. In a perfect world, Gus Johnson would be calling the NCAA Final Four. Hell, he'd be calling all the big games...

I'm fond of saying that the world needs more Gus Johnson. Here's a few clips as to why...

Gus talking about the NCAA tournament game that brought him to national prominence, the 1996 Princeton upset over UCLA.



"The slipper still fits!" Gus' call of Gonzaga's 1999 upset over Florida.



"Batista with the CAAAATCH!" The final seconds of UCLA knocking off the Zags in the 2006 NCAA's.



Just listening to Gus Johnson's late game calls puts a huge smile on my face. We should be so lucky to hear another of Gus' great buzzer beater calls tonight.

You can't discuss the future when you don't have one

The Lions beat writers are all reporting in their respective fishwraps that Mike Martz "remains mum" and "won't discuss future with Lions."

“Well, maybe we’ll talk after the season. Who knows? Don’t worry about that stuff, guys. Let’s just concentrate on beating the Packers right now.”

And that's actually a surprise? The man is supposed to be a genius. At the very least, he's no dummy. So Martz knows, as Hawk Harrelson would say, "He gone." To talk about anything other than this Sunday's game against the Packers is a waste of breath.

You want me to stay, Kitna?! You want to throw for 5000 yards next season?!
DO YOU?! THEN PRAY! Pray to your GOD to SMITE Marinelli!

If FOX wants a storyline for the game that doesn't revolve around Brett Favre (A pipe dream, I know), may I suggest...

Mike Martz, dead coordinator walking.

I'm sick and tired

I'm sick and tired. Mostly in thanks to my body clock still running on Pacific time, and managing to catch a cold while in Vegas. But that's not the only reason I'm sick and tired. I'm sick and tired of a lot of things.

I'm especially sick and tired of certain memes and stereotypes that continually pop up when I read about the Detroit sports scene. Such as...

1. Jokes about Matt Millen drafting wide receivers.

They were once funny...4 years ago. Now it's just an uncreative, lazy, cheap shot. I'm not saying that Millen doesn't deserve every possible cheap shot you can throw at him, as he does, but let's move the fuck on, OK?

There's plenty of other material to rip Millen about, from the awful Dre' Bly trade, to the drafting of Drew Stanton at the expense of strengthening the defense, to his 70's porn 'stache, to his horrific W-L record as GM. I'm calling for a moratorium on Millen/wide receiver jokes.* I'm begging you, this is one horse that is truly beat to death.

*Unless he drafts another wide out in the 2008 NFL draft, then all bets are off.

2. Drew Sharp's Big 10 bashing.

I know that the Big 10 is down. Has been for a couple of seasons. I have nothing against calling out the Big 10 when it's deserved, and believe me, it's often deserved. But Sharp's ludicrous Big 10 hatred is has become absolutely irrational, to the point of stupidity. His asinine column in today's Freep pushed me over the edge.

They could have removed the schools' names and just put the score "Big Ten 41, Mid-American Conference 41" up there because that's what everybody really saw.

As much as the Big Ten loves getting another bowl payday to fatten its already bloated coffers, the conference has always understood the potential risk of embarrassment should it lose to a non-BCS conference opponent in a bowl game.

And hasn't the conference's reputation suffered enough this season?

The Big Ten can only breathe a small sigh of relief.

The Boilermakers barely won the game as time expired, but it was the little MAC that ultimately proved victorious.

First off, in the big scheme of things, the Motor City Bowl is a meaningless game, especially for the Boilermakers. Think they were fired up to play in Detroit? In late December? Against a team they had already beaten earlier this season? Me neither. And just how were the MAC and Chips victorious? They lost the game. A game most folks will forget ever happened a month from now. In fact, I don't believe CMU thought taking Purdue to the final gun was a moral victory, if that is what Sharp was implying. That's giving CMU too little credit.

Sharp shouldn't be surprised that the 7th place Big 10 team, in what was the worst Big 10 season in recent memory, struggled to beat the CHAMPIONS of the Mid-American Conference. Metro Detroit is dead center in MAC country, and we've seen enough of those teams to know that elite MAC squads can play with many BCS conference schools. Especially mid to lower level ones. It's fair to say that Purdue is exactly that, for this season anyway, a mid to lower level BCS team.

Sharp's claim that the Big 10 and the Boilermakers should be embarrassed is actually an huge insult to the Mid-American Conference and the Chippewas. Purdue beat a solid team, not some bottom feeder. It was one Hell of a game, and why not leave it at that?

All I can say about Sharp's irrational need to trash the Big 10 at EVERY opportunity is this...Put a God damn sock in it, Sharp! He's bitched so often, for so long, his Big 10 commentary has become nothing more than white fucking noise.

3. Using old Detroit stereotypes in lame attempts at humor.

I highly respect Every Day Should Be Saturday. I read it every day. It may be is the best and funniest college sports blog around. But we all know that humor is hard, and Orson Swindle took the easy way out writing about the Motor City Bowl yesterday. In posting the infamous picture of the late Bubba Helms holding up a Tigers pennant front of a burning cop car from the 1984 World Series, EDSBS went for the obvious joke, the easy joke, the unfunny joke. You know the one...



What bothered me is that I expect better from EDSBS. Something more creative than dissing the Motor City Bowl because...Well, because it's in Detroit.

We Michiganders can joke about Detroit stereotypes because we know the vast majority are no longer true.

Hell, I lived within Detroit city limits for a decade, and I never saw anything burn...Nearby. //rimshot// I didn't hear gunshots every day...Only every other day. //rimshot//

Truthfully, I love the city of Detroit. It's far from perfect, but it does not deserve near the amount of shit it gets from outsiders.

I've said it before, falling back on easy stereotypes are the refuge of a hack. Anyone that's not from here, when going for the easy, cheap laugh, will always go for the "Detroit will burn" joke. I'm not sure if it was ever funny, but it sure as Hell isn't anymore. Just ask Jimmy Kimmel.

Above the Fold - Want Red Wings coverage? You won't find it in the MSM

The Red Wings do all the right things, yet continue to fly under the Detroit sports radar. I'm guilty as the next guy, as I watched very little of last night's big win over the resurgent Blues. Personally, I'm still in a football mindset. I was totally sucked into the highly entertaining basketball game on field turf that was the Motor City Bowl. Go Chips!

Out of the 4 pro sports teams in town, the Wings are 4th, and falling. For example, it was announced yesterday that the Red Wings signed the best defenseman in hockey, the odds on favorite to win another Norris Trophy, a 1st ballot hall of fame lock, and team captain, the great Niklas Lidstrom, to a 2 year contract extension.

Lidstrom represents all that is right with sports, top 5 in his position all-time, who will rank with the like of Howe, Yzerman, Lindsay, Sawchuck, Abel, and Delvecchio in the pantheon of Wings greats, yet his signing created less buzz in Detroit as the aforementioned Motor City Bowl.

The hot topic on sports talk radio? The Lions. It's always the God damn, soul crushing, Lions. The newspaper coverage wasn't much better.

Obviously, the MSM columnists had better things to (Not) write about. At the Freep, Drew Sharp continued with his tiresome Big 10 bashing. The News' columnists were totally silent. Same for the Oakland Press. Mlive has no columnists, but had nothing special other than their normal coverage from Kahn(!). Save for the great "Snapshots" blog of course, which is always chock full o' link goodness.

The closest thing I could find to an Red Wings/Lidstrom opinion piece in any of the local fishwraps was the the Freep's reprinting of a 6 month old article from Helene St. James recapping Lidstrom's career.

It's a sad state of affairs in regard to the MSM's NHL coverage in Hockeytown.

At least the Red Wings blogosphere stepped up. If you want Red Wings (And the NHL as a whole) coverage, that's the first place you should turn.

There's big doings at Abel to Yzerman Ricci to Garcia. R2G? What happened to A2Y? I know that doesn't make sense till you see the new banner...


Yep, the Wings are playing the Nordalanche tonight, and IwoCPO loves to rile up the what's left of their fanbase. I have to say that I have a hard time getting fired up for the 'Lanche anymore. All the players I loved to hate are long gone. So is the rivalry, sad to say.

On the Wings is prepping us for tonight's game, reminding fans that the Avs are a tough team, even though they aren't what they once were...

The Avs are a young, talented team and will present a stiff test of the Wings’ endurance. Dominik Hasek will have to deal with the second-best net-front player in the League, Ryan Smyth, and will face a deep Colorado offense that is certain to generate strong scoring chances. The Wings will have to be more careful in their own end than they were last night because you know the Avs will be better able to capitalize on turnovers. If they can jump out to an early lead as they did last night, things should go well, but if they fall into a hole, they may have trouble climbing out.

I know the Nordalanche are a solid team, but I still can't get myself worked up into a lather over them. It's not 1997 anymore.

Christy recaps the win over the Blues at Winging it in Motown, a victory that locked up the honor of coaching the Western Conference all-stars for Wings coach Mike Babcock.

With the win, head coach Mike Babcock became the Western Conference coach for the All-Star game next month. No team in the conference can catch Detroit in terms of points by the cutoff date, January 5.

Fittingly, Nicklas Lidstrom scored the game's first goal after his contract extension was just announced earlier in the day. Lidstrom had brought the puck in from the blue line and took a slapshot that beat former Red Wing Manny Legace. Lidstrom scored a goal and notched an assist in just 14 minutes of ice time (he usually averages around 20 minutes). With back-to-back games, Babcock wanted to rest Lidstrom for the tough game against Colorado.

Can Babcock be considered the best coach in Detroit? At worst, he's only behind the Marlboro Man. Babcock's the anti-Dave Lewis, and has brought exactly what the Red Wings needed. That being a kick in the ass, and a whole lot of toughness.

That's "Above the Fold" for Thursday, 12-27-07!

Mlive comment of the day

The Mliver's are up in arms today. (To be honest, they are always up in arms, but whatever...) Why? Two words. Mike Martz.

Today's CotD comes from the Killer's article rehashing the "Will he stay, or will he go?" question regarding Martz's future with the Lions. Jon Kitna chimed in, for better or worse, put his full support behind Martz, and his pass every down scheme.

As you might guess, the loopy Mliver's feelings are mixed on the subject of Martz. Many are ready to let him walk. Others say offense is not the problem, it's all about the defense. Of course, there's a big faction that claims nothing will male a difference, that there is no hope at all, while another faction believes any criticism of the Lions means you aren't a true fan.

But one Mliver gets it, osgood. (Chris? We can only hope.) Along with being a good goaltender, osgood is short, succinct, and straight to the point.

The Lions are already mathematically eliminated from next years playoffs.

Now that's a true fan who knows his Lions football!

While I was away...

Though I was in Vegas for only 4 days, it feels like I've been away from the blog much longer. I'll admit that I missed having the pulpit, no matter how small, to voice my opinions. So I'm going to try and make up for lost time.

Leaving the Lions out of the equation, which is always a good idea, there were two stories that broke in the D while I was drinking and gambling up a storm in the pacific time zone.

Story 1 - Dontrelle Willis signs a 3 year, $29 million deal with the Tigers:

I wonder if Rob Parker still thinks Dave Dombrowski is the worst GM in Detroit? As we all know that Parker is, to put it gently, mentally challenged, I'm sure he does. But everyone else in their right mind has realized by now that Dombrowski is in the same realm as the other master team builders in town, Joe Dumars and Ken Holland. The singing of Willis is just another example as to why Dombrowski is acknowledged as one of MLB's best GM's.

Think about it. For less money than career stiff Carlos Silva received from the desperate for starting pitching Mariners, the Tigers locked up a former 20 game winner who hasn't yet reached his prime. Let alone there's the fact they bought out Willis' first year of free agency.

Yes, Willis did have a down season in 2007, mostly due to his pitching through injuries. Let's not forget he's only 2 seasons removed from a 22 win season. Willis has a proven track record of past success, even dominance, something you can't say about any of the free agent starting pitching that was available this off season.

Even if the D-Train doesn't pitch up to his 2005 level, but closer to his career averages, the Tigers are still well ahead of the game. They'll be getting a starter with a career ERA under 4, who'll give you 200+ innings, and win 15 games. On many teams, I just described their number 1 starter. On the Tigers, Willis is 3rd in the rotation. In other words, the Tigers have a a young pitcher, who is capable of being ace, in the middle of their rotation. That's a rotation most every team in MLB would love.

Inking Willis long-term is well worth the risk. I wouldn't even call the signing a risk, I call it smart management.

Story 2 - Rich Rodriguez gives the entire Michigan Wolverines coaching staff the ziggy:

As I was riding from one casino to another on Friday night, I figured it would be a good time to whip out my phone to check the headlines back home in Detroit, as I was still sober enough to read them.

Then I saw the following headline on the Freep's front page...

BIG HOUSECLEANING: Rich Rodriguez fires all of Carr's assistants

Once I made sure I wasn't drunkenly imagining things (that came later...), it finally hit home. This is no longer Bo's Wolverines.

The first thing that came to my mind was, "I'm thirsty, I need a drink!" Once that was out of the way, I thought about Michigan. My knee-jerk reaction? "That's fucking harsh!" The more I thought about it though, I knew that cutting ties with the vast majority of Carr's coaching staff was what needed to be done.

The Michigan program has to stop looking back, and start looking forward. The Rodriguez hire was their first step in doing so. Now the old Blues need to get out of his way, and let him do the job he was hired to do. Make Michigan once again a feared powerhouse, a national title threat most every season.

That wasn't going to happen if Coach Rod allowed the Mike Debord's of the world to stick around, and continually say, "That's not how Bo would have done it." It's no longer 1977, and "How Bo would have done it" mantra no longer works in 2007. It only lead to Michigan losing to the Appalachian States of the world.

There is a need for some continuity in both the athletic department, and for the current crop of recruits, and that was done with Rodriguez rehiring head recruiter and backs coach Fred Jackson. I'm sure there will be a 1-2 other holdovers from Carr's staff, such as QB coach Scott Loeffler.

I'm fine with Rodriguez cherry picking the best of Carr's assistants. That's smart on his part. But there's no need to carry over the stick in the mud, backwards thinking cronies that made up the majority of Carr's staff.

So I don't want to hear Michigan fans and alumni bitching about "tradition" and "the Michigan way" after the assistants were deservedly shit canned. Those same fans and alumni were screaming for Carr's scalp after the embarrassing Appalachian State and Oregon losses. They wanted heads to roll. Well, those heads are now rolling. You got what you wished for, change. Now is not the time to fear it. It's the 21st century folks, and that's the landscape in college football today.

It's no longer Lloyd Carr's, and by extension, Bo Schembechler's, program. It's Rich Rodriguez's. If Rodriguez needs to step on some old Blue toes, and fly in the face of "tradition" and "the Michigan way" in order to make it his program, more power to him.

Mlive comment of the day

As life slowly returns to normal at TWFE HQ after the holidays, there's no better way to slide back into routine than to check out the loopy Mlive commenters.

The Killer ran a column stating that the Packers current head coach, Mike McCarthy, was in line to become the Lions' offensive coordinator going into what turned out to be Mooch's final season. Mooch didn't take kindly to the idea of hiring someone who would make big changes in his "wet toast" offense, so he hired the bland Ted Tollner behind Millen's back instead.

It was an interesting piece about the Lions' never-ending front office turmoil. But fandetsports would rather think positively than think rationally. A little too positively methinks, as he seems to believe the Lions need just one player, a player known as the DIFFERENCE MAKER...

ONWORD AND UPWORD GO LIONSSSSSSSSSSS WERE WHERE WE ARE, WE HAFT TO GO FROM HERE, LETS GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME. Mr Ford all we need is the DIFFERENCE MAKER.

The LIONSSSSSSSSSSS "haft" to find the DIFFERENCE MAKER? I thought that was Joey Harring...Uh, I mean Charles Roge...Umm, wasn't that Mike William...Wait, it's Calvin Johnson, right? RIGHT? Damn.

Unfortunately for fandetsports, Mr Ford wouldn't recognize a supposed difference maker if that person had "I'M THE DIFFERENCE MAKER" stamped on his forehead. I think we all agree that's also true for the functionally retarded buffoon running the Lions front office.

"Onword and upword" indeed...

I couldn't resist...

I could watch "A Pistons Christmas Carol" over and over. How can you not love 'Sheed?



Have a safe holiday everyone! See you all tomorrow!

Merry Christmas from TWFE!

In the spirit of the holiday, here's some fun clips that hopefully put a smile on your face!

Answering the Detroit Lions week 16 "Burning questions"

With Christmas almost upon us, that means the NFL regular season is almost over. It also means that, once again, the Lions are playing out the string.

Even though the games mean next to nothing, we still have to do our due diligence, and answer the latest batch of burning questions. from the Detroit News' Mike O'Hara.

It's Christmas Eve, so make yourself comfortable. Let's curl up next to the Yule log, grab a cup of eggnog, and answer us some fiery queries!

Burning questions from the Lions' 25-20 victory over the Chiefs at Ford Field on Sunday:

Q: The Lions ended their six-game losing streak. Should they rejoice?

O'Hara: No. Winning is always better than losing, and they should be happy that they won a game -- even against one of the NFL's worst teams. They deserve to feel good, to a point, but there is something about the game that should haunt the Lions for a long time.

Big Al: Rejoice over struggling to win an absolutely meaningless game against the NFL's worst team after pissing away a shot at the playoffs thanks to an ugly 6 game losing streak? Hell, no.

But knowing the Lions, they are probably feeling pretty damn good about themselves. Beating the Chiefs is nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately, the Lions are happy with their performance against the Chiefs, thinking the 6 game losing streak is behind them. In all actuality, the losing streak actually defined their season, and them as a team. Defined them as losers, the same old Lions.

Q: What's the problem?

O'Hara: They were eliminated from the playoffs last week when they barely showed up in San Diego and lost 51-14.

With the pressure off against the Chiefs, they came through with enough plays to win a game.

That's the problem. For six straight weeks, when they were under pressure to win, they couldn't come through. They weren't even competitive in blowout losses on the road to the Vikings and Chargers. They lost crucial games at home to the Giants and Packers.

But with nothing at stake in the standings, they buckled down on defense in the second half and won.

Big Al: First off, they struggled to beat the Chiefs, an awful team that is decimated with injuries, and no QB. Even with the pressure now gone, the Lions couldn't put together a respectable performance, just one that was just good enough to beat a bottom feeder.

When the pressure was on, when they HAD to win a game to stay in the playoff hunt, the Lions instead lost 6 STRAIGHT GAMES! Most of those games were over by halftime. That's as un-clutch as a team can be. That's a team with major personnel issues. That's a team in need of big changes. That's a team called the Detroit Lions.

A single victory to make their record a dismal 1-6 in the season's second half doesn't mean a damn thing.

Q: Shaun Rogers had two sacks after being shut out for six games. Was this his salary drive?

O'Hara: It sure wasn't his celery drive. He is too heavy -- somewhere in the range of 370 pounds -- to be effective for a full season. There were times Sunday when he dominated, but he should have done that more often.

After his second sack, Rogers made his "Superman" motion -- pretending to tear his coat off and show the Superman shirt.

The Lions needed him during the losing streak. He didn't have to be Superman. Spider-Man would have been enough. Instead, he was Casper the Friendly Ghost -- invisible.

Big Al: Rogers' season was a reflection of the Lions. Big Baby, just like his team, played well early on, did absolutely nothing when needed most, then reappeared when there was nothing left to play for but a little pride. Where was that pride during the past 6 weeks? He probably left it in the refrigerator, next to a half eaten cheesecake and leftover pizza.

Shaun Rogers, once again, same as every other season, disappeared for not just plays, or series, but entire games at a time. I think it's time we accept that Rogers is overweight and overrated, while under performing and under conditioned. There's no reason to think he will ever change. Shaun Rogers should be done as a Lion after next week..

Q: T.J. Duckett had a good game as the replacement for Kevin Jones, who went out with a knee injury late in the first half. Duckett rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown. Was that a surprise?

O'Hara: It shouldn't have been. Duckett missed four games early in the season with an ankle injury.

But since then, his lack of playing time has been one of the mysteries of the season. He had two games with one carry, one with none and another with three.

That doesn't make any sense.

Big Al: Surprise? Hell, I didn't even remember that Duckett was on the team!

OK, I'm being somewhat facetious, but not by much. The non-use of Duckett is just another in a very long line of odd, bizarre, and just plain bad use of offensive personnel by Mike Martz. From making Shaun McDonald the featured receiver over Calvin Johnson, to allowing Avieon Cason on the field, let alone to actually take snaps, Martz used players and called plays with little rhyme or reason.

His tenure as offensive coordinator featured many things, but sense wasn't one of them. I think we can say with confidence that the Mike Martz experiment was a complete and utter failure.

Q: Jon Kitna didn't have a good game -- nine completions, 16 attempts and 115 yards. What was the problem there?

O'Hara: What nobody knows for sure is what Mike Martz, the offensive coordinator, is telling him. For some reason, the game plan got fixated on throwing to Shaun McDonald. He's 5-foot-8 and was double-covered on an interception in the first half.

Calvin Johnson, the 6-5 rookie, had two catches. Both were in the first half. Another throw to him was batted down, and Kitna threw low and behind him on a third-down play in the fourth quarter.

Also in the fourth quarter, Johnson made a leaping catch over Ty Law on a long pass down the sideline.

Johnson was barely out of bounds, so it wasn't complete, but it was a sign of what he can do -- when he gets more chances.

Big Al: The Hell if I know. The Lions offense is such a confused clusterfuck right now, the next coming of Bill Walsh, Don Coryell, and Knute Rockne combined couldn't figure out what's wrong. As we've found out that Martz isn't quite the genius that he made himself out to be, it's obvious that he doesn't have the answer either.

For a team with several weapons on offense, and the mastermind of "The Greatest Show on Turf" calling the plays, you'd think that the Lions offense would be one of the best in the NFL. Well, you'd think wrong. Turns out both the supposed weapons, and Martz himself, were highly overrated.

Q: There were a few thousand no-shows in the stadium. The fans that turned out booed on a few bad plays but were mostly supportive to the end. What does that say?

O'Hara: It means there is passion and support for a football team that hasn't given enough back to the fans. They've given them six straight years of sellouts at Ford Field. It's time to pay them back.

Big Al: What does that say? It says the following...

• We love the NFL, even if we are in midst of a love/tolerate/hate/despise relationship with the Lions.
• Going to an NFL game is an 8 time a year event, so fans go to the games even though they realize that the product on the field is inferior.
• Fans bought their tickets early in the season, when all looked rosy for the Lions, and didn't want to waste their hard earned money by not going.
• It's Christmas weekend, with many fans having the next couple of days off, so they went to party their drunken holiday asses off at Ford Field.
• We're dumb asses for supporting such an awful organization by filling Ford Field.
• We're also insane.
• We're suckers as well.

We've also given them more than 6 years of Ford field sellouts. There's a quarter century of filling the spacious Silverdome, and another 20 years of filling Tiger Stadium. Since their last NFL title in 1957, what have we gotten in return? One playoff win in 50 years. One lousy playoff win. One.

The God damn Lions will never pay us back...