Don’t panic, Detroit Lions still in hunt for Matt Patricia
By Matt Bosko
The Detroit Lions are in hot pursuit of New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, but recent reports have the candidate linked to the New York Giants.
For fans of the Detroit Lions, panic is a full-time job. Somehow, even the offseason brings a fair share of loss and heartbreak.
One week into the team’s head coaching search, Lions fans are succumbing to the angst of being spurned by Matt Patricia, the highly pursued defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. A report by Peter King of MMQB stated that Patricia “favors the Giants.”
Queue the panic. Queue the anger. Queue the disappointment.
These feelings are all too familiar for Lions fans, particularly when you consider what happened with their last head coaching search. It was nearly four years ago to the day when Martin Mayhew and Lions brass boarded a plane to seal the deal and hire Ken Whisenhunt.
That plane left Detroit with an empty seat, and came back from California with an empty seat after Whisenhunt agreed to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
This time around, Lions fans, it’s important to remember a simple concept: nothing happened yet.
The reports are disturbing, but a dose of reality has a calming effect. General manager Bob Quinn knows that the Lions are just one of many suitors for Patricia’s services. With this in mind, if Patricia is his top choice and decides to coach elsewhere, Quinn has a backup plan. He understands the landscape of the league, and is smart enough to not put all of his eggs in one basket.
Another thing to consider is that the Lions have yet to fill their vacancy. If Quinn felt that Patricia was going to take another offer, he could have moved on to that backup plan. Texans’ defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss can be hired at any time.
The Lions have to play the waiting game with Patricia until the Patriots’ season ends, which could be another month from now.
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Until Quinn hires another candidate, the Lions are still very much in play for Matt Patricia. Deep breaths, Lions fans. Deep breaths.