The Lions looked like one of the league’s worst teams on Monday night while suffering a humiliating loss to the Jets, and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) there are already rumblings that Detroit’s veterans aren’t happy with first-year head coach Matt Patricia. The former Patriots defensive coordinator has reportedly installed rules that Lions players find cumbersome while (in the opinion on the player) over-working them during practice sessions. Ex-New England coordinators finding conflict in their first go-round sans Bill Belichick is nothing new (see: Josh McDaniels, Eric Mangini), but Patricia’s standing with his veteran players is certainly something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Here’s more from the Motor City:
- Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah left Monday night’s contest with a shoulder injury, but an MRI revealed the issue isn’t serious, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who adds Ansah is “hopeful” he can play against the 49ers in Week 2. Losing Ansah for any amount of time would be devastating for the Lions, who don’t have much depth on the edge and ranked just 22nd in adjusted sack rate a season ago. Ansah, 29, was franchise-tagged this offseason and is now earning $17.143MM for the 2018 campaign, but he’ll need to produce again this year in order to land a multi-year deal next spring. He finished the 2017 season with 12 sacks, 44 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
- The Lions aren’t pleased with punter Sam Martin after the club allowed multiple lengthy returns against the Jets, so they’re taking a look at free agent options, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Ryan Santoso, an undrafted rookie free agent who spent the summer with Detroit, was in for a workout, as was veteran Ryan Quigley. Martin, for his part, ranked second-to-last in net punting average in 2017, but the Lions’ punting unit ranked in the middle of the pack, per Football Outsiders’ special teams metrics. Detroit would take on at least $1.5MM in dead money over the next two seasons if it cuts Martin.
- In case you missed it, the Lions auditioned free agent cornerback David Amerson earlier this week in an effort to shore up a weak secondary.
SOL
Patricia is trying to change a culture. Not easy. See Belichek-Browns.
Apologies if Mr. B name misspelled…..
The sad thing was it was working in Cleveland until Modell announced he was moving the team.
Of course Patricia is trying to change the culture to the Pats way a winning culture, and of course some of the vets aren’t happy with it, they’ve got use to average to below average seasons. When’s the last time the Lions won anything meaningful?
Before all of us were born.
Honestly though, the mediocrity is embarrassing. As Lombardi says, “The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious”. These players need to take responsibility and buck up. They’re getting paid millions to be athletes—so if that means extra training under Patricia, then go out there and get after it. I agree that they have become accustomed to being in the middle of the pack, where they do not have to take the extra step. I would rather see a rebuild with players who want to support a winning culture, than spend my life watching it players give half effort.
9-7 the last two years is definitely not a losing culture. Maybe a a player or two away being a contender, so I don’t why everyone is portraying them like they are the Browns. Tweaking a few things sounds reasonable, but a total “ culture change” doesn’t seem necessary.
Charlie Weiss and Romeo Crenel… I would add Bill O Brian to the list of belicheck disappointments as well.
Please tell me how Bill O’Brien is a disappointment? In his 4 years in Houston he’s led them to a 9-7 record 3 times, won the division and made the playoffs twice. Mind you he hadn’t had a decent QB until Watson. If Watson and Watt didn’t get injured last year they would’ve made the playoffs, and they stand a good chance to make them this year.
Bill O’Brien is a good head coach. I like him. However, this year is make or break for him. Hopefully Watson can compose himself after his sad Week 1.
You mean hopefully his Oline can play well enough he isn’t spending half the game running for his life
Patricia gets to impress his former boss in a Sunday night prime time affair September 23. That game against the Patriots will provide a pretty good indicator of how hard the Lion veterans are going to play for him.
Lion veterans are going to purposefully not work hard for Patricia in order to hurt their season? Sounds like a rotten plan.
Hard to believe grown men would rather relax and get paid then work the extra workouts. Sounds like early clickbait but worth a watch I guess. New coach. New system. Need to put the work in.
400 games coached by Belicheck staff turned head coach. Only 160 wins in those 400 games. That is a 0.400 win percentage. Classic “He teaches them everything they know, he does not teach them everything he knows”.
Lions have sucked for so long that when they say they haven’t won in SF since 1975 you can’t help but laugh. Monte Clark could have broken the curse but hence these guys will never win as long as the Fords own the team. This current generation has killed their auto company & continues the losing ways of the football team. Sell both & get some new blood! You guys can be rich & just go away!