FanPost

Disappointed Lifetime Detroit Lions Fan



Dear Mrs. Ford,

I have been a Detroit Lions fan my entire life. I was born and raised in Detroit and currently live in the Washington, DC area. Over the past 40 years, I’ve watched The Detroit Lions with great anticipation at the beginning of every NFL season, hoping and praying that our Lions would emerge from the bottom of NFL mediocrity to become winners of a Division Championship, a Conference Championship and eventually a Super Bowl Championship. The last time they won a National Championship was in 1957, before the Super Bowl era and before I was born. That was 58 years ago. The last Division Championship was in 1991 – 23 years ago.

In the 80’s we had hope with Billy Sims. In the 90’s we had Barry Sanders and again there was a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, there were never enough quality players around either of them for the Lions to truly succeed. In the early 2000’s we had the now clearly destructive hiring of Matt Millan as President and CEO – an unproven NFL executive – and his chronic and legendary mismanagement of the team. Millan’s stint with the team ended with cementing the Lions into NFL history with our 0-16 season. Currently, the Lions continue to self-destruct with Martin Mayhew as the General Manager and the hiring of Jim Schwartz as Head Coach. And let’s not forgot to talk about the highly touted over-rated #1 draft pick, Matt Stafford, in 2009, who continuously and consistently fails as the starting quarterback.

All the while, I was faithfully rooting for the Lions, feeling that at any moment they would begin to demonstrate they were a true contender – like last year with their 11-5 record and their first playoff appearance in 23 years. After all, they had the #2 defense in the NFL, with players such as Ndamukong Suh, Ziggy Ansah, Nick Farely, George Johnson, Darryl Tapp, Andre Fluellen, and CJ Mosely. I also watched with awe and admiration as they consistently came back from deficits to win games. And there was hope.

I especially want to talk about how we went from the #2 defense in the NFL to the #28 defense - out of 32 teams - overnight. While I know we could not keep the entire defensive line together due to salary cap restrictions, it is clear that Mayhew did not do everything in his power to ensure the Lions remain a top tier defense in the league. It’s the GM’s responsibility to sell the vision and mission of the team to the players and to ensure we have the players to consistently achieve those high aspirations. The GM needs to provide the coaching staff with the tools they need to continuously improve – not regress. Clearly, Mayhew failed in this endeavor.

Do we really need to talk about the offense? No offensive line to protect the quarterback; no running game; the ineptitude of the quarterback. The running backs, receivers and tight ends cannot get open. I write this letter as I watch the team’s pitiful performance in London vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on November 1st. This game speaks volumes about the downward spiral of the franchise.

You should know that I admire the Ford Family and everything they have done for the City of Detroit and the Auto Industry with the exception of the Lions ownership! I routinely go to the Ford Home whenever I am back home in Detroit. This past July, my girlfriend and I toured the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Home, attended the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert on the lawn, and attended the DIA Diego Rivera and Freda Kahlo exhibit, including the courtyard mural, which was commissioned by the Ford Family. There are a group of Detroiters who now live here in the DC area and have continued routing for the Lions over the years. We go to a local bar in Capital Hill, which turns into the Lions Den on Sundays, to watch the games.

I think it’s important for you to know that I cannot take this anymore. I am tired of this one-way relationship with the team. I give them everything and they give me nothing. I implore you to take whatever action necessary to get the Lions back on a winning and high performing track. Sell Now! Or hire experienced football people to manage the team! Start with the firing of GM Martin Mayhew and President Tom Lewand along with their entire staff, as they are the architect of the latest iteration of this losing franchise.

Matthew Stafford is not the quarterback that can lead us to a championship. He is reckless and does not continue to improve his play, with his careless, gun slinging mentality resulting in multiple interceptions every game – especially this past Sunday.

I don’t know what else to say. I wanted you to know how I feel. And I know I’m not the only one. Speaking on behalf of my fellow Detroit friends in the Washington, DC area, and all Lions fans, I know they are as frustrated as I am, as my friends and I have talked about this many times. I’m done.

Respectfully from a Long Suffering Lions Fan,

Arthur K. Mallory

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Of Detroit or its writers.