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DETROIT FREE PRESS
BY DREW SHARP • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • September 10, 2008
If Lions don't beat Packers, Rod Marinelli's in trouble
The perverse timing could only be categorized as classic Lions.
Fox broke for commercial during Sunday's Lions-Falcons broadcast, right after Atlanta took a stunningly quick 21-0 first-quarter lead. And the commercial was for Lions season tickets, complete with the team's "Believe in Now" sales pitch.
I'm sure when the team bought the time, they figured a strong start against the 33rd-ranked team in a 32-team league would result in phones ringing off hooks in Allen Park.
Instead the Lions find themselves on familiar ground, quelling doubts regarding their competence while trying to keep such qualms from filtering into players' heads.
There's trouble when the coach speaks of keeping the locker room together and avoiding finger-pointing after one game. There's trouble when a team takes an alleged lesser opponent for granted, as some Lions conceded was the case Sunday against Atlanta.
That speaks to a lack of preparation and execution.
And that speaks to a lack of coaching.
But Marinelli being a good man with convictions has nothing to do with whether he's up to the extraordinary challenges of becoming a successful NFL coach.
It's only Week 2 of Year 3, but Marinelli faces his first ultimatum game.
It's win or else against Green Bay on Sunday.
Lose and the season's over in two weeks. Lose and the internal doubts intensify. Lose and William Clay Ford should immediately gauge Bill Cowher's interest in returning to the sidelines in 2009 after a three-year detour to the television studio.
Perhaps that's a harsh assessment, but it's a direct response to the "Believe in Now" dictum. Marinelli speaks in the commercial about how all that matters is "right here, right now."
He's confronting his first critical crossroads right here, right now.
Marinelli filled the locker room with his guys for this very purpose. He wants veterans who knew him during his assistant days at Tampa Bay to watch his back. He wants fiery personalities who, like him, are sickened at the mere thought of not giving maximum effort.
But it's not leadership when Jon Kitna chews out an assistant coach during the game. There are inevitably short fuses in heated competition, but Kitna's reaction resembled a meltdown, borne from the frustration of a season potentially unraveling before it even began.
Although Marinelli preaches calm and continuity, the Lions must display a sense of urgency against the Packers. Aaron Rodgers didn't look as scared and tentative as many thought he would when he officially succeeded Brett Favre at quarterback in the Packers' Monday night victory against Minnesota.
The Lions already are in full-bunker mode. And they have only themselves to blame.
Now they're not even guaranteed a sellout for their home opener Sunday against the Packers.
The Lions have until 1 p.m. Thursday to sell about 4,500 remaining tickets or risk the first non-sellout for a regular-season game in Ford Field's six-year history.
It's interesting to note the Lions are offering special $99 single-game ticket packages to spur stagnant sales. Buyers get two tickets, two hot dogs, two drinks and two blindfolds.
Maybe they should offer two barf bags, as well.
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It has to tough being a Lions fan. Do they deserve an award for perseverence or be condemned for continuing with the futility??
It isn't fun and I can't bring myself to talk "smack" to a Lions fan. I feel sorry for them. Last year when fans at Lambeau were holding up "KEEP MILLEN" signs it had to hurt.
Let's hope they don't come out as wounded animals on Sunday...
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