The Chicago Bears hired former Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli as their defensive line coach/assistant head coach today. On the surface, this seems like a demotion. But it might actually be a promotion when you consider the organization coach Marinelli left. He has experience in this role. Coach Marinelli led the Tampa Bay Bucs defensive line from 1996-2005 and helped transform Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice into Pro Bowlers. So he had become accustomed to winning. Until he accepted the Detroit job, that is. In Chicago, he’ll enjoy working with Tommie Harris and Adewale Ogunleye (among others). This is an outstanding and very fortunate addition for the Bears.

Source: ChicagoBears.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Chicago Bears Add Rod Marinelli to Staff

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Detroit Lions Owner and Chairman William Clay Ford announced today:

• The promotion of Tom Lewand to Team President
• The promotion of Martin Mayhew to General Manager
• Rod Marinelli has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach

The following assistant coaches will not be retained: Joe Barry (Defensive Coordinator), Mike Barry (Assistant Offensive Line) and Jimmy Lake (Secondary). The contract of Joe Cullen (Defensive Line) will not be renewed. The team also announced that Jim Colletto has been re-assigned to offensive line coach. Additionally, Dave Boller (Assistant Director of Pro Personnel) will not be retained.

Unlike most farewell firing pressers, coach Marinelli actually attended his and answered questions from the media. I think that’s a classy thing to do. I’m not saying those departing coaches who don’t do something similar are classless, but it was just a top-notch way to handle a difficult situation. And I would expect nothing less from coach Marinelli because he has remained very strong amidst the trying times that left him with a 10-38 record during three seasons in Detroit:

“There’s a lot of great coaches out here that have turned programs around – (no) doubt about that. All I can tell you is I did my very best. I loved every second of it and I gave it 1000-percent of my energy – but it was energy I freely gave and freely loved.”

I think coach Marinelli is a good man and a good teacher of the game, but when you go 0-16 in the National Football League, it’s pretty hard to stay employed. I think coach Marinelli will move on and have a role as an assistant coach somewhere next season. And that team will be fortunate and better to have him as part of their staff. As far as the Lions are concerned, there is still reason for pessimism. As expected, the team promoted (instead of fired) two gentlemen — the aforementioned Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew — who have been very much a part of the team’s miserable past. So much for a much-needed total housecleaning in Detroit.

Sources: DetroitLions.com, DetroitLions.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Lions Fire Head Coach Rod Marinelli

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Following a 31-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers today, the Detroit Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. I can’t even imagine how difficult a season it was for the players and coaches. After today’s game, quarterback Dan Orlovsky said:

“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again. We haven’t won since — November of ‘07 — maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.”

It was December 23 of last season, actually. But the fact remains, there are so many problems in Detroit, it’s hard to determine where to start. I guess you begin at the top with owner William Clay Ford Sr. What he does this offseason will go a long way in determining if the Lions repeat this kind of performance in 2009. He already did the right thing by ousting former President and CEO Matt Millen back in September, but it seems to me a total housecleaning is in order. Nevertheless, it appears Mr. Ford is probably going to continue with General Manager Martin Mayhew and Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand. Head coach Rod Marinelli even stands a chance of returning to the team, which seems pretty unfathomable when you consider his 10-38 record as head coach of the Lions the past three seasons. The Lions have some good core players with whom to build a solid team around (namely Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey, Kevin Smith, Paris Lenon, Ernie Sims and potentially Daunte Culpepper), but without a proven franchise quarterback (like Matt Cassel, perhaps) and the right leadership, they’re just going to continue to spin their wheels.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Detroit Lions Make NFL History

It’s people like Detroit News columnist Rob Parker that gives sportswriters a bad name. After yesterday’s 42-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli was hounded by Parker, culminating in Parker asking coach Marinelli if he wishes his daughter had married a defensive coordinator better than Joe Barry. Coach rightfully didn’t respond. Later, Parker tried to apologize for his ignorance by saying he was “lightening the moment in a tense situation” (yeah, that’s what you were doing), but coach Marinelli was having none of it — apparently because he and Parker have developed a hate/hate relationship over the years. Probably out of fear of losing his job, Parker tried very hard to cover the blunder in his column this morning. He says he asks the tough questions. Please. Tough questions. Maybe Parker would like someone to publicly take shots at his family to see how it feels. This is just the case of another disgruntled sportswriter trying to make a name for himself the wrong way. Sadly, it worked.

Sources: Detroit News, NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Rod Marinelli Peeved at Detroit Sportswriter

As expected, quarterback Daunte Culpepper passed his physical and signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but here’s what Daunte wrote about it in an email:

“I have agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions and after taking a physical, I plan on signing a 2-year contract today. As a result of doing some research on different places to play, the Detroit Lions seemed to be the best fit for me. I am encouraged by the commitment of ownership, the vision of management and the great potential of the talent that is on the team. I am grateful to the Lions organization for giving me an opportunity to both continue my NFL career and make a positive impact in the Detroit community. I hope to contribute to the team in whatever role coach Marinelli needs for me to play.”

Lions head coach Rod Marinelli said he planned to get Daunte to work immediately to see how quickly he could become acclimated with the playbook. With Detroit’s quarterback problems (current starter Dan Orlovsky has a thumb injury), some reports are predicting that Daunte will start this Sunday against Jacksonville. That is completely unrealistic but not entirely out of the question. Coach Marinelli refused to say who would start, offering only that he wanted to keep the Jags “in the dark” when he, in fact, couldn’t possibly have much light to shed on the situation himself. The ink isn’t dry on the contract and Daunte hasn’t even practiced with the team yet. Drew Stanton or Drew Henson seem like more sensible options until Daunte can get his bearings.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Daunte Culpepper Makes it Official

Today was the last official day for the media to be working at the NFL Scouting Combine. Only one head coach made an appearance today — Detroit Lions leader Rod Marinelli. And Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian also stopped by. The final group of players to speak with the media were defensive backs. And LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey took his turn at the presser podium, making up for a missed opportunity yesterday because he was involved in a battery of tests at the hospital. I think he also wanted to clear the air regarding the rumors surrounding his attendance and ailing leg:

“I’m never surprised. I always try to set myself up to hear wild things. Some stuff I just wonder where people get it from. Even the reports saying I was not coming. I don’t know where that came from. It is what it is. I’m just trying to enjoy myself and make sure I’m taking care of my responsibility. Everybody is going to have their opinion on what they think about me and my game, but as long as I’m taking care of my business, that is all that matters to me ….. I have not missed a game since I got to LSU. Everybody gets bruised up. That’s the way I look at it. Who does not go through a season without getting bumps and bruises? I don’t think it’s an issue at all. I’ve played every game since I’ve been at LSU, my whole four years, so I do not think it’s a problem at all.”

Other than Glenn Dorsey, the talk of the day has been Arkansas RB Darren McFadden’s blazing 40-time as RBs, QBs and WRs worked out. Already considered one of the top prospects (and maybe the best overall athlete) in this Draft class, Darren ran a 4.33-40. I really didn’t expect him to get that good of a time. A 4.43 maybe. But, this was something to see. Darren was a blur. Somehow, that number was not the day’s best among running backs, though. East Carolina’s Chris Johnson ran a 4.24-40. This was nothing new for Chris. He is one of the fastest athletes at this Combine and a player teams are very seriously going to consider given his impressive collegiate stats and speed. One example — he had 408 total yards against Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl. And he’s comparing himself to Brian Westbrook. Sounds about right.

The quarterbacks impressed. My feeling that a bunch of these guys are going to make solid NFL QBs was supported by their workouts today. Joe Flacco showed off his big arm and speed for such a big guy. I thought Chad Henne (especially out-routes and deep throws) and Colt Brennan (20 of 21) also threw well. John David Booty looked sharp, especially on his long passes. He might be the most NFL-ready QB in this class. Brian Brohm showcased his accuracy, even on 45-yarders off seven- and five-step drops. Joshua Johnson is also a quarterback to watch. He was really off my radar screen until I saw his workout. Plus he ran the fastest 40-time (4.55) among the QBs. Matt Ryan (Boston College) and Andre Woodson (Kentucky) watched the action. Matt chose not to workout and Andre was nursing a hamstring.

The wideouts were a speedy bunch as five players came in under 4.4 in the 40. DeSean Jackson not only had the fastest 40-time (4.35) but he ran good routes and caught everything near him. He impressed me. One knock on him is his size (he’s a buck 70), but I think NFL’s team can utilize him much like the Bills use Roscoe Parrish or the Bears use Devin Hester. He’ll have a role for some NFL team in the fall. Indiana’s James Hardy is one of my “sleeper” picks if you can even call him that. In an NFL Network interview he admitted to needing to work on his blocking and route running, but this guy is going to be a good one. With his big frame, I think he has the potential to be unstoppable in one-on-one matchups.

Here are the winning numbers for quarterbacks, running backs and wideouts in their drills:

Quarterbacks – Bench Press (Bernard Morris, Marshall, 18); Broad Jump (Brian Brohm, Louisville, 9′7″); Vert Jump (Joshua Johnson, San Diego, 33.5″); 3-Cone Drill (Joe Flacco, Delaware, 6.82); 20-yard Shuttle (Alex Brink, Washington State, 4.19); 40-yard Dash (Joshua Johnson, San Diego, 4.55).

Running Backs – Bench Press (Jerome Felton, Furman, 30 and Carl Stewart, Auburn, 30); Broad Jump (Carl Stewart, Auburn, 11′2″ and Anthony Alridge, Houston, 11′2″); Vert Jump (Carl Stewart, Auburn, 39″); 3-Cone Drill (Ray Rice, Rutgers, 6.65); 20-yard Shuttle (Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, 4.18); 60-yard Shuttle (Matt Forte, Tulane, 11.49); 40-yard Dash (Chris Johnson, East Carolina, 4.24).

Wideouts – Bench Press (Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, 24); Broad Jump (Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina, 11′4″); Vert Jump (Keenan Burton, Kentucky, 38.5″); 3-Cone Drill (Harry Douglas, Louisville, 6.57); 20-yard Shuttle (Arman Shields, Richmond, 3.96); 60-yard Shuttle (Arman Shields, Richmond, 10.87); 40-yard Dash (DeSean Jackson, Cal, 4.35).

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Scouting Combine 2008: Day Four

It’s bad enough that the Detroit Lions have lost four straight games. Now they’ve lost their top receiver for possibly the rest of the season. Wide receiver Roy Williams (63 catches for 836 yards and five TDs) has a sprained knee and Lions head coach Rod Marinelli says the injury is similar to the one sustained by CB Stanley Wilson in the Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay. Stanley was put on injured reserve. The Lions are hoping the same fate does not await Roy Williams. Luckily, the Lions have a lot of talent at the receiver position (Shaun McDonald, Mike Furrey and Calvin Johnson), but Roy’s shoes will be difficult to fill. And with three of their final four games against playoff-bound teams (Dallas, San Diego and Green Bay), the playoff outlook for Detroit is grim.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Roy Williams Could Miss Rest of Season, Detroit Lions’ Playoff Hopes in Question

It was another beautiful day here in Indianapolis. Cold, for sure. But not a cloud in the sky. I spent most of my day inside as the action picked up considerably from yesterday with more than 15 head coaches speaking with the media and an endless stream of QBs, WRs and RBs.

I arrived early and set up shop in Media Work Room 105 here at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome. This is one of several “overflow” rooms for the media, but I prefer it because it’s MUCH quieter. I can’t write with all the chaos in the main Work Room.

My first order of business was an interview with NFL Draft Scout Senior Analyst Rob Rang. Rob had just arrived in town from his home base in Seattle and we had a great discussion on the Combine and this year’s Draft class. You can hear the interview on BPR61.

The day officially started with the Cleveland Browns winning a coin toss with Tampa Bay for the right to the third overall selection in April’s Draft. Both teams finished last season at 4-12. Then Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron started the coaches parade with a 10 a.m. press conference. He mentioned he was from nearby Terre Haute, IN. Coach Cameron was eager to develop a good working relationship with the media. He’s not short on words, so that’s a good start. The other coaches who were here today were Lovie Smith (Bears), Tom Coughlin (Giants), Brad Childress (Vikings), Jack Del Rio (Jags), Rod Marinelli (Lions), Herm Edwards (Chiefs), Tony Dungy (Colts), Eric Mangini (Jets), Jeff Fisher (Titans), Marvin Lewis (Bengals), Mike McCarthy (Packers), and Romeo Crennel (Browns). In addition, there were GMs Ted Thompson (Packers) and Phil Savage (Browns) and Colts President Bill Polian.

The players began filtering in just before lunch. At one point there were five QBs in the Media Work Room. Obviously I couldn’t talk to all of them so I spent some time at a roundtable discussion with Justin Palmer (UTEP, brother of Bengals QB Carson) and then caught fellow Pitt grad Tyler Palko for a one-on-one which you will also hear on BPR61.

After grabbing a quick lunch (the NFL provides food) and visiting with my friends from the EAS booth across the hall, it was right back to work as wide receivers were everywhere. I spent some time with a couple of very promising prospects — Boise State’s Jerard Rabb and Illinois State’s Laurent Robinson. (Note: As I eluded to in yesterday’s post, I can’t get any decent audio for the podcast by putting my digital recorder on a podium and shouting questions from a distance. I can’t. I won’t. And this is the norm here. So, if I want an interview with one of the “higher profile” Draft prospects, I will just contact their agent in the coming weeks and we’ll try to get something setup. Last year we had players like Maurice Jones-Drew, Antonio Cromartie and Chris Chester — to name just a few — on telephone interviews for the podcast.)

Jerard spoke about Boise State’s miraculous Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma and what impact that has had on his life and the lives of others. It was a good interview, very candid. He’s a cordial, bright kid. Laurent was a little more reserved, but very polite and confident. He admitted it was a dream come true for him to be here at the Combine. You can hear both Jerard and Laurent on BPR61 as well.

I sat in on one more roundtable talk — this time with Penn State RB Tony Hunt. When asked about passing PSU greats Curt Warner and John Cappelletti in the school record books, he said, “It kind of surprised me. It just happened. I didn’t really see it coming. It just happened. I didn’t know how many yards I had, I just heard people talking about it. It’s just an honor to be mentioned in the same category with those guys.”

In today’s workouts, kickers and punters did their thing on the RCA Dome floor while O-linemen and tight ends benched. Texas Tech guard Manuel Ramirez and Texas guard Justin Blalock each bench-pressed 225 pounds 40 times.

One funny thing that happened to me today was when I was walking out of Media Work Room 105. Now, bear in mind that I am working amidst anyone and everyone who is involved with the NFL it seems — you never know who you’ll run into around any corner — head coaches (obviously), former and current players, presidents and GMs, etc. Well, Buffalo Bills legendary Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy had just passed by the door as I was walking out so I said, “Coach Levy!” He turned around and smiled. So, I introduced myself and we had a nice chat.

It was a very good day of work. A long and tiring day of work. I spent 95% of it on my feet. And now I’ve got an eight-hour drive ahead of me, back to NY and the home studio.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Scouting Combine: Day Two