William Clay Ford Sr. On Tom Lewand: 'He Has All My Support'
by Sean Yuille on Jun 27, 2010 8:29 PM EDT
in Detroit Lions News
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PrintLions owner William Clay Ford has released a statement on Tom Lewand's arrest, making it clear that Lewand is going nowhere and has his full support.
"Tom made a very serious mistake and he appropriately owned up to that mistake," owner William Clay Ford Sr. said in a statement. "As he continues to seek professional assistance for this problem, the Lions will support and help him in any way possible. I continue to have full confidence that Tom will positively lead our organization as he has since assuming his current role of team president. He has all my support."
I would hope Lewand is disciplined in some form, but this statement certainly doesn't make it sound like there will be any punishment. It's tough to say too much about this situation in that regard because we don't know many details of Lewand's problem, but a DUI should not go unpunished in my opinion.
Jim Schwartz also released a brief statement on Lewand:
"Tom's leadership was very instrumental in my decision to become head coach of the Detroit Lions," Schwartz said. "I fully support his commitment to recovery."
One thing is obvious: Lewand has a problem that he has been battling for some time now. As some of you have suggested, I too think he should take a leave of absence to properly deal with this problem, but again, that's just my personal opinion based on the few details we have.
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Pain is a great motivator ...
… for change. If he isn’t punished in some form other than a slap on the wrist by the local courts, it would be a slight. Not only to the players and fans, but to Lewand himself. A stiff fine, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment as well as community service. In his position, his service should be as a speaker to kids on the dangers of abusing substances.
Aren't we making a big deal about this?
Players, even those who aren’t alcoholics, do this type of thing all the time, yet we have people calling for the man’s job when a President, who is a recovering alcoholic, does it. I bet if this was Calvin Johnson or Matthew Stafford, we would’ve given them the benefit of the doubt just because they are star players on this team.
Lets cut him some slack…it was only his first time
The beginning of the end of the misery
by Latif Masud on Jun 27, 2010 9:00 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
He had a few drinks at some event and decided to drive home. Mistake yes, but it doesn’t need to be blown out of proportion.
Tom Lewand is not a key player
His job is mostly the numbers aspect of organizational operation. He is a cap guru…nothing more and nothing less.
Yes, I would give CJ or Stafford the benefit of the doubt as long as they too were fined and given community service. You CAN NOT be a person in a position of leadership, like Tom Lewand as team president, and go running around setting a VERY BAD example for the rest of the organization. I hope that he can recover, and I hope that he will make every effort to right this wrong, but I can not agree with cutting him any slack at all. There would be fines and potential suspensions for any player in this case…so at the very least, Lewand should be mandated to a treatment program, fined, and given community service where he has to teach young people about the dangers of driving while intoxicated. What if he had killed someone like Stallworth did?? I seem to remember an awful lot of people saying that Stallworth should be in prison or worse, and that he should not be allowed to return to his job in the NFL…just because nobody was hurt THIS TIME, does not change the fact that it COULD have happened.
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
How is he not a Key Player
But you say he is a leader (or a person in a position of leadership)????
What he did may be unforgiveable to victims and family members of victims (of drunk drivers), but perhaps that mentality is a little tunnel vision driven. It is irresponsible to drink and drive, but it’s just as irresponsible to be tired and drive as they have the same type of symptoms. I think your getting into too many hypotheticals.
I don’t think that G.W. Bush should not have been president because he had a DUI (or cocaine use), maybe other reasons but not those. Same for Clinton, except for the with sticky icky.
A lot of people people drink and drive, it’s not right, but I will be the last one to throw stones, because I know I live in a glass house. It’s unfortunate that so many people do it, and it’s just as unfortunate that people put themselves and other human beings on a pedestal that is without sin or mistake.
That being said, if he can’t clean up his act then yes he should get the axe. But he should be given a chance to see the error of his ways and a chance at redemption.
I love this one...
It’s unfortunate that so many people do it, and it’s just as unfortunate that people put themselves and other human beings on a pedestal that is without sin or mistake.
That being said, if he can’t clean up his act then yes he should get the axe
That pretty much contradicts, if ya can’t tell…. lol
To let someone keep taking you for granted is foolish. I haven’t heard of too many mistakes from Lewand, so I’d give him a chance.
A few drinks yes blown out of proportion I don't think so
Who knows the circumstances surrounding the incident? It. being in northern Michigan he may have been pulled over by an over zealous “Packer Backer” and was targeted as soon as he left the event.
The NFL and the Lions have a reputation that needs to be upheld, this does bring a negative light on both. The president of a team being arrested is just a step down from the NFL commisioner being arrested, if anything a harsher penalty should be imposed, Mr. Lewand put the commisioner in a difficult situation especially during the times of conflict between the NFL and the NFLPA. A self imposed LOA and maybe a stay in the Betty Ford Clinic would be the best thing for Mr. Lewand, the Lions and the NFL.
Some of you think it’s not a big deal, but Mr. Lewand needs to be held to a higher standard then the average person. A college professor having sex with a 22 yr old student doesn’t seem like a big deal to most people,as they are consenting adults,but to the college dean and his benefactors its a real big deal.
Community Service is not the answer. He was basically doing community service when the incident happened.
I gotta disagree
I understand hes a team president, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is just another human being under the laws of the land. To a judge, he is going to be viewed just the same way as any player or regular folk.
I understand your point about the him being a high-ranking official, but that doesn’t change anything. I don’t get why he should be held to a higher standard. By all means, hes made of the same flesh and bones as any NFL player, and is should be allowed to make the same human mistakes as any player. Does being the president of an NFL team somehow give him a higher understand of how alcoholism works? No.
Hell, I could argue that the players should be held to a higher standard than the team officials. They get paid ten times as much, so shouldn’t they have ten times the responsibility to make sure that they are sober? Plus, the players are the ones the influence games. A DUI from a player means he might miss games, costing the team money, and outcomes of games, so shouldn’t they be held to the highest standard of all?
You can’t compare the commissioner to a team preident. By no means are they in the same level or even a step down. If Goddell was to have a DUI and didn’t get punished in some way, then it does look hypocritical because he is the one that hands out the disciplines. Lewand’s job is to simply help sign contracts and make on-field product better by adding promotions, and deals.
The beginning of the end of the misery
by Latif Masud on Jun 27, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Lewands job is much more latif
From the Lions site:
Lewand’s fundamental principle is to consistently present the Lions as a first-class organization with a clear sense of mission and direction.
I suggest you read exactly what his job consists of at www.detroitlions.com under the Team/Administration menu click his name and click more on his biography he does much much more.
The Culture on drinking and driving is getting more and more taboo.
Do the Lions really need MADD and SADD picketing in front of the ticket office?
by Wayne Fontes on Jun 27, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
read the job description:
If other people wanna read it, they can here.
Pretty much its what I said just expanded a little more. He pretty much runs the team. That sounds like a lot of power, but really in the NFL its not since a lot of GMs usually also have the role of president. Plus, thats nowhere near the Commisioner
The beginning of the end of the misery
by Latif Masud on Jun 28, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I highly doubt
it will get to the point of picketing. This is a huge distraction and a bit embarrassing given the recent past with Lions coaching personnel, but in a couple months, this whole thing will be forgotten. Yes, he has broken some of the morals that go along with his job title, but instead of fighting it, he’s taken responsibility, apologized and has admitted to an even bigger substance abuse problem. He’s handled it exactly the way you would want someone in his position to handle it. It just sucks that he put himself and the Lions in that position in the first place.
I absolutely agree Wayne
Mr. Lewand needs to be held to a higher standard then the average person
Absolutely…he is the TEAM PRESIDENT of a multi-million dollar organization. He most certainly gets paid well enough to be held to a higher standard, and I think it would be complete BS if he was not!
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
Its a tough call.
I don’t like to see people lose their jobs over one mistake. I also recognise that it could of been worse.
He should not lose his job
He just needs to take the time to correct his life. A LOA at a facility where he can devote 100% effort and detox.If he has a significant problem if he drinks a capful of NYQUIL he would be doing himself an injustice. After a detox period a return to work with ongoing counseling and support from his family. friends. and co-workers may keep him on the path of total recovery. I’d hope after doing this his charges would be suspended.
He decided.
He broke the law, and put innocent people’s lives at risk. Looks like WCF is not going to fire him. I’m fine with that, but wouldn’t feel sorry for Lewand if he did.
Come to think of it, that would be kinda tough. Lewand’s predecessor did not get a DUI, but did set the bar pretty low. Gotta believe that more than one person passed along a free shot to commemorate the end of the previous President’s reign.
All kidding aside, if Lewand’s addiction is preventing him from make sound decisions, then it really is time to hire another decision maker.
When Lincoln...
…was told that U.S. Grant was a drunk, he replied, “Find out what he drinks and send some to my other generals.”
I’m just saying, Lewand has done a pretty good job since taking over for Millen.
he should be apart of rookie contracts
But a month or 2 off wouldn’t hurt a bit here. Not saying suspend him but tell him to take some time off to deal with this.
Louis Delmas is gonna lay the MAC down on your candyass
Follett and Suh IN YO FACE!!!
by The Profiler on Jun 28, 2010 7:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
It was a mistake
But I am not going to put Lewand on the cross for it. He is not the first person or the last to get a DUI. I am sure the justice system will give him some community servicce time. All the years working under Millen. You would think more employees of the Lions would have drinking problems. But so far nobody really has the details of what happen that night.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
I expected as much
I wouldn’t think they’d hang him out to dry, at least not publicly.
"Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind." - Pride Leader, Sean Yuille, wielder of the Ban Hammer.
2010 Wests Tigers : Current record - 7-5 : Current Position - 5th : Last game - Defeated the Canterbury Bulldogs 19 - 12
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