Yesterday's monumental loss to the Falcons (down 21-0 against a QB who barely beat MSU 9 months ago???) inspired me to write about the travails of being a Lions fan. Call me a fairweather fan, but I have already begun to think about the top available players in the 2009 NFL Draft (Michael Crabtree, here we come!). Then I read this from Mitch Albom today in the Free Press and realized I'm not alone...
Somebody knock me out. Wake me up when this is over, if this -- meaning the 2008 Lions season -- is going to be as bad as it was in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon.
Before a half-empty stadium, in a city that has no expectations, against a rookie quarterback, against a rookie coach, against a team whose former star passer sits in a jail cell, the Lions had their butts handed to them.
By the Falcons? Somebody slap me. Atlanta is arguably the worst team in the NFL, but that argument has a new contender today. The Lions have no claim to being any better than worst. Not until they prove it.
"Don't be trying to write us off," defensive captain Cory Redding warned, after the 34-21 loss. "We're good. We just didn't show up today."
We didn't show up today. We're really talented and could win 10+ games. We're going to surprise everyone. I'm sick of the excuses and unfulfilled promises. A few weeks ago, Lions fans were named the 2nd to worst in the league (thanks Cardinals!). The article is here if you missed it: NFL Fan Rankings How can you blame us? The "Fire Millen" campaign died 2 years ago - and he's still there!! They have been trying to restore the roar since 1957, which gives them the 2nd longest championship drought in the NFL (thanks again Cardinals!)
Despite being one of the historically worst teams in the league, we have not had the top overall pick since 1980 - and that has hurt us. Since then, 16 different teams had the first pick (including 4 by the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts). 7 of those teams went on to win a Super Bowl (the Browns did it as the Ravens in 2001). Another 6 of those teams have played in (and lost) the Super Bowl sometime in those 28 years. The 3 remaining teams, by the way, are the Saints, Jets, and Texans. The Saints got as far as the 2006/07 NFC Championship game. The Jets now have Brett Favre, and Brett Favre is Brett Favre. And the Jets have possibly taken over as the best team in the AFC East overnight (anyone disagree??) The Texans are really new, but have shown glimpses of improvement.
We haven't had any number 1 picks since 1980, but we have had 6 Top 5 picks in that period. In fact, below are all of our top 5 picks since 1967. Just to dig the knife in further, I included some other 1st round picks we left on the board.
2007 - 2nd - Calvin Johnson Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis
2003 - 2nd - Charles Rogers If we had finished 1 spot worse, we'd have Carson Palmer, not his backup
2002 - 3rd - Joey Harrington Dwight Freeney, Donte' Stallworth
1997 - 5th - Bryant Westbrook Tony Gonzalez, Warrick Dunn
1989 - 3rd - Barry "Our Savior" Sanders
1988 - 3rd - Bennie Blades Michael Irvin
1980 - 1st - Billy Sims
Ouch. Too many misses (everyone but Sanders and Sims). Jury is still out on Calvin, of course, but he can't help our O-Line stop anyone nor can he keep Kitna for throwing into coverage. It seems like we get top picks in the weaker drafts (1988, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007).
The best selection was Sanders (obviously) - nobody blamed him when he left. In fact, most fans felt bad for him for being on a team that would never give him a championship shot. We all were ok with him leaving for greener pastures and would have proudly rooted him on if he did make it to the Super Bowl.
We may be Hockeytown. We may play DEEETROIT BAAASKETBAAALLLL. But the only team that looks like it can restore the roar anytime soon are the Detroit Tigers.
2 comments:
I guess Adam doesn't believe in right now.....
They were running Lion's season ticket ads during the game with the slogan "Believe in right now" as the Lions were down 21-0.
That being said, I don't think we are the worst team in the league. We will be in the lower third, but do just well enough to miss out on the top players in the draft.....it's a Lion's tradition!
I think we will be the worst team. I think I wrote that in your NFL picks post. I don't see how this team got better over the offseason. They traded away their best defensive player (Shaun Rogers) and let go their running game (Kevin Jones). Perhaps the young talent they got in the draft will pay off down the road, but we've been saying that for awhile now.
Great post, Adam. Good information. Love the Superbowl stats.
And is there such thing as a fairweather Lions fan? Don't you have to have fairweather to be considered for that title?
You are a fan because you care, enough to write a post about them. I will not call you fairweather. I call you hopelessly devoted.
Or I suppose I could call you an idiot.
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