How will the Bob Quinn/ Matt Patricia era be remembered in Detroit? Disheveled? Uninspired? Ill-equipped? How about disconnected? The answer may just be all of it. Certainly the two former New England Patriots empolyees were in over their head from day one and it snowballed from there. Today Detroit Lions owner Shelia Ford Hamp pulled the plug and fired both general manager and head coach.
By cutting ties, Shelia Ford Hamp has bought herself and the organization she owns time to collect her thoughts and come up with a strategy on what direction she would like to see the Lions go in next.
Ford Hamp knows what she does not want in her next head football coach. She does not want someone who struggles to communicate in the locker room, in the film room, and then come up with some odd-ball game plan.
General manager Bob Quinn has failed time and time again in the NFL draft. Quinn has been consistent at missing the mark in free agency as well. But the biggest mistake Bob Quinn made was bringing in his friend Matt Patricia to coach the team.
The Detroit Lions never looked ready to play and next to never did the team make adjustments in games let alone week to week. Shelia Ford Hamp can do something her father and mother could not do during their time as Lions owners. She can bring a winning culture and team to Motown.
After last season both Quinn and Patricia were given a win or else mandate by Ford Hamp. At 4-7 on the season the Lions owner had seen enough to know it was time to make a change. Hats off to her for doing so during the season which does not happen often in sports.
As the Detroit Lions will now surely be holding daily meetings as to what is next, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has been appointed interim head coach. Ford Hamp is planning on using Len Perna and Turnkey Sports to help with the GM and head coach search.
Firing Quinn and Patricia had to be done. The next move is important as is the rebuild that will follow.
