Forbes Says Lions Lose Financially, Too
NFL Countdown | by Mike O'Hara | 01.25.2009/9:48AM
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A report in Forbes magazine that the Detroit Lions lost money in 2006 and 2007 should surprise no one and ought to send a cautionary note that tough financial times can throw the National Football League for losses, too.
According to the Forbes report, the Lions lost $3.1 million in 2007 and $1.8 in 2006. The Lions were the only NFL team to lose money in ’07, but other franchises had losses in ’06, according to the Forbes report.
The financial picture for 2008 is considerably gloomier. Several franchises have laid off employees – including the cash—rich Washington Redskins – and one league insider said that “12 to 14 teams” were in danger of losing money in 2008.
It has been well known in Detroit and in league circles that the Lions’ franchise has been victimized not only by eight straight losing seasons but a declining economy in southeast Michigan that struck the Lions at a critical time – immediately after they moved from the Pontiac Silverdome to Ford Field in downtown Detroit in 2002.
While many have speculated that franchise owner William Clay Ford keeps a sharper eye on the bottom line than he does on the product on the field, those with knowledge of the franchise’s operations know otherwise.
The Lions always have spent to the maximum of the salary cap—$119 million in 2008 and $123 million for ’09 – and Ford has never skimped on salaries throughout the organization.
For example, he has paid off the contracts of fired coaches – most notably, the $11.5 million owed to Steve Mariucci when he was fired with five games left in the 2005 season.
One source close to the Lions’ operation said that Ford personally covered more than $70 million in 2007 to make up for a cash-flow shortage. That is hardly the act of a man whose only interest is making money on the football team.
The Lions’ are a privately held company, and their finances are not made public. Team executives have never commented on the franchise’s finances.
Numerous reports have put the cost of Ford Field at $430 million, with the owner putting up 49 percent of the cost – roughly $220 million.
He also spent $38 million – with no return – on a new practice facility in Allen Park that opened in 2002.
Further, southeast Michigan’s failing economy has had a negative impact on sponsorships at Ford Field. Despite dire economic conditions, Ford has been reluctant to raise ticket prices. He did so for the 2008 season but held the line and lowered the price of some tickets for 2009.
The Lions are holding a “Town Hall” style meeting with season ticket holders at Ford Field on Monday and Tuesday evening.
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Linehan Hired to Lead Lions’ Offense
NFL Countdown | by Mike O'Hara | 01.23.2009/1:59PM
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Lions coach Jim Schwartz has crafted a good blend of styles in two two major hires to lead his offense and defense.
Scott Linehan, who directed a big-play attack with the Minnesota Vikings, was hired Friday to be the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Earlier in the week, Schwartz hired Gunther Cunningham as defensive coordinator.
Earlier in the week, Linehan had turned down an opportunity to be offensive coordinator in San Francisco. He reporteldy had an interview scheduled with the Oakland Raiders—who had not yet settled on a head coach—but signed with the Lions instead.
Schwartz and Cunningham had a history together on the Tennessee Titans’ staff, where Schwartz was coordinator and Cunningham was a position coach.
More recently, Cunningham was defensive coordinator in Kansas City, where he had mixed results – based largely on personnel available.
Linehan has strong credentials as an offensive leader. He was offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 2002-2004 and in Miami in 2005. He was hired as head coach of the St. Louis Rams in 2006 and was fired four games into the 2008 season. The Rams were 0-4, making Linehan’s overall record 11-25.
The hiring of Linehan, 45, could impact what the Lions do with their quarterbacks in 2009. They have four quarterbacks under contract – Daunte Culpepper, Jon Kitna, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson. Dan Orlovsky becomes a free agent next month.
Culpepper played for Linehan in Minnesota. He threw 82 touchdown passes – including a career high of 39 in 2004 – against 45 interceptions. Culpepper also rushed for 1,437 yards and 16 touchdowns in those three seasons.
However, Culpepper’s career took a steep downtown in 2005, when he sustained a severe knee injury. He has bounced from Minnesota to Miami to Oakland and Detroit since the start of the ’05 season and was barely a shell of his former self in his stint with the Lions in 2008.
Culpepper was signed in midseason and started five games. He was overweight and rusty and showed some flashes of his former style. He threw four TD passes against six interceptions, completing only 52.2 percent of his passes.
Culpepper is due a hefty signing bonus if the Lions exercise the option to bring him back for another. It is likely that he will be asked to renegotiate if he wants to remain in Detroit. Even then, there is no guarantee that he’ll be asked back.
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