Much like Fuzzdog20, I don’t live in Detroit, actually, I don’t live in the United States. I live in Australia and follow the NFL as my second sport. I picked the Lions 5 years ago purely off the logo after watching my first NFL game between the 49ers and the Giants. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about the Lions woeful recent history and once I started I couldn’t stop.

I’ll never quit on the Lions because that’s not in my nature as a fan. The Rugby League team I support in Australia, the Wests Tigers, I’ve been supporting since I was virtually a baby. They were constantly out of the playoffs and have only had 2 winning seasons in the 16 years that I’ve been following them. But, strangely enough, in 2005, they won the competition, things clicked and I’m hoping that we might see that with the Lions someday. Things will click and we’ll finally see our Lions win many more games then they lose. Sure, this may take another 10 or 20 years, but I dare say that I’ll still be there, cheering them on.

I can’t help care about the lions. Even if we keep Marinelli, Mayhew, and Lewand, even if we draft Michael Crabtree with our 1st pick and Percy Harvin with our 2nd pick, I will watch every preseason game, every regular season game, even if it’s another 0-16 season. I’ll check Pride of Detroit, Mlive’s highlight real, and ESPN’s blog network on the NFC North everyday. What’s more pathetic of me is that with every loss I want to support/defend the lions even more. I hate the calls for a winless season, I hate when people mock the lions with lions with parody shirts, I hate the lack of a crowd at the games, and especially when people leave the game at halftime. I guess it’s everyones choice, but I think its hard to come across a worse fan than a fairweather fan. I hear players saying that the players need to earn the energy of the crowd, but I disagree. I think the fans at the game should get into it from kickoff to the last second of the 4th quarter. I agree that the Lions haven’t earned that dedication, but I watched some replays from the Jet’s vs. Seahawks game, and that was an outdoor game in lousy weather for a 3 win team, and their fans were going nuts and in full support of that far from mediocre team with Senaca Wallace starting at QB. So before you criticize the team, take a look at yourself. I mean c’mon, do you really think not going to the games is going to fix things. Blackouts just make it so Detroit is a no-no for any star or potential star to come here. Obviously our history does that alone, but the poor fan support doesn’t help bring in talent or keep it here when it shows up (rarely). My number one reason for feeling this way is that when I was at the Lions-Packers game for the home opener, when the crowd got into it, the defense performed and we made an awesome comeback, but after the first pick from Kitna and the air went out of their and the game was done for the team and the fans. That’s enough of my rants, but I guess my answer to you is that you are a great fan and I feel that I am as well, and the fairweather fans need to go root for the Patriots or Green Bay, as all people who jump ship seem to do. Oh, and by the way, don’t come back when they actually start to look good a’la Pistons and Tigers.

Ive been a lions fan my whole life. Which isnt as long as most since I am only 22. I started out in the Barry Sanders era when we were an average team each year. Even though they are doing so bad this year I still check the website everyday and I try to watch their games as much as I can when they are on TV. I still wake up every Sunday antsy in the morning waiting for 1 oclock to role around. Being such a huge fan through these tough times will make it even better when the team is winning games in a few years. And about Lewand, Mayhew and Marinelli, I dont think it would be the end of the world if they stuck around for another year. Lewand and Mayhew could be very good because they got a chance to see first hand exactly what not to do as GM. And Marinelli has handled these tough times extremely well. With some talented players we draft and better OC and DC I think he could coach a team to win. I would love to see the lions go to the playoffs under Rod Marinelli he deserves it. I think Millen is the cause for a lot of problems with this team, he never let Marinelli truly do his job. What Im saying is no matter what happens for next year I will stay a true fan forever. Boycotting buying merchandise and tickets is only gonna drive talent away and possibly the whole franchise. I cant stand hearing about how the lions are gonna get sold and moved to a different location. That would break my heart. GREAT POST BY THE WAY

what a sad year for all of us. i havent lived back home in over 20 years ive been in virginia for the last 14 of them but i’m still a die hard detroit fan at 38. the one thing that keeps me going for the lions is the fact that our red wings had the same run of 50 years no championships now players take less money to get on our roster for their best chance to win a cup. i pray that our fortunes will turn in the same direction with our lions.