Grade Martin Mayhew - July 2010
by Sean Yuille on Jul 27, 2010 11:47 AM EDT
in Detroit Lions Polls
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PrintIn the first part of this series of posts grading certain people involved with the Lions, the vote on Jim Schwartz was basically split between an A and B. As of the time of this post, 49% of the vote was to give Schwartz an A, whereas 44% was for a B. Only 4% was for a C, and there were only 10 votes scattered across the other two choices.
Next up in this series is Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. He took over for Matt Millen back in 2008 and has been making moves since then with the hopes of making the Lions a better football team. The nice thing about Mayhew is that every notable move seems to be part of a big picture type of plan. That was true when he sent Roy Williams to Dallas and got an absolute great deal in return, and that was just as true this offseason when he traded for Rob Sims or traded away Ernie Sims. Mayhew is a big picture guy, and this offseason especially he has made moves for a reason.
If you just take into consideration what Mayhew did since the end of last season, then I have to give him an A. If you go back to last year, the grade is still an A. And if you go all the way back to when he first took over, I still give him an A. Bringing Daunte Culpepper in does make me want to drop the grade down to an A- or something, but then I think about the fact that we now use the term "Mayhewing" to describe when one team seemingly gets a way better package in a trade than the other team(s). Considering that term first came about right after Mayhew took the job and traded Williams to Dallas, he deserves a nice-looking report card for what he has done so far.
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Best general manager of a 2-14 team ever?
My two favorite teams are the Tigers and Brewers. Drunk tigers. That sounds about right.
Me in 140 characters
I really think I should've saved this picture for a caption post
“You only want to give me two extra draft picks? Is this a joke?”
Pride of Detroit, for Lions fans | SB Nation Detroit, for Detroit-area sports fans
hmmmm
I need a cornerback…who can a take advantage of now.
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions
A
Simply for his Mayhewing abilities.
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 27, 2010 12:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Mayhew gets an A
And he should get one for not running away screaming when they offered him the job..lol He inherited one of the worst teams in the history of the NFL. No he has not made them winners………….. yet. But he has done everything in his power to improve the quality of his team. And he is slick as glass too.
Grades
It may sound harsh but it is reality as i see it. The Schwartz gets a C for everything he has produced to this point. A coaches only job is to win with what he is given and 2 wins would normally get you and F excepting the season that shall not be named and the “players” he inherited.
Mayhew on the other hand gets a B from me, his job is to give the coach players he can win with and last year he did a reasonable job doing just that. All these trades and draft picks all look good on paper but until i see them play and produce better than previous players I am not going to even consider them in his grade. I have seen far too many “great” drafts and trades that never produced anything close to their hype.
All that said, this may seem like a bitter fan post. This could not be further from the truth. 30+ years of die hard lion fandom has drilled one undeniable fact into my brain, heart and soul. Don’t Drink the cool-aid until it has aged properly, AKA…. 6 games into the season.
I gave a C .... though its really like B--
But was leaning on towards B for most of the same reasons you gave. However its this same reason Im going C right now, as last year there was some excuse but this year not so much.
Last year I’d say Mayhew got a definitive B grade by dumping Williams and even more so now that Dez has snubbed him as he moves up to replace him and if he does,… Mayhew looks like a champ GM. Last years draft sent very promising players this way .. Staff , Delmas, Foll, Grew … so yea good job in the start of the resurrection.
This year you almost want to grade him a B w/ all the moves made but two of the biggest acquisitions came from the coaching staff not the GM, KVB and NB. It was simple and easy to pick Suh at our spot in draft. Sure he got Sims and Williams but neither is Proven here and its only hoping for the best right now from them. From there everything else is questionable but again, he didnt acquire our two biggest FA in offseason. He may have said go head but its because the coaches themselves were like I NEED THIS GUY ..
The lack of really doing anything since draft of really going out here and solidifying a more guaranteed productive unit since has me dropping his grade from there. There are definitive holes in the defense, with hopes that the younger ones all gel as well as Delmas did in adjusting. This team is settling it seems at their projected 5-6 win season with hopes of pulling off a couple of close wins and boosting that to 7-8-9 wins, even we’ve given the idea that it could happen but only w/ a stronger unit.
They really need to put together a more WIN now mentality 5-6 isnt enough and the coach can only coach w/ the talent which the GM makes sure is there ..
A coward dies a thousands Deaths a soldier dies once ....
by JaiGaiaAries on Jul 27, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Like everyone else
I want to see the lions be more aggressive but there is a reality that can not be ignored. The holes the lions have remaining, secondary for one instance, are not the areas where you can go out and get starting caliber players in trades or free agency without giving too much away.
Starting quality corner backs almost never hit free agency because of their seemingly second only to quarterbacks importance to the team. The safety position while generally easier to acquire is miserably thin this off season and GM with trades to be made know that and are no doubt over asking for what they have waiting to be dealt.
But
Isn’t that a sign of a good GM getting his coaches the players they want? Even if he just said go ahead and go, that’s still a sign of a good GM.
Looking at Mayhew's pic
I want buy a new car and pay 35% over the sticker price.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
He said he’d throw in rustproofing for a couple of sixth-rounders…sounded like a steal at the time.
Hey that's a timeout, I can play right? yeah, get me--get the F-- Help me up...I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball...
I think I just got "Mayhewed". The wierd thing is
I feel good about it.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Lol
That’s part of being Mayhewed. Being made to feel like you didn’t get the short straw
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
but you butt is sore for some "odd" reason
LOL
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I am Lion's fan
My butt always feels sore for some “odd” reason
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
JC sorry about your sore butt
I used to fall asleep during the second half of their games and wake up with a creamy butt and a quarter in my hand. God I’m glad Millen’s gone!!!!
LMFAO!
Matt Millen screwed us all…thats a fact
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
That selfish prick didn't even give us a reach around
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Give him a B+
He’s done very awesome. Those moves have to pay off in the win column before I can give him an A. Very promosing for sure.
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
I went B
However there is no way to give a proper grade on this one I think. Most moves made by GMs don’t show their total value until the players have been here 3-4 seasons. Yet, to completely turn this team over and scrap all the pieces that didn’t fit our future plans. While at the same time putting together new pieces and some late draft finds. I gotta go with a B if not a B+.
I have a 9" personality
by Waitingfortheroar on Jul 27, 2010 1:50 PM EDT reply actions
B
I still remember the feeling of disbelief when I heard Bryant Johnson was going to be the #2 receiver last year. And the Northcutt for Alexander trade wasn’t great, either. We’ll have to wait until this year to see if he’s made a dent in the CB situation.
All in all, I think he’s done a pretty good job. I was absolutely against giving the job to Matt Millen’s understudy, but Mayhew has not proven to be Millenesque in any way, shape, or form.
by Big Z in Orlando on Jul 27, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions
C
I would have graded him higher, but he was around when Millen was busy leaving upperdeckers all over Ford Field. I know the party line is “Millen didn’t listen to anybody” but I can only take that so far. If I worked for a boss who was that clueless and the results could be heard in any joke about an NFL team written in the last decade, I don’t think I would have hung around so long.
He moved to C for the Roy Williams theft trade
I gave a B
Its a very solid B. Won’t give an A until we make the playoffs. Everything looks good on paper so far, but the game isn’t played on paper. I love the Williams trade and I love how it appears he works with the coaching staff. I think that’s huge.
The Playoffs
may be a bit extreme but I agree that you cannot give an A when he is 2-14 as a GM. He did IR Kitna only to bring in his guy in Culpepper. Traded a starting S for a washed up slot receiver. Even Kitna for Anthony Henry was bad, because then we were forced to trade for Shaun Hill. His saving grace is that he has (well the organization has) had the best draft in the entire NFL the last 2 year.
2-30
Martin Mayhew!
Only wins and losses change my “D” vote
The days of blaming the past are over. Today is happening. Go S. PIOLI and seize the day!
You gotta give Mayhew a break
Its not easy when you have a stingy owner who wont fork up big free agent money, big free agents don’t want to come to a 2-14 team in the first place. Also, we have had 2 great drafts under Mayhew according to… everyone. He has made some great trades and signings, which we will see how good they are from this offseason but they look good on paper. He got a great coach in Schwartz and good coordinators. I gave him an A because he is working magic with a broken magic set and making it look good. He is not trying to win NOW he is trying to build for the future with value decisions therefore you cant base this grade off his record, yet. Maybe after next season we can truly base it on his record.
while i think a D grade is harsh
I agree with OCCHEIF2U said at heart. The Lions are a Joke and have been for so long, people are not going to give any relief on their perception of anyone in the organization until they win. To date, The Shwartz and Mayhew have won 2 games. In the NFL, that is all that matters each and every sunday and at the end of a season.
an 'A' in my book
most moves he has made has a) gotten rid of most of the useless players millen got and b) greatly improved the team as well as gotten people believing the team can be good again.
"Good things come to those who keep fighting"
+1000000000000000
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
I'd right a post ranting about how glad I am we didn't get T.O
but that bum isn’t worth my time.
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
even I can't belived I used right
instead of write
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
You still got it rong
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 28, 2010 5:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I gave him an A like most others that voted.
If we had a revote in a few years, it would be pretty interesting.
Obviously pretty early on but...
If we are grading based on moves made while in office, I say an A is pretty reasonable. We’ll see how he fares in a few more years.
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
Solid B from me.
If guys like Foote and B Johnson/Northcut would have panned out I’d move that grade up to an A in a heart beat. But while we can sit here and say well these guys were brought in as stop gaps and such,Great GM’s don’t use stop gaps they get players that are going to be part of your organization for a long time. I understand where some of you are all about giving him the A because when the cupboard is so barren to start with it’s easy to make it look fuller with a variety pack of Ramin noodles, but the thrifty shopper would have canned goods and box goods so that your not having to chose from Chicken/shrimp/beef flavors 5 out of every 7 days, if you follow my analogy here. Do I like what he’s done so far HELL YEAH, but could he maybe have done more, I think so. He gets the B for getting a coined phrase “mayhewed” after himself and with that trade of the joke formerly known as Roy Williams I wanted to give him an A but not all of his moves have been great, if they were why in the world do we have like 50 DT’s on our roster when only 2 can play at once.In my opinion he could have got us 1 of the plethra of FA RB’s this off season, especially not knowing for sure that K Smooth will even be at 75%, and sorry guys I am NO MM fan, a career back-up is our best bet and not even a good back up at that.Again talking about the secondary with all the guys that were out there weather it was FA or via trades he could have gotten someone better than Bly as our Vet to teach these others at the CB position, still not sold on the other 2 guys we brought in either. I like the Sims signing and Williams at DT and everyone of the offencive players brought in but where is the pass-rusher?? Hoping that Avril or a dark-horse is going to be the stud at end is not enough for me sorry guys. Yeah KVB is a HUGE upgrade but he is no Peppers/Allen he’s more of the Porchette at the end of his career solid against the run and with coverage help he will get some sacks, but not a premier pass-rusher by no means. Where was the upgrade next to Delmas?? I guess he/we are using the addition by subtraction theory on this position. Like I said I like what he has done so far and he had NOTHING to start with but with all these stop-gaps we have been signing I think he could have done better. SOLID B!
How many lumps you want Doc?
I am just going to say
I think Foote Johnson and Northcutt did work out in a sense. They were a viable option for a season. And now they are being replaced by better players.
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Viable?
What does
viablemean to you?
To me, Northcutt and B. Johnson weren’t even average at their position. With a guy like Calvin drawing double and triple coverage they should have at least respectable years, but they didn’t.
Foote worked out pretty good, I’ll give give you that one.
by Big Z in Orlando on Jul 28, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I think you have to give him an "A"
although I think we’ll have to wait until the season’s done and over with to give an accurate evaluation. Seriously though, think back two years to how awful we were, how we were literally one of the least talented teams in the history of the NFL. Now look at our current roster. How many GM’s in the NFL can you honestly say have accumulated so much talent in such a short time? Seriously?
I think ....
Any of his quote, bad choices have to be taken with a grain of salt. As Sean said, yeah he brought in Culpepper. Realize how few players wanted to come to this team 2yrs ago or even further back. Mayhew did not only change a team by personnel but also by culture and opinion based view. NO ONE in the NFL really wanted to come to Detroit unless it was their last option or maybe a few players who were actually from the state of Michigan. That being said, players, sports analysts and even our fan base have changed our views and it is mostly because of the actions of Mayhew. He has virtually saved the Lions. Some of the people he has brought in were not his first choice but simply his only choice. Also, no one will ever have a perfect record in drafting as well as players to be brought in FA. That being said, he has done almost a perfect job given how everything has been stacked against him from the start. I can not image why anyone would give him less then a A. I will say this, going from a talent level of nothing to what we have, it would be hard not to do so well since some talent is better then nothing. His real test will be taking a team that is in the playoffs to adding those missing pieces to get us over the hump. That is the real test to me. But so far he has done a A+ job IMO.
by Joey-P on Jul 28, 2010 5:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Perfectly said...you got a rec
Thing is people just simply can not look at wins and loses. That is such a narrow-minded view of what he has done. To do what he has done in such a short time. Is remarkable. He has a plan to build this team for the long haul. Sure, he could have over paid a bunch of stop-gap players. And maybe the Lions would have won a couple of more games last season. But, where would the leave them for the future. Alot of people were talking and taking notice of the ‘08 Dolphins. From 1-15 to 11-5 and a playoff berth. But where are they now? Nobody is thinking that they will be maling a playoof run any time in the future. Everyone outside of Detroit is talking about the Lions. Every football fan I run into is now saying " You’re a Lions fan? Those guys are going to be good."
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
F?
Who let 2 bears fans vote? The D I understand due to the record but F?
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 28, 2010 9:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Out of the 1400+ people that voted (so far), it must make them feel special to be the only 2
They probably haven’t responded because they only know how to work the mouse and typing requires the use of the keyboard, as well. Let alone the ability to write coherently.
Like I said
Bears fans
"If nobody invites you to their party, start your own f#$%ing paty"---Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society
by Enforcer on Jul 28, 2010 12:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I gave him a B, but really wanted to give him a C (average)
I’d give him an A, but I remember feeling very similar to Millen when he took the reigns. I was really excited that Millen was going to take the team to the next level. In retrospect, Millen was not what any of us had hoped for.
I’m just cautiously optimistic that Mayhew and his decisions really do have long term “A” implications, but you really can’t grade someone until you have their results in front of you. Right now we only have “hypothetical results”
+1
I gave him a B, because of his aggresivness and his 09 draft. But in his time as GM they have won only 2 Games, and I wanted to give him a C. We need to see how the rookies fair and the develpoment of the 09 class. The Free Agents he picked up need to perform this year also, lots of money spent on KVB and NB.
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin
by Leapin Lion on Jul 28, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
1 difference Enor between Mayhew and "the unmentionable 1"
Jack ass seemed to draft on 1 side of the ball and totally neglected the D when if he would have looked at the stats for all those years he was hear we were constantly being bashes on 1 side of the ball. Now if you think back how many top 2 round picks were on the D side of the ball???? I can only think of 1 and he is now an Eagle. Now like you said it is very early in this FO’s tenure but at least Schwartz and comp, have drafted some DAMN FINE talent on the other side of the ball, look at what they have drafted in the past 2 years up the gut players Delmas and SUH and next year I think we are going to take another Defencive player in the top 2 rounds most likely CB or S pending how the guys they brought in this year pan out especially when you look at Speivey. When Jack ass was here it was the same thing year after year after year WR, WR, WR,WR,RT, he was so committed to selling tickets that he forgot that to win in this league you have to play on all 3 sides of the ball, This regime has put guys in place on all three phases of the game and to me that was good enough for the B.
How many lumps you want Doc?
He has drafted very well so far
But he has missed the marks on alot of free agents so far. The Anti Joe Dumars..lol
But to be honest I love Mayhew, and how he has led the organization. But I am concerned with putting too much faith in him yet. I just get those feelings that he’s too good to be true.
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin
by Leapin Lion on Jul 29, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
McCourty signed C'mon Lewand I know Suh will come after Bradford signs but
You now have enough information to get Best signed today don’t let other teams set market step up and do it yourself
Anything is Better than Millen
My eight year old son could have picked better than Millen. Mayhew is following the lead of the Schwartz. “May the Schwartz be with you!”
A solid B+
I am a first time poster here but I personally think a solid B+ is a great grade for Mayhew. Here is my opinion. He is in his second year. He had absolutely nothing to work with his first year. He made some great moves ala Roy Williams trade and then some bone headed ones. Some decisions that I still scratch my head on is the Northcut and B Johnson moves. They had a chance to draft a good reciever in the draft last year with having three picks within the first 33 picks. I can see that he is working on the bigger plan and that plan will take time. I like his methods so far but not upgrading (IMO) the secondary this year is the reason I drop him out of the A range. There were way to many options that he could have pursued to fix the secondary. I am not sold on Houston, Wade or Bly being the answer at CB and there is no clear cut SS on the roster. I have serious doubts that the line will create enough havoc that the secondary won’t be picked apart.
First off B cat; welcome to the POD home of the most loyal fans on the planet.
Second he did get us a CB in Spievey, yeah it took to the 3rd round to get 1 but this guy was a BIG 10 stud at CB and he is going to be a guy that our FO looks to too be a man on 1 half of the field he is just the kind of player that Schwartz had in Tenn. and after next year we will have his counterpart on the other side of the field assuming that 1 of the 3 FA’s don’t step up and lock down that other side of the field.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Welcome to POD
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin
by Leapin Lion on Jul 29, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
What he said...
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 29, 2010 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
A soild B
the grade is still out on this draft class , I still don;t understand giving up on ernie simms and daniel bullocks …… the whole bringing back dre bly , unless his attitude is vastly different , or it changed because no one else wants him …….he was still a part of the millen years , hopefully learning what NOT to do……..the swartz hiring was worth a B alone as was the roy williams trade and unloading jon kitna and getting something for it hopefully he reports to bill jr. soon and not the old man ….he will get an A then ////////
marc hoople
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