I am the biggest Lion critic there is, but the Ford announcement that Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew are coming back shouldn't signal a dead end for Lion fans.
I'll admit, I know Tom Lewand and I like him, he's a Detroit guy who wants to win and is willing to do whatever it takes to see the Lions succeed. I think some of the fan's anger is misdirected and him and Martin Mayhew. These guys don't deserve to be unceremoniously dumped, they aren't the problem, it is their boss, W.C. Ford.
Lewand is the front office business guy, he doesn't make any football decisions and he has done a good job of keeping the Lions contract's in line so the team isn't mortgaged for the future. Anger toward him by Mitch Albom and others is simply misdirected. Lewand is the "business" end of the Lions, he just counts the money and formats the contracts. Lewand could work with any new GM as his right hand man. Many in the NFL will tell you Lewand is a "good" capologist and has done a good job of keeping the Lions budget in line. He was there before Millen and shouldn't be linked to the failed administration. If Lewand continues to do his job, he should retire as a lion, he's a Lion fan and a strong Detroiter, don't misdirect your anger at guys in the front office who are actually good at their jobs.
Mayhew is a different story, he is directly in charge of the personnel and not one of us wants to see another GM get "on the job training." We already went through that with Matt Millern and Mayhew's connection to Millen should be too much to overcome for any lion fan. Sadly, Mayhew may eventually be the "cats ass" of GM's but I am sure none of us wants to see him get the chance. It is simply part of the business that Mayhew must go.
Mayhew must go as the new GM won't want him around, but Lewand should stay, he's good at his gig and passed up on many opportunities to stay with the Lions to build a winner.
I'll admit, I know Tom Lewand and I like him, he's a Detroit guy who wants to win and is willing to do whatever it takes to see the Lions succeed. I think some of the fan's anger is misdirected and him and Martin Mayhew. These guys don't deserve to be unceremoniously dumped, they aren't the problem, it is their boss, W.C. Ford.
Lewand is the front office business guy, he doesn't make any football decisions and he has done a good job of keeping the Lions contract's in line so the team isn't mortgaged for the future. Anger toward him by Mitch Albom and others is simply misdirected. Lewand is the "business" end of the Lions, he just counts the money and formats the contracts. Lewand could work with any new GM as his right hand man. Many in the NFL will tell you Lewand is a "good" capologist and has done a good job of keeping the Lions budget in line. He was there before Millen and shouldn't be linked to the failed administration. If Lewand continues to do his job, he should retire as a lion, he's a Lion fan and a strong Detroiter, don't misdirect your anger at guys in the front office who are actually good at their jobs.
Mayhew is a different story, he is directly in charge of the personnel and not one of us wants to see another GM get "on the job training." We already went through that with Matt Millern and Mayhew's connection to Millen should be too much to overcome for any lion fan. Sadly, Mayhew may eventually be the "cats ass" of GM's but I am sure none of us wants to see him get the chance. It is simply part of the business that Mayhew must go.
Mayhew must go as the new GM won't want him around, but Lewand should stay, he's good at his gig and passed up on many opportunities to stay with the Lions to build a winner.
