Lions Could Be Historically Bad

But hold your bets: Rankings show winning isn't everything

(NEWSER) - Great NFL organizations don’t always win Super Bowls, so Adam Schein separates the well oiled from the well Lombardi’d for Fox Sports, ranking franchises on everything from their coaching staffs to public-relations people. The top three:

• New England Patriots: “The model franchise in all of professional sports.”
• Pittsburgh Steelers: A penchant for toughness and even tougher fan base.

Departure follows end-of-season collapse

(NEWSER) - With the NFL season freshly over, the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, and the Detroit Lions have fired their coaches, the Washington Post reports. The Lions' Rod Marinelli was sacked after having the NFL's first 0-16 season. The Jets' Eric Mangini, at 37 the NFL’s youngest head coach, was plagued by a late-season collapse, the New York Times writes. The Browns' Romeo Crennell lost his job the day after the team's general manager was fired, USA Today notes. More»

Detroit hasn't topped Green Bay at home since 1991

(NEWSER) - Will the Detroit Lions become the first team in history to go 0-16 on Sunday? Probably, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press. The Lions are already 0 for their last 17 in Wisconsin, dating back to 1991, the year before Brett Favre joined Green Bay. Which means the hapless, winless 2008 Lions “ought to be choosing the menu for their last meal" before playing the Packers. More»

Ugly era ends in Detroit for former NFL star

(NEWSER) - Matt Millen’s tenure as the Detroit Lions’ president and GM is over, Fox Sports reports. His removal came after an executive meeting last night, and Millen reportedly packed up his office this morning. Millen, 50, was among the most reviled executives in sports—with even the son of owner William Clay Ford saying recently he would fire Millen if it were his decision. More»

Army grad, drafted by Detroit, skips active duty if he makes team

(NEWSER) - If linebacker Caleb Campbell hadn't been picked up by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the NFL draft Sunday, he'd be suiting up for the battlefield, not the gridiron. Assuming he makes the team, Campbell, who graduates from the U.S. Military Academy May 31, will be allowed to replace five years' service by working as a recruiter and a reserve while playing, the Detroit Free Press reports. More»