Lions approval ratings recap: June 2013

We are more than six months removed from the Detroit Lions' disappointing 2012 season. Players, coaches and fans have moved on and set their sights on a turnaround in 2013. What happened last year is squarely in the rear-view mirror, as evidenced by the results of our latest series of approval polls.

Earlier this month, readers voted on a simple question for general manager Martin Mayhew, head coach Jim Schwartz, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham: Do you approve of the job they are doing with the Lions? The results, at least to me, are a bit surprising:

• Martin Mayhew: 72.7% approve, 12.9% disapprove, 14.4% not sure
• Jim Schwartz: 58.1% approve, 21.1% disapprove, 20.8% not sure
• Scott Linehan: 42.9% approve, 36.8% disapprove, 20.3% not sure
• Gunther Cunningham: 54.7% approve, 27.1% disapprove, 18.2% not sure

The first thing that jumps out from these numbers is that Mayhew scored the highest approval rating. This indicates that some fans may not be happy with the performance of the coaches, but they are on board with what Mayhew has done as general manager of the Lions.

I also find it interesting that Schwartz got a 58.1 percent approval rating. Considering our poll at the end of last season had 63 percent of the voters calling for him to be fired, it seems like a lot of people have changed their mind on Schwartz with him returning for another season as head coach of the Lions.

As we get closer to the start of the 2013 season, we'll check back in with another round of approval polls to see if anything has changed with Mayhew, Schwartz, Linehan and Cunningham.