Detroit Lions News: 3 Holiday wishes heading into 2021
By Bob Heyrman
Here are three-holiday wishes for the Detroit Lions as we head into 2021.
The year 2020 has been taxing in general, to say the least, but for the Detroit Lions, it’s been yet another lost year. It’s been another underwhelming season for the organization, marking the third in a row. These past three seasons have a couple of things in common: Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Matt Patricia as the head coach.
With the franchise ridding themselves of a toxic Patricia, Stafford’s future in Detroit remains in limbo.
As we head through the holiday season, here are three wishes surrounding the Detroit Lions.
Hiring a proven general manager.
Detroit Lions primary owner Sheila Ford Hamp mentioned the organization would prefer their next general manager to have experience in the role. That being said, the Detroit Lions have interviewed candidates both internally and externally, headlined by ESPN analyst Louis Riddick without any previous managerial experience.
Before hiring former Lions linebacker Chris Spielman to an advisory role, he’d been asked if he would have any interest in interviewing for the vacant general manager’s position. Yet, another potential candidate without any managerial experience, Spielman opted to decline, saying he’d be better suited in an advisory role for the time being but would be willing to learn and groomed for a potential opportunity down the road, whether it’s in Detroit or elsewhere. Spielman’s brother Rick has been the Minnesota Vikings general manager from 2012 to the present day.
Ford Hamp and team president Rod Wood said they’d be doing an extensive search that could last upwards of six weeks exhausting all options before making a hire. They’ve stood true to their word on this front.
Over the last few days, the Detroit Lions started to interview managerial candidates with experience, including Rick Smith, Thomas Dimitroff, and Scott Pioli.
It seems at this time, Dimitroff is the early favorite. The former Atlanta Falcons boss did assemble a Super Bowl-bound Atlanta roster that would fall hard in historic fashion to the New England Patriots after leading 28-3 at the half in 2017. That epic collapse is not on the GM, but ultimately on head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
While Shanahan led the 49ers to the Super Bowl last season only to find himself again on the wrong side of the result despite leading in the fourth quarter, both Quinn and Dimitroff were let-go after a lackluster 0-5 start to the 2020 season.
I’ve stated in the past that Rick Smith would be a tremendous hire after knowing his rich early-round draft history during his Houston Texans days. Smith landed J.J. Watt, DeShaun Watson, Jadeveon Clowney, and DeAndre Hopkins.
Pioli spent four years as the Kansas City Cheifs GM, but his track record is less than impressive. The former KC GM will be most remembered for turning the keys over to Matt Cassel on offense and Todd Haley as the team’s head coach. Both didn’t work out so well. Pioli did draft star safety Eric Berry though.