Coach Rod Marinelli – Lions hype or hope, who knows, but character for sure!

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Sit down, relax, tell me about your character and how much you love football

Your intrepid author is enjoying a fantastic off season.

Those of you lucky fans that root for the Colts, Pats, Chargers, Eagles, Bears, or any other winning or hopeful team, do not understand the mentality of a die hard Lions fan.

You see the off season is our on season. It all leads up to the draft.

How fantastic is it that the news is all about the Lions and what they will do? Not that they will suddenly turn into contenders, but it is how it affects all the other teams. Quite a few teams want that 2nd pick.

Usually most of my friends are done watching the Lions by game 4 of the season. After a few butt whippings by mediocre teams, they have had it.

Now your gallivanting author through secret Far Eastern meditations and incantations (not to mention the frontal lion-a- botomy) is able to withstand a whole season of Lions ineptitude.

Now with Matt Millen as the general manager, some hops and rye and personal therapy have also been needed.

None the less, it is the off season and the Lions are willing to wheel and deal. This is important, because after the 1st day of the draft, half of the Lions season is over. At least the half that counts. You see, for one day the Lions have the hype and the hope.

Coach Rod Marinelli is here to change all of that. He believes that team begins with character. That character has to be found before it joins the team. This is crucial.

” I’ve got to keep doing research on their background. I’m going to call their high school coach. I’m going to call their counselor. I’m going to call their strength coach. I’m going to call everybody the guy’s been associated with.” source

Marinelli is huge on character. It is a big part of the equation and one he listens to.

“I talked to Ernie Sims last year,” Marinelli said. “The guy came forward (in his seat). The guy was on my desk, looking at me. The guy just loves football. It didn’t take long to see it.

“Daniel Bullocks (a safety drafted in the second round), the same. I want to measure that in the equation. It’s a gut feeling.”

Settle down there Lions fans. Rod also looks at the measurables and film. Marinelli is a football guy!

“A lot of times, when you miss in the first round, it’s because you started to fall in love with the measurables, not the film,” Marinelli said. “You’ve got to go back and watch the film again.”

The Lions trade down buzz is in the air and other teams are listening.

By most accounts, there are six blue-chip prospects. Two are quarterbacks, JaMarcus Russell of Louisiana State and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, running back Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, defensive end Gaines Adams of Clemson and offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin fill out the top six. source

Think about it. Cleveland is right behind them in the draft and wants one of the quarterbacks. Tampa Bay is right after them and wants Calvin Johnson. And the list goes on.

Marinelli has admitted the Lions are getting a lot of calls.

The Lions are scheduled to pick second, though Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli admitted Wednesday that the team has been virtually besieged with offers from other teams interested in drafting No. 2 overall. source

Yes the Lions are truly having a character filled off season. Maybe my friends will actually get to the 5th game this year!

NFL Football Fan Question Will the Lions trade down? Will they make a good deal by doing it?

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