I hate that which I love

[M GO BLUE!!!]

***WARNING: RANT AHEAD***


My frustration with the Detroit Lions grows a little each day.

Yesterday's article on ESPN.com even had me laughing due to the absurdity of it.

Marinelli, Millen endorse Harrington as starting QB

"I think we have our starter, wouldn't you say?" asked Millen, turning to Marinelli.

"I'd agree," Marinelli said. "We like him."

I wish I could have seen this. All I can picture are Chip and Dale doing this routine, with Millen then replying "Indubidibly!" and they both giggle...


I go on the recors as saying that the best the Detroit Lions will ever do with Millen and/or Harrington is mediocre. I hope they feel the need to bring in Terrell Owens, just so they can pay another WR a ton of money to sit on the bench injured after Harrington overthrows him.

While other teams strive for greatness, the Lions hold on to things that don't make sense.

For example: Ford Field. While every other team in the league realizes that open-air stadiums are the way to go, Detroit held firm to the idea of not playing a single home game under a blue sky with fresh air allowing persons to breathe. In a few years Detroit will be one of the last locations of a true dome. Every facility built in the last 10 years, or being planned now is either a real stadium or a retractable roof facility. Not Detroit. So even on a beautiful day with perfect weather Lions fans have to sit in a climate controled environment to watch the Lions lose to teams that see the larger picture.

Maybe I need to give up on the Lions like I did the Pistons when they switched to teal as their color and decided that flaming horse was a good logo...

[ISiddiqui]

They play in Detroit. I don't see the problem with a dome up there. It's not like we're talking about Miami.

[QuikSand]

another WR a ton of money to sit on the bench injured after Harrington overthrows him.

I hear this all the time from the Detroit fans, and I don't think I have ever heard it before about any QB. I don't have any backing to know whether this is supported by anything but "conventional wisdom" (and up that way I actually want to do more than just put that in quotes)... but has anyone actually seen anything meaningful to support this widespread impression that all these injuries are actually the QB's fault?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

They play in Detroit. I don't see the problem with a dome up there. It's not like we're talking about Miami.
Indy and Minnesota are both going to build retractable roof stadiums. Buffalo plays outdoors as do Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New England, both New Jersey teams and Philly. All have weather comperable to, if not worse than Detroit.

The reasoning behind building a dome is so that it is a facility that can hold more events than football year-round and so that all 83 fans that brave a blizard to go to the game can sit in comfort. It is comforting to know that while other teams like Pittsburgh and Philly build real stadiums and fill the seats, the Lions felt that they didn't even need a retractable roof, so long as they can hold tractor pulls and tea parties for 60,000.

Domes are for pussies.

[Daimyo]

Maybe I need to give up on the Lions like I did the Pistons when they switched to teal as their color and decided that flaming horse was a good logo...
D'oh!

[TroyF]

I hear this all the time from the Detroit fans, and I don't think I have ever heard it before about any QB. I don't have any backing to know whether this is supported by anything but "conventional wisdom" (and up that way I actually want to do more than just put that in quotes)... but has anyone actually seen anything meaningful to support this widespread impression that all these injuries are actually the QB's fault?


I heard it in Denver about Brian Griese. People blamed him for Eddie McCaffrey getting his leg broke and said that Greise was the reason for the injuries.

I tried to look for data to support it and came up with nothing.

I've watched a lot of Lions games over the last few years and while I'm not sure Joey is a great QB, I don't think his overthrows are injuring WR either.

In all, I think Joey was playing pretty darned good football at the end of the year last year. I also wonder about all the "talent" he supposedly has at WR. Just because those guys were #1 picks doesn't mean they can play football.

[ice4277]

***WARNING: RANT AHEAD***


My frustration with the Detroit Lions grows a little each day.

Yesterday's article on ESPN.com even had me laughing due to the absurdity of it.



I wish I could have seen this. All I can picture are Chip and Dale doing this routine, with Millen then replying "Indubidibly!" and they both giggle...


I go on the recors as saying that the best the Detroit Lions will ever do with Millen and/or Harrington is mediocre. I hope they feel the need to bring in Terrell Owens, just so they can pay another WR a ton of money to sit on the bench injured after Harrington overthrows him.

While other teams strive for greatness, the Lions hold on to things that don't make sense.

For example: Ford Field. While every other team in the league realizes that open-air stadiums are the way to go, Detroit held firm to the idea of not playing a single home game under a blue sky with fresh air allowing persons to breathe. In a few years Detroit will be one of the last locations of a true dome. Every facility built in the last 10 years, or being planned now is either a real stadium or a retractable roof facility. Not Detroit. So even on a beautiful day with perfect weather Lions fans have to sit in a climate controled environment to watch the Lions lose to teams that see the larger picture.

Maybe I need to give up on the Lions like I did the Pistons when they switched to teal as their color and decided that flaming horse was a good logo...
I don't think you will find anybody who is going to say that Joey Harrington will ever be a Pro-Bowl QB. That being said, I think he can be turned into a very serviceable QB, as long as he is put in a position to succeed. The Mariucci West Coast offense that has been in place for the last couple seasons was one of the most conservative offenses to ever grace an NFL field. I doubt there are many QB's who could have had great success in this system. Not only that, the receivers conspired to drop about half the balls that were thrown their way; the team has been up towards the top of the league in dropped balls over the past couple seasons.

But just to play a hypothetical, lets say the Lions do decide to get rid of Harrington. What then? Garcia definitely is not coming back, nor should he. Orlovsky? No way in hell he is ready. Drew Brees? Not a bad idea but probably wishful thinking. They could draft someone like Cutler, but there are a number of other positions, especially on defense, where a top ten draft pick would be essential.

I agree that Harrington has shown little, but he has been given little support in his time here. If anybody can turn him into a respectable QB, it is Martz. If he doesn't perform this year, I will be the first one in line to kick him out the door. But I think he should get this last chance.

As for Ford Field; have you ever even been there? It is a remarkable facility. If you can give the Fords credit for anything surrounding this team, it is the new stadium.

[Desnudo]

Domes are for pussies.

Sums it up in one sentence. I don't even like retractable roofs. Is there anything better than watching a game when it's 20 degrees and heavily snowing?

[rkmsuf]

Sums it up in one sentence. I don't even like retractable roofs. Is there anything better than watching a game when it's 20 degrees and heavily snowing?

don't forget the metal benches

[Desnudo]

I was thinking of a leather couch by a fireplace. I hate watching dome games on tv.

[sovereignstar]

Indy and Minnesota are both going to build retractable roof stadiums.

Wilf is actually pushing for an outdoor stadium (so no roof at all). Part of his grand plan is to lure an MLS franchise to the cities. At any rate, the Vikings are still a long way from getting anything done, since both the Gophers and Twins are way ahead of them in terms of importance to both the public and legislators.

[Kodos]

Domes should be banned.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The dome thing doesn't bother me that much.

As for Harrington causing injuries to his wideouts, that's just silly nonsense. Charles Rogers first collar bone injury happened when he got tangled up with Dre Bly during practice. The second injury occurred when he fell to the ground. Neither were a result of a poor Harrington throw. Roy Williams injuries are typically pulled hamstrings and he hurt his foot. Again, neither are remotely connected to Harrington. Mike Williams wasn't inured really. Harrington can be blamed for a lot of things, poor foot work, poor accuracy, bailing out on plays too early, getting rattled and not being able to recover, etc, etc., but causing injuries to his WRs? No.

According to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, the Lions will be one of the leading suitors for Drew Brees. Who knows if that's true or not, but if that is the case it goes directly contrary to what Millen/Marinelli said there. It wouldn't be the first time Millen said X and then turned around and did Y. Ask Morninwheg and Johhnie Morton about that.

Millen has made a ton of stupid moves. He handles things poorly and does so without a lot of tact or grace. On first blush, I like the coaching staff he's assembled, but who knows if Marinelli can be a successful head coach.

[B & B]

According to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, the Lions will be one of the leading suitors for Drew Brees.


Im starting to hear the other side of this coin. Detroit Lions fans, may I introduce... Phillip Rivers.

[ISiddiqui]

Sums it up in one sentence. I don't even like retractable roofs. Is there anything better than watching a game when it's 20 degrees and heavily snowing?
Yeah, watching it on an HDTV. I wouldn't want to be out there in conditions like that.

[Desnudo]

There's something to be said for standing around drinking in the snow. Just not for three hours.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

The Detroit Lions have addressed their need for depth and experience at quarterback by reaching a contract agreement with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Shaun King, who did not play in the NFL in 2005.

King, 28, has appeared in only 12 games, with three starts, since starting all 16 for the Bucs in 2000. But he gives the Lions improved stability at the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Joey Harrington and might be good enough to provide some competition for the Detroit starter.


So the fact that anybody can even imagine saying that Shaun King could possibly provide competition for anybody shows exactly how awful Harrington really is! I mean, what's next? They sign Todd Marijuanavich? He'd provide a great workout partner for Chuck Rogers at least!

As for the comment made about the Lions receivers not getting hurt on plays where Harrington overthrew them... The last thing receivers need is extra contact. The league changed the rules, and now enforces it so that they can't get extra contact from defenders. They then aren't looking to protect themselves out on the field. The extra shots they take add up, as do the extra stretches, pulls, etc. I always go back to a simple route I saw Hakim run once. It was 3rd and (about) 10. Hakim runs a four yard pattern and curls in. Harrington throws the ball high, so Hakim jumps up and catches it with no chance to do anything after catching it but take a hell of a shot to the ribs. He gets up, but what did they accomplish? According to the announcer, they did great by getting four extra yards before punting!

[ice4277]

So the fact that anybody can even imagine saying that Shaun King could possibly provide competition for anybody shows exactly how awful Harrington really is! I mean, what's next? They sign Todd Marijuanavich? He'd provide a great workout partner for Chuck Rogers at least!

Actually, much of that article is incorrect. It looks as though King is being brought in as a 4th QB for training camp, and would have to earn his way up the roster. They still are going to look to bring in a proven backup, and Orlovsky still looks to be the number 3.

And I also almost shit my pants when I saw this signing ;)