I think Marinelli's approach to getting playing time will eventually pay off. I'm sure the NFL is tough but they do need to catch the ball. Close doesn't count as it does in predicting the weather. Most people would not get paid for making as many mistakes as some of our formerly beloved Lions.
Yeah, close doesn't count. That has been heartening to see, many of the scores this season were close. This is how the Lions played under Morh, Mornh, under Marty, and weren't winning games (2/14, 3/13), but weren't looking too bad (just not scoring enough points).
'Survivor,' Detroit Lions editionEveryone knows Rod Marinelli is gone as Detroit Lions coach next week. The only question is, will he outlast the newspaper columnist who has been leading the charge for his ouster?
by John Ryan
12/22/2008
San Jose Mercury News
After Detroit dropped to 0-15 Sunday, Rob Parker of the Detroit News took issue, as always, with the continued presence of defensive coordinator Joe Barry, Marinelli's son-in-law. When the coach didn't take the bait on repeated questions, Parker asked: "On a lighter note, do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"
Marinelli restrained himself, looking away and moving to the next question without a response. But the guys on Fox's national postgame show blasted Parker, as did just about everyone else in America. In his column Monday, Parker said he and Marinelli have a good relationship based on "mutual respect." He allowed, "My attempt at humor may have seemed slighted, cruel, and even insensitive. For that, I apologize."
Marinelli wasn't having any of an apology. "I didn't read it, I was just told a little bit about it, and I don't accept anything," he said. He added that he was particularly upset that it would happen in a "room of stink." Whatever that is, it's a term that should be used more often.
The News (which, like the Mercury News, is owned by MediaNews Group) posted a follow-up article on its Web with managing editor Don Nauss saying Parker's question was inappropriate. "The News is taking this matter seriously and will deal with it promptly in an appropriate manner," Nauss said.