Detroit Lions 0-16

Well, going into last year's NFL season, no one thought we would see a 16-0 team until the Patriots rolled through the league. Granted they did lose in the Super Bowl, but they did not lose a regular season game. Now the very next year, we have the opposite happen with the Lions going 0-16. As hard as it was to watch, it was something that was inevitable based on the way the franchise has been run. But fear not Detroit, there is hope and I am here to tell you why.

First is that Matt Millen is no longer you General Manager. I foresee the Lions NOT drafting a wide receiver in the first round, if at all, this year. Hopefully whoever will have the final say in personnel will look at the success that both Miami and Atlanta had this year and use that as a blueprint to rebuild this team. As bad as both for those teams were last year, they both had promising running backs (and I know the Falcons got Michael Turner in free agency, but he was signed before the draft) and potential big play wide receivers to build the offense around. Detroit has Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson to give the offense some life. What they don't have is the same thing both the Dolphins and Falcons got in the off season last year, a quarterback to lead the team and manage the game in a way that works with the strengths of the current roster. Chad Pennington and Matt Ryan were not brought into their respective teams to win games, they were brought in to not lose games. Now I am not suggesting that the Lions have to draft a QB in the first round, but if they don't get a good free agent like Matt Cassel, the draft is the best way to build, if you have someone controlling your picks that knows what they are doing.

Second is William Ford Jr. Now that the owner's son seems to have more say, that can only mean good things for the Lions. As long as there is a fossil making the decisions, there is no room for the franchise to grow and catch up with the teams that understand the current state of the league (and yes I am also talking to you Al Davis). Some owners have a passion for and an understanding of the game and can make good choices, and some just think they know. The owners like Ford and Davis, and others that run their respective organizations like thse two guys, think that whatever they do will work for their team and make them more money. Yet teams like the Patriots and the Colts hire the right people in the front office in order to build a successful product on the field. If Junior can have more of a say and bring in the right pieces in the office, which it looks like he is already starting to do by canning Millen, it should translate to W's in a few years.

And third is Rod Marinelli. Now I realize that there is no way that he keeps his job after and 0-16 campaign, but hear me out. This is a guy that, despite the dismal events of this season, never gave up on his guys and never backed down from this challenge. Since a good portion of the team will be back next year, they will hopefully carry over some of Coach Rod's passion. This is a guy that answered every question after every loss with no regard for what he might be asked. I cannot think of another coach that would have stayed as poised as Marinelli did with the nature of the questions. Most people would have just walked out on the interview and not responded. If his players did not see that and feel something, ANYTHING, that would want to make them play harder for this guy then there is a bigger problem then just bad football. Even though Coach Rod may not be on the sidelines next year, the pride he has installed in the team that remains should pay dividends in the long run.

So fear not Lions faithful, even the 0-14 Bucs turned it around to win a Super Bowl (even if it took around 30 years to do it). With a new voice in ownership, and decent draft, some key free agent signings, and a chip on your shoulder to make sure this never happens again, it will not be a surprise to see a Detroit Lions team with a winning record.....sometime in the next 20 years.