Detroit Lions fire coach Rod Marinelli
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Bill Jempty | Monday, December 29, 2008 |
Did anyone honestly expect a NFL coach whose team went 0-16 to retain his job? From ESPN-
The Detroit Lions’ pursuit of at least one victory in 2009 will have to come without Rod Marinelli, who was fired as coach Monday after a historic 0-16 season.
The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.
“No competitor wants to go through something like this,” Marinelli said after Sunday’s game. “This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there’s people going through a lot worse than this.”
In a statement released Monday, owner William Clay Ford Sr. announced the promotions of Tom Lewand to team president and Martin Mayhew to general manager.
Ford also announced that defensive coordinator Joe Barry, assistant offensive line coach Mike Barry and secondary coach Jimmy Lake would not be retained; the contract of defensive line coach Joe Cullen will not be renewed; Jim Colletto has been reassigned to offensive line coach; and Dave Boller, the assistant director of pro personnel, will not be retained.
Marinelli was 10-38 in three seasons in Detroit.
Most of Detroit’s problem stem from the disastrous reign of Matt Millen. Millen is gone now, and as the Dolphins proved in 2008, a team with a easier schedule when combined with some smart personnel moves can make a big turnaround. Don’t give up hope Lions fans.
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