Mooch as a Lion?

[Bee]

Anyone surprised?

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

No. I heard it on ESPN Radio a Minute ago too .

[Bee]

I'm glad to see it. I like him as a coach and am glad to see him still in the league instead of as a analyst or something on TV. It will be interesting to see what he can do with team that bad.

[TLK]

Just got back and read about it on yahoo. This is a great day.

Finally the Lions front office does something right for a change. Hopefully they will listen to Mooch because you know he is going to have great ideas for turning them into a winning team. Tis a good day for Detroit fans.

[cthomer5000]

ESPN is now saying Morninweg is fired, but supposeduly Mariucci hasn't been contacted yet....

interesting.

[Ksyrup]

ESPN is reporting that Mariucci hasn't even been contacted. But to fire Mornihweg, I assume they have someone in mind. I hear Wayne Fontes is looking for a job...

[rkmsuf]

something about Mariucci in Det doesn't seem right. I just can't picture it.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a year off since he's due big bucks this year and then angle for a higher profile job...Miami perhaps.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I would not be surprised if the Lions have fired Mornhinweg without having contacted Mooch. They are a freaking joke. First they publicly back Mornhinweg and then, less than a month later, they turn around and fire the guy?

Make no mistake, saying that they would keep him, sending him down to the Senior Bowl, and all that was the first mistake. A big one. He was 5-27. He was a joke. He should have been fired. But to do an about-face (see: Johnny Morton) like this and just fire the guy is a disgrace. It shows a lack of vision, loyalty, strategy, everything. This kind of thing has become the hallmark of the Matt Millen Era. For shame...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Honolulu_Blue
I would not be surprised if the Lions have fired Mornhinweg without having contacted Mooch. They are a freaking joke. First they publicly back Mornhinweg and then, less than a month later, they turn around and fire the guy?

Make no mistake, saying that they would keep him, sending him down to the Senior Bowl, and all that was the first mistake. A big one. He was 5-27. He was a joke. He should have been fired. But to do an about-face (see: Johnny Morton) like this and just fire the guy is a disgrace. It shows a lack of vision, loyalty, strategy, everything. This kind of thing has become the hallmark of the Matt Millen Era. For shame...

They probably kept him just for the senior bowl. It's a failry large scouting advantage over other teams, and has often benefitted teams who get to see these players up close and actually coach them before deciding whether or not they'd like to draft them.

[Ksyrup]

Maybe they've worked out a deal where they send 2 #1's, 2 #'s, and $8 Million to Mariucci's wife in exchange for his rights. It worked for TB last year, didn't it?

[Bee]

I'd say it will happen, even if it isn't announced today at the press conference. Mooch loves coaching and I don't think he wants to sit out a year. ESPN did the same thing with the Parcells hiring and it turned out to be true. I'd guess either Mooch is already with the Lions or close enough that they are sure he'll sign on.

[rkmsuf]

they definately must have someone in mind or else Millen defies definition.

[Ksyrup]

It would be funny if they forced Millen to can Marty, then hire Mooch to fire Millen and take both of their places.

[Schmidty]

Wooohooo!!!!

I don't even care if they hire a chimp to coach the team. Anyone could do a better job than Smarty Mornhinweg!!!

Look out world, the Lions are on their way back to mediocrity!!!!!!

[Darkiller]

Right now, he's not even been contacted.
I doubt he ends up going there, this year...but the NFL is so unpredictable these days that the truth of one day is not the one of the following.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
something about Mariucci in Det doesn't seem right. I just can't picture it.

He is a Michigan native (the U.P.), although he grew up as a Packer fan. He's great friends with Tom Izzo (they were old teammates). and has lots of ties to the area. He'd have a young QB to groom, the 2nd pick in the draft, and a decent salary cap situation. Why not?

[Kodos]

Originally posted by Schmidty
Look out world, the Lions are on their way back to mediocrity!!!!!!

[rkmsuf]

He is a Michigan native (the U.P.), although he grew up as a Packer fan. He's great friends with Tom Izzo (they were old teammates). and has lots of ties to the area. He'd have a young QB to groom, the 2nd pick in the draft, and a decent salary cap situation. Why not?

I'm not sure. In spite of getting San Fran back from salary cap difficulties quickly I'm not sure I regard him as a 'builder' per se. I'm not sure either Millen or Mariucci are great evaluators of talent.

He may be great but his inability to make it happen in San Fran for whatever reason doesn't bode well for the situation in Det. Seifert was a big disappointment in Carolina and I'd prefer Maricucci with a team looking to get over the top.

[Bee]

Originally posted by Darkiller
Right now, he's not even been contacted.
I doubt he ends up going there, this year...but the NFL is so unpredictable these days that the truth of one day is not the one of the following.

He's not been contacted according to "sources" close to him. I don't know how much weight I'd put into second hand info when it comes to this kinda stuff.

[GrantDawg]

How bizarre. The Lions have always been good for entertainment.

[ctmason]

I can't think of any other reason to fire Marty unless they are going after Mariucci.

Millen should quit, he's in way over his head.

[Schmidty]

Originally posted by ctmason
I can't think of any other reason to fire Marty unless they are going after Mariucci.

I can:

5 wins - 27 losses.

[bbor]

Bring Mooch back to SF..PLEASE

[ctmason]

My point was that I couldn't think of any other reason to fire him AFTER saying he was going to return.

[Bee]

So, Millen says he spoke to Mooch after he was let go by SF and wants to speak with him again. I think the job is probably his if he wants it.

I would guess that's why they changed their mind on firing Mornhinwig...perhaps Mooch indicated he'd be interested if the job came open?

[clintl]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
.He may be great but his inability to make it happen in San Fran for whatever reason doesn't bode well for the situation in Det.

He didn't really have a chance. The 49ers were on the way down when he got there (lots of old vets in their final seasons and the salary cap problems), and haven't yet had time to build the depth they need to make it to the top since coming out of cap hell. They were pretty much where a good coach should have had them in the rebuilding process. Overall, even with the problems with Owens and whatever there may have been to the rumors of friction with Walsh and Donahue, he presided over the rebuild pretty smoothly. I don't know about him as a GM/head coach, but I think he would be great coach for young club.

[Schmidty]

From the press conference, one gets the impression that Mooch is already the coach, but because of the NFL minority hiring requirements (which are a joke), nothing can be announced until Millen goes through the motions of interviewing minorities first (which is wrong).

[detroit_fan]

THANK GOD!!!!!!!! BRING ON THE MOOCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bee]

That's a good point Schmidty. Even if Mooch had agreed to come onboard, they couldn't make the announcement until they go through the "interview process" required by the league.

[jamesUMD]

I agree that the minority hiring process is a joke and I think with Mooch's ties to the Michigan area he'd be dumb to not take the job. Weren't the Lions 7-9 the year before Morningweg took over. I think Marriuci would like to prove SF wrong for firing him and he can't do that from a broadcast booth. Once the initial shock has worn off, I think he wants to coach again and this is about the only available position left barring another late firing. I wonder if Tom Coughlin has had his agent contact the Lions yet????

[Scarecrow]

Just to toss something else out to discuss....

What if it's not Mooch they're looking at, but rather someone from either the Bucs or the Raiders?

Since teams aren't allowed to talk to coaches during the season, is it a coincidence that this anouncement came the day after the Super Bowl?

Just something to ponder

[Anrhydeddu]

It was assumed that the Bucs Defensive Coordinator would be getting the 49ers job.

[Bee]

In the press conference, it really sounded like Mooch was their first choice. They didn't come out and say that, but it really sounded like it to me.

[Ksyrup]

I just hope Mooch does not = Seifert.

[Qwikshot]

I think Mooch would do fine in Detroit...he'd probably get by just on his name for a while, they have no expectations as a team, one just hopes their QB's heart issue is fixed...

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lions were actually 9-7 the year before M&M took over. They were a 53 yard field goal away from going10-6 and making the play-offs. That's how far they have fallen...

To be fair. Their talent base was old and their defense (which is horrible) was decimated by injuries: They basically lost their starting middle linebacker (Stephen Boyd), both starting safeties (Ron Rice/Kurt Shulz), and starting cornerbacks (Fair/Westbrook) to injury over that period. The first three were career ending.