During Super Bowl week, players, coaches and executives from around the NFL gather at the game's location. Essentially the entire league converges on one city with people going in order to take in the experience, promote something or in many cases, watch the game. I've always wondered how many people actually stick around for the game, especially those who are involved with teams not playing in it.
Lions president Tom Lewand was asked about this very subject last week, and he explained exactly why it is tough to stick around for the Super Bowl when your team isn't in it.
"I used to come down to Super Bowls with Roger Penske because he was the chair of our host committee," Lewand said. "Roger would always wonder why I left on Saturday night or Sunday morning. He would say, 'What are you doing?' I would say, 'Let me ask you, if your car doesn't qualify for the Indy 500 in the month of May, do you stick around for the race?' He said, 'Say no more. I'll see you later.' That's the feeling you get here (attending the Super Bowl) more than anything else."
Lewand went on to say that being at the Super Bowl is a "reminder that this is where we want to get." On the one hand, it can be tough to stomach the game without the Lions in it, but it also serves as motivation for the franchise. Luckily, the Lions are at a point where thinking about them being in the Super Bowl is no longer a pipe dream.