Mayhew and Lewand Fired - Mayhew signs with Giants

[kingofdetroit57]

Martha looks like Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy) from Shameless.

 

[zyxt9]

Grandy, they haven't actually fired Caldwell yet. It's an easy one for the trifecta, granted...but better safe than sorry???

 

[kdp1980]

Published:*Nov. 5, 2015 at 01:02 p.m.

Updated:*Nov. 5, 2015 at 01:31 p.m.

Lions could be headed for a complete reconstruction

Dan Hanzus

Around the NFL Writer



Are Caldwell and Stafford's Lions future in doubt?

The*Detroit Lions*are just 10 months removed from an 11-5 season and a trip to the playoffs. On Thursday, in the midst of a disastrous 1-7 start to 2015, they decided to hit the reset button.

General manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand*are both out. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Jim Caldwell has been told he*remains the head coach, but forgive Caldwell if he's not doing cartwheels through the*Lions' facility. It should be nothing more than a stay of execution. Caldwell is under contract through the 2017 season, but consider him the ultimate lame duck.

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Breer: Lions firings are 'unorthodox move' for midseason

The timing of the move is unusual. The*Lionsare just one week removed from*firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi*and two offensive line coaches. Those moves might have saved Caldwell's job for now, the team unwilling to further gut a coaching staff midstream. But the firing of long-standing front office personnel -- particularly Lewand -- indicates just how upset ownership is with the team's sudden nosedive.

"We had no clue," one coach told NFL Media's Albert Breer of Thursday's major changes. Breer said on NFL Network that the moves were like "a bomb going off" at*Lions*headquarters.

What comes next? They've invested tens of millions of dollars and seven seasons inMatthew Stafford, and it's safe to wonder if new leadership will believe Stafford is still the answer with a high first-round pick on the way. Rapoport reported that Stafford's*Lions*future beyond 2015 is*"very much in doubt."*If theLions*do start from scratch, what does that mean for 30-year-old*Calvin Johnson, who's under contract through the 2019 season?

The*Lions*have yet to appear in a*Super Bowl*in the 50-year history of the big game. On Thursday, they waved the white flag on the latest group tasked with ending*that embarrassing drought. The decisions made by Martha Ford tell us the*Lions*could be virtually unrecognizable the next time they play a relevant snap.

 

[thehippo73]

I hate televised statements. If you want to do that just post it to the Lions website. If you go in front of the cameras, answer questions. Like why the hell does Caldwell keep his job?

 

[Mitchrapp]

I hate televised statements. If you want to do that just post it to the Lions website. If you go in front of the cameras, answer questions. Like why the hell does Caldwell keep his job?

Who would you put in his place? Plus, Martha likes Caldwell. Let the new GM worry about Caldwell.

 

[inkfreq]

Who would you put in his place? Plus, Martha likes Caldwell. Let the new GM worry about Caldwell.

Word has it that Caldwell has been told he will be judged on Wins for the rest of the season. If he doesn't right the ship, and fast, he's just holding a spot for the next coach.

Suffice it to say, he's gone, just at a time when it's easier to interview new coaches.

 

[tomdalton22]

I can't say I am excited. My company is in the process of reducing staff or looking at options to do so, including outsourcing IT.

I kind of understand how the guy at the end of the hall feels, wondering if I still have a job tomorrow.

To be honest, terrible team or not, I sympathize with the people losing their jobs.

I'm sure the IT guy at the end of the hall doesn't have a guaranteed contract that will still pay him 7 figures even when some Indian is doing his job. These guys will be sipping strawberry daiquiris on some beach in the Caribbean within a week!

 

[zyxt9]

Sheldon White will be interim GM. Search for new GM will begin today.

http://www.detroitlions.com/team/staff/sheldon-white/d3846308-46d2-478c-a08e-e8792a8bbbce

freaking concerns me. looks like mayhew 2.0

 

[thehippo73]

Who would you put in his place? Plus, Martha likes Caldwell. Let the new GM worry about Caldwell.

I know Martha likes Caldwell but why? What has he done this season to escape the ax? I understand the next GM will want to put his people in place and they will let Caldwell go at that time.

Just would like the answers to some questions.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Word has it that Caldwell has been told he will be judged on Wins for the rest of the season. If he doesn't right the ship, and fast, he's just holding a spot for the next coach.

Suffice it to say, he's gone, just at a time when it's easier to interview new coaches.

From what I understand the GM is usually the one who makes decisions on head coaches. So he could win 4-5 games the rest of the way and the GM can still can his ass..

 

[inkfreq]

It's also being reported that the Levy extension may have played a part in all this. With him going to IR, apparently Martha has learned there was no clause in his contract preventing him from walking on the wings of planes, skydiving, or anything else that can cause a major injury off the field.

Apparently she didn't appreciate Mayhew re-signing one of the team's more valuable players and NOT doing something to prevent him from being stupid.

Sounds like his hip injury may have had something to do with his off-season hobbies.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Looking at the schedule, some teams don't look as easy St. Louis and Oakland, for example - and the only team I see as winnable is San Francisco.

 

[inkfreq]

From what I understand the GM is usually the one who makes decisions on head coaches. So he could win 4-5 games the rest of the way and the GM can still can his ass..

That's normally the case yes. But with a team as permanently dysfunctional as this one, it's hard to say if the next GM will actually be "the boss".

In all reality, she has put him on notice... win or be gone. I don't think he can win. So I think he's gone anyway.

 

[Mitchrapp]

It's also being reported that the Levy extension may have played a part in all this. With him going to IR, apparently Martha has learned there was no clause in his contract preventing him from walking on the wings of planes, skydiving, or anything else that can cause a major injury off the field.

Apparently she didn't appreciate Mayhew re-signing one of the team's more valuable players and NOT doing something to prevent him from being stupid.

Sounds like his hip injury may have had something to do with his off-season hobbies.

Didn't think his injury might be off-season related but damn Mayhew. Dumb move.

 

[sggatecl]

Apparently Bill Ford Jr is out too? Just heard it on the radio, god damn.

 

[grandy]

Apparently Bill Ford Jr is out too? Just heard it on the radio, god damn.

Out of what? From everything I've read, he had less to do with the team after WCF passed.

 

[dubbsco]

He's not out of anything, he's just never been involved with the team, and that's not going to change.

 

[sggatecl]

Out of what? From everything I've read, he had less to do with the team after WCF passed.

It's just rumors and whispers but basically he'll have zero input on anything, they're bringing in his sister Sheila Ford to have more of a ' prominent role'. No indication on what the role is.

At the beginning of the season I read an article that all 4 kids had organizational input. Apparently not the case anymore.

*edit* I think this was the one. http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/10/09/detroit-lions-bill-ford-jr/73674882/

She said this spring that she involves all four of her children - Ford Jr., Martha Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis - in organizational decisions, and all four are as listed as vice chairs on the team's official website.

 

[sggatecl]

He's not out of anything, he's just never been involved with the team, and that's not going to change.

That's very false. He had a hand in this team very much so before his dad died.

 

[dubbsco]

I don't think he's really had much of a role. The Ford's are always so hands-off. That's what the GMs and coaches loved about the organization. They would get hired and never hear from the people above them.