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Lions Gossip

grandy

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
11,699
I normally wouldn't post something like this, but since it will probably be slow around here I'll go ahead and throw it out there. Can't verify if any of it is actually true but none of it would surprise me. Enjoy

http://detroitsportsrag.net/detroit-lions-rumors-gossip-and-innuendo/

By Jeff Moss
January 1, 2014

"Over the last few days the DSR has received plenty of gossip about the Detroit Lions organization which is what usually occurs when a franchise season ends in such a disappointing fashion and people are fired.

None of this stuff is too salacious (the real good stuff is still being vetted by our attorneys) but it might give you some insight into the mess of a locker room that Jim Schwartz presided over.

The Origin of Stafford’s Lack of Accountability

It is no secret that quarterback Matthew Stafford was coddled under the old regime. Martin Mayhew didn’t even deny it during the Black Monday press conference and former Lions defensive tackle Lawrence Jackson told me as much in a DSR Podcast a few weeks ago.

But the lengths the former coaching staff went to insulate Stafford from any criticism is pretty shocking. And Schwartz wasn’t even Stafford’s biggest cheerleader on the staff.
That honor would go to offensive coordinator Scott Linehan who had such a man crush on his QB that after the Texans loss last Thanksgiving, Linehan was literally CRYING about Stafford’s toughness during a team meeting. And you wonder why Stafford is pissed off that Schwartz and Linehan got purged? His raw ability brought tears to his offensive coordinator’s eyes.

Would you want to work with someone new if that was the only boss you had ever known as a professional?

The book on Stafford is that he does the bare minimum to get by. He isn’t studious about film work and he thinks he has everything figured out. But you didn’t need me to tell you that last part.

You could have read his comments about hiring a QB guru to work with over the offseason and already have known that.

From what I can gather from various people inside Allen Park is that the Stafford reclamation project is the most crucial obstacle facing whoever is brought in to replace Schwartz and Linehan.

It is going to be a major culture shock for the coddled, supposedly lazy and SUPER wealthy former first overall pick in the draft. And how he responds to new coaches who don’t treat him like a Tiger Beat cover boy will probably make or break the 2014 Lions season.

And for the record, I have always been a Stafford guy. I have probably been as guilty as anyone of defending him based on his talent and the comparison to other quarterbacks who have led this team during my lifetime.

I am just relaying the information I have been provided by people in the know. Throwing sidearm and off his back foot might be the least of the new staff’s issues with Stafford when they take over.

A lot of his issues seem to be upstairs.
If the new offensive coordinator wants to snap Stafford into reality, I would suggest showing him film of any game #9 has played without Calvin Johnson in the lineup.

Friction in the Locker Room

According to my sources, the “culture” that Mayhew wants changed is a locker room that just didn’t seem to give a shit about winning and losing.
Supposedly, Calvin Johnson has the same “leadership” skills as Barry Sanders possessed which would be fine if there wasn’t a vacuum of policing by the rest of the players.
One of the few leaders on the Lions this past season was Reggie Bush who tried to coerce his teammates to have the same sense of urgency as he had. Not only did some of his teammates shrug off Bush pleading with them to step up their game, it led to friction between Bush and some of his teammates.

Suh’s a Real [John Han]cock

Now, I am not saying that every player on your favorite team has to be a choir boy, but the level of douchebaggery with Ndamukong Suh is off the freaking charts as best exemplified by this story.

So, last season when Jason Hanson was calling it a career, he requested all of his teammates to sign a football for his collection.

It’s a pretty basic request of retiring players. Anyway, every single player on the roster agreed to sign the ball. Except Suh who said, “Fuck that, I get paid to sign my name.”
I mean, can you imagine? A 21-year veteran employee wants you to autograph a keepsake and that’s the attitude you take? WHO DOES THAT??!?!!?
Suh’s teammates rightfully gave him shit about his horrid behavior and the All-Pro finally agreed to act like a civilized human being. It was too late though as Hanson made it known that he didn’t want any favors from this dickhead.
So the ball is probably sitting on a shelf in Hanson’s home with the signatures of all of the kicker’s ex-teammates from his last season in the NFL.

Except Ndamukong Suh.

Schwartz Wasn’t Much Better

You hear a lot of euphemisms about Schwartz being “prickly” or that he ”rubbed people the wrong way” and how his personality and Mayhew’s didn’t mesh.
Well, let’s put it this way. Schwartz makes Ndamukong Suh look like Tom Hanks. I am guessing the reason many in the organization didn’t like Schwartz is because they are civilized people and Gym Shorts was a selfish dipshit.
Anyway, here is a story directly from a DSR contributor which illustrates the level of assholery that was seeping out of the office of the man in charge of the Lions locker room.

A good friend of mine went to a party at the Schwartz household. (I think their kids played sports together.)
Anyway, this friend told me that Schwartz was the biggest dickbag he had ever met.

Wouldn’t talk to anybody and didn’t socialize. Basically, he spent the entire evening in his “mancave” listening to really bad Rock ‘n Roll that was excessively loud.
My buddy said it was so uncomfortable and obvious that Schwartz wanted them out of his house that everyone left the party. Never once came out to say goodbye to anyone that was leaving, despite repeated efforts by his family to do so. Again, just a giant cock according to my friend.
A real sweetheart to be sure.
And Finally …..

If you think you are frustrated with the Detroit Lions organization, don’t worry you aren’t alone.

Hell, even members of the Ford Family are irate at this organization. The following picture is a screen grab from the Facebook page of Calvin Ford.
Calvin is the son of Edsel Ford II. And a cousin of Bill Ford, Jr.


You can’t make this shit up. Maybe I should hire Calvin Ford to be a writer for the DSR. He certainly seems to have the proper mentality."
 
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Honestly don't believe the Suh part. I can't imagine someone of his level and pay telling people that he only signs for money. The rest of it, yeah. Definitely possible.
 
Gruden would be the best thing for Stafford. He'd either whip Stafford into shape or urge the organization to move on without him.
 
Jeff Moss is my hero. Can we lock this from LKP? .....he might have a stroke.
 
Time to trade him while we maybe able to get some picks for him...
 
other teams move on from high picks....you just need the balls to do it.

I want to see a coach here that actually makes him work, before we give up on him. Get somebody in here to light a fire under his ass. He's not motivated and it's because he's been basically surrounded by yes men his entire career.
 
What's another 50+ years of losing...
I will be 102 then..

If this team has any chance of winning it makes more financial sense to hire somebody who can assist Stafford, otherwise they're screwing themselves out of several million per year for a player who's not even on the roster.
 
I am sure you are right... Guess we have to keep our fingers crossed on Matt.
 
Time to trade him while we maybe able to get some picks for him...

Sometimes this is what I want us to do as well. Take the hit, draft well and ride it out. So we can't sign anyone and maybe we need to let guys go. This team needs to start from scratch..
 
Frustrating because I thought we hit rock bottom with the 0-16 season..
 
I could absolutely see Suh saying that. Most of this team comes off as a bunch bitches with a false sense of entitlement.
 
Most of this stuff has to be true. I hope we get the right coaches in place before another implosion happens.
 
Most of this stuff has to be true. I hope we get the right coaches in place before another implosion happens.

Why does it HAVE to be true?

Everything I have ever read about Stafford and Suh contradicts what is written in this story. Unless someone credible puts his name on these stories....that's what I believe they are. Made up BS.

1. MULTIPLE players and coaches/front office types said that Stafford was at the facility ALL off season and he worked hard. It's certainly true that he probably is disappointed in the firing.....he has had the same HC and OC his entire NFL career. Who wouldn't be? It doesn't mean he is "lazy". I love how the story mentions that he is SUPER wealthy. Yep. Thanks captain obvious.....we all knew that. A LOT of NFL players are. Wealth doesn't make you lazy.

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/4/15/4225738/matthew-stafford-lions-offseason-mvp

http://www.freep.com/article/20130908/SPORTS01/309080021/detroit lions matthew stafford

2. Everything I have ever read/heard about Suh talks about what a good guy he is off the field. I am not going to sit here and defend his on-field behavior.....its unbelievable at times....but I highly doubt that Hanson/signed ball story is true. In fact.....I googled a couple different things looking for something about it and found NOTHING. Maybe I didn't put in the correct keywords, but as much as the media likes to jump on Suh every time he farts, I though I would find SOMETHING. Nope.

3. The Bush story is probably true. Good. We need someone like that. I just wish the guy that fumbles every 3rd carry wasn't the guy preaching to "step up" their game. But that's not a story. It's an obvious observation. I could have written that.

4. Schwartz is a douche.
 
Suh being a good guy off the field may be true, that doesn't mean he's not immature. The comments he made may have just been one of Suhs immature and egotistical moments. Maybe Hanson just couldn't handle Suh fucking with him. Looking at Hanson comment, I think it shows somebody that is emotional about leaving, who maybe couldn't handle a joke at that moment. Just another Suh "moment" blown out of proportion imo
 
so as long as I put my sources as "people in the know" then I can write shit like that and everyone buys off on it...

According to "people in the know" if you all send me $100, I will give each of you a piece of ocean beachfront property in New Mexico that will be worth millions this year.
 
I've read the same thing about how Staff was always at the facility and busted his ass in the offseason so I'd take all these stories with a grain of salt.

As for Bush, you don't need a team meeting. Just stop fumbling. And if you do fumble, don't mope and pout on the sideline like an 8 year old for the rest of the game. Get your head back in the game. That's how you can show leadership.
 
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