Lions Finances, Panthers, Sproles, New Coach
Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 01.7.2009/6:09PM
Sorry, gang, if I’m a little out of sorts today.
I just saw Gran Torino, and in one of the first scenes, a kid went to church wearing a Lions home jersey with No. 11 on the black. I didn’t see the name plate, but I assumed it was for Roy Williams, and not Greg Landry – who was the starting quarterback in 1977—the first full season I covered the Lions.
Landry also visited my company in Viet Nam, as part of a USO tour. I wrote a free-lance story about it for The Detroit News – and was paid $75. I was overpaid, even then.
But here we go, with a fresh batch of questions:
From Brendan:
I read that there may be a big tax issue with the Lions when William Clay Ford Sr. dies. Since he paid $4.5 million for a team that is now worth upwards of $700 million, it seems like this could be a LARGE tax bill as it iis passed on in the Ford family.
I would have to think that the Ford Family tax lawyers have created ways to get around this sort of thing, but is this an issue or not, and if it is would it help explain their recent frugality.
The second issue is why nobody is talking about the potential for a lockout for the 2010 NFL season. From what little I have read, this seems to be a real possibility. If this is the case, I think the Lions are playing it conservatively (and dare I say smart), not hiring a high-dollar, high-profile GM that they would have to pay even if there was a lost 2010 season.
That being said, I don’t understand why with the salary cap at $123 million for the 2009 season and a player like Leigh Bodden owed a $8.6 million bonus, you would not pay an extra $2-$3 million a year for the best coach you can get.
A: That was two questions, and a combo question-comment. But in order:
1. I don’t see where the Lions have been especially frugal. They’re at the salary-cap max every year. They pay off fired coaches—$11.5 million to Steve Mariucci most recently, and Rod Marinelli certainly will get what’s coming on his last year. Cash flow, from Ford Field underperforming as a revenue-producer, and a bad economy are issues. The Ford family taxes are separate.
2. The potential lockout has been written about and discussed, but this isn’t the time to beat it to death. First, the Players Association has to pick a successor to the late Gene Upshaw. And there is a high expectation that there will be a new labor agreement before 2010, to prevent a lockout.
3. Leigh Bodden will not see that bonus in Detroit. Never. It doesn’t matter if they hire a coach for a dollar a year or a million bucks a game.
Also, the selling price on the Lions was $6 million, with $2 million in assets.
From K. Rink:
Now that we live in North Carolina, I have to ask – how far do you think the Panthers will go? Dave says it’s a good thing the Panthers don’t have to play the Eagles first and the Panthers get the Cardinals. Can the Panthers make it past the Giants?
A: What a name, K. Rink. Perfect for a hockey mom – or the governor of Alaska. I love the Panthers. They’ll demolish the Cardinals. They rate to beat the Eagles at home, but the Giants are another matter. Wait till we get to that game.
From Paul:
I
miss you on Fridays and Mondays on WJR. However, I don’t miss your somewhat bizarre calendar.
Columbus Day is and was October 12th, not the 24th. I am certain that more than one Italian has taken you up on that point.
Now, to the Lions.
If they get a new coach and coaches, then we have to go through another set of coaching X’s and O’s on the chalkboard. How many different systems on offense and defense can there that changes X’s and O’s to a degree that moves it so far up the ladder to be superior to everybody else’s X’s and O’s?
Another thing. A successful coach has to have the horses to make
him successful.
A: Maybe they should dump the X’s and O’s and switch to Roman numerals? Really, you’ve got a point. They need more talent, especially on defense. Mike Ditka used to call them Show Dogs. The Lions have brought home too many strays.
I fixed the mistake myself on Columbus Day. Heads will roll. I’ve fired three copy editors. Did that feel good.
And I’m still on WJR—38 states and half of Canada, as Steve Courtney says.
From Carl:
Quick comment about your recent “6 Pack” post and Darren Sproles.
Darren Sproles has been a stud since college. I was doing my Masters work at Baylor when he was at K State and watched him personally run all over the “mighty” Baylor Bears for two years. Not that running over the Bears is anything to make a big deal out of. However,, he ran circles around everyone else, too.
I don’t understand the idea that he’s not an “every down” back. Cliche. Millen-esque commentary. What about Warrick. Dunn, Barry Sanders and other “small” backs? He’s a weapon on the field. A devastating one at that.
The reason why he only had three good games in the past four seasons is because he’s been sitting behind Tomlinson, arguably the best NFL back in recent memory. Any team would be thrilled to have him and should already be—not just because of the playoff game.
This is all, of course, in my humble opinion. Who knows, maybe I’m just still riled up from the 2005 draft when he was passed over by everyone (the mighty gridiron gladiators that don the Honolulu Blue and Silver on Sunday (shock, I know) until pick #130.
A. Forget about any comparison to Barry Sanders. He was short – 5-8 or 5-9 – but not small. He played at about 202 and had huge legs. Sproles is a terrific second back – a change-of-pace back. That was a great ’05 first four for the Chargers—- Merriman, Castillo, Jackson and Sproles. Still, I don’t see him as an every-down back. Too much pounding.
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