1/18/2006 Lions hire Rod Marinelli as the Head Coach
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| Rod Marinelli went 10-38 as the Head Coach |
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| We can go 0-16 together |
3/14/2006 Lions re-sign DE Kalimba Edwards
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| Edwards struggling in Detroit |
He signed a 5 year $20 million contract with $8 mil guaranteed. New defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson recruited Edwards to stay after being courted by the Cleveland Browns. In 2005, Edwards recorded 7 of his 20 career sacks. He will only record 6 more sacks in his final 24 games. with Lions.
4/29/2006 Lions draft OLB Ernie Sims
After the failure of 2nd round picks Boss Bailey (51 starts 7 sacks 2 int) and Ted Lehman (16 starts 1 sack 2 int), the Lions reach for the small LB Ernie Sims at pick #9. A great athlete who ran 4.5 and had 41" VJ at the combine but possessed zero instincts for the ball. He signed a 5 year $15.73 million contract. He played 59 games with 2.5 sacks 1 int 2 FR. After Mayhew traded him for Tony Scheffler, The Eagles cut him loose after a terrible 2010. He played for the 2-14 Colts in 2011.
8/24/2006 Lions D-Line Coach Joe Cullen arrested
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| Jon Kitna throws Coach Cullen under the bus |
Cullen was arrested for DUI, indicent exposure and obscene conduct for driving naked thru a Wendy's.
9/1/2006 D-Line Coach Joe Cullen arrested
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| Cullen was suspended for one game |
Cullen was fired from Mississippi in early 2005 after an arrest for public drunkenness in a restaurant.
1/2/2007 Lions fire DC Donnie Henderson and Hire Joe Barry
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| 2008, Barry's defensive gave up 517 points |
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| Foster |
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| Bell |
4/28/2007 Lions draft QB Drew Stanton, DE Ikaika Alama-Francis and S Gerald Alexander in the 2nd round.
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| Alama-Francis |
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| Drew Stanton |
1/3/2008 Lions Fire OC Mike Martz and hire Jim Colletto
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| 2007 the Lions had the 4th ranked passing offense |
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| Jim Colletto |
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| Smith carted off after 0 picks and 41 tackles |
He signed a 2 year $5 million contract. A former Buc with a super bowl ring, he struggled at Minnesota and had trouble off the field. He was released at the end of the season. Add him to the names of Greg Blue, Idrees Bashir, Daniel Bullocks, Kenoy Kennedy, Bracy Walker, Terrence Holt, Jon McGraw that started at S on the road to 0-16.
3/1/2008 Lions trade DT Shaun Rogers to the Browns for CB Leigh Bodden and a 3rd round pick (Andre Fluellen)
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| Bodden had 1 pick in 15 starts |
Rogers had grown to be fat and a cancer in Detroit but Millen botched this trade. He picked up Chuck Darby to replace Rogers and signed Bodden to a crazy contract. (4 years $27 mil $2 mil signing bonus $8.6 million bonus in March of 2009) He was released by Mayhew instead of paying the bonus. He would still be with the Lions if we did.
3/14/2008 Lions sign CB Brian Kelly from the Bucs.
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| Part of the Tampa crew |
Part of the Tampa 2 collection. Kelly signed a 3 year contract but was released December 9. He was paid $3.25 million to play 11 games and make 26 tackles and defend 1 pass. He was actually replaced on passing downs during the Jags game. I have never seen a starting corner replaced on passing downs before that. Travis Fisher, Keith Smith, Stanley Wilson, Chris Cash, Andre Goodman, RW McQuarters, Doug Evans and Otis Smith all started games at CB on the road to 0-16.
10/14/2008 Lions place QB Jon Kitna on IR and trade WR Roy Williams and 7th to Dallas for a 1st, 3rd and 6th (Pettigrew, Derrick Williams, Aaron Brown)
Kitna was shelved for a sore back for Dan Orlvosky and Drew Stanton. Martin Mayhew had taken over for the fired Millen and probably did not like Kitna giving up in the Vikings game. Kitna was traded to Dallas for CB Anthony Henry (who sucked).
The Roy Williams trade was piece of the road to 0-16. Without Kitna and Williams the Lions had to rely on a poor QB, Calvin Johnson and Shaun McDonald. Roy was lazy and was on his last legs but could have helped win a game in 2008.
114/2008 Lions sign QB Daunte Culpepper
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| Mayhew tells Culpepper, we will start Matt Stafford |
The road was long. I'm glad it is over.
