The New and Improved Detroit Lions
After a decade of torture for any and all fans of the NFL’s Detroit Lions, things might finally be headed in the right direction. Much of the Lions’ failures over the past 10 years stems from the management failures of Matt Millen, who was finally given the boot last year in Detroit.
With a new GM Schwartz in the mix, the franchise has very aggressively done everything they can to erase the legacy of the past 10 seasons. Many players have been shipped out, and others shipped in.
With a new roster consisting of a handful of rookies, not to mention newly acquired players, things are exciting in Detroit. Matt Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew, Larry Foote, Bryant Johnson, and others are giving the 2009 Detroit Lions a completely new face, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
It seems that Lions fans are excited too. After my visit to training camp yesterday, I was shocked to see how many people showed up to see the full day starting at 5 in the morning. You’d never have guessed they were there to see a team that went 0-16 last season.
Nearly every single player at training camp put on a good performance, ready to meet the new football season with full enthusiasm. Between stars like Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, and second and third string guys, everyone played their heart out for those who were there to witness it.
While most played, it was somewhat disappointing not to see new Lions Brandon Pettigrew and Larry Foote participating, due to some injury issues. They’ll be fine for the regular season, but I was still excited to see them suited up in a Lions uniform. The quarterbacks all looked great, and Drew Stanton’s level of play has been so impressive that many are speculating he has a chance to be the team’s starter if he keeps it up. The team’s running backs (Smith and rookie Brown) both looked to be in top notch shape, and rookie DJ Boldin should make an immediate impact at wide receiver.
The team’s morale was high. In fact, during one drill at the end of training camp, all kinds of jokes and heckling took place amongst teammates. This was nice to see, since there were no signs of the dejected Lions that ruled the 2008 team.
Fans were just as playful. When asked by a reporter what he thought the team’s record would be in 2009, a fan jokingly replied with a 14-2 prediction. Even Schwartz showed enthusiasm too, predicting a great season for the team.
Once the practice finished, I had the opportunity to meet a few of the team’s players. Both Larry Foote and Jeff Backus were extremely friendly, and Foote is truly proud to be a Lion despite the fact that he left Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. You’d truly never know this team was the joke of the NFL for the past 10 years. The Lions have begun a new life in Detroit.
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