# The 0-16 NFL thread 2009 edition (Or How I Learned to Love the Lions) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995 "2008-12-28T21:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/21 "2008-12-28T23:59:59Z")
I don’t want Parcells. One of the comments hit the nail on the head. He’s the NFL’s Larry Brown. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/22 "2008-12-29T00:17:05Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I don’t want Parcells. One of the comments hit the nail on the head. He’s the NFL’s Larry Brown. overall, larry brown worked out pretty well for the Pistons. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/23 "2008-12-29T00:35:21Z")
> [@5-HT](#): > > There’s only like 2 games each year that are still determined based on the previous year’s record, so that’s not really true that they reward bad teams with easy schedules. So you are saying I am wrong because the 2 flex games are easier. That would make their schedule easier. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/24 "2008-12-29T00:39:46Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > So you are saying I am wrong because the 2 flex games are easier. That would make their schedule easier. I never said that it didn’t make the schedule easier. You said bad teams are rewarded with an easy schedule, however. I’m saying that while it doesn’t hurt, two games out of 16 do not determine the overall difficulty of a schedule. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/25 "2008-12-29T00:50:16Z")
That and being in what is considered an easy division. They are locked into a home and home with each team in their division. That does a lot toward the difficulty rating. They still lost them all. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/26 "2008-12-29T01:16:45Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/27 "2008-12-29T01:17:23Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > So you are saying I am wrong because the 2 flex games are easier. That would make their schedule easier. Well, if I’m correct, the NFC North plays the NFC West next season, so the Lions two flex games will be against the worst teams in the East and South (Redskins and Saints, respectively), both of whom finished the season 8-8. Considering how inconsistent those two teams are, they could both very likely be much better next season. ---
**Author:** ![laughingboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@laughingboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laughingboy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/28 "2008-12-29T03:21:45Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I don’t want Parcells. One of the comments hit the nail on the head. He’s the NFL’s Larry Brown. As a Bears fan, I sure hope the Detroit head honchos think like you do. 🙂 Seriously, any chance they’ll give carte blanche to someone like Parcells or Cowher? If they had any sense, they would. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/29 "2008-12-29T04:31:46Z")
> [@laughingboy](#): > > As a Bears fan, I sure hope the Detroit head honchos think like you do. 🙂 > > Seriously, any chance they’ll give carte blanche to someone like Parcells or Cowher? > > If they had any sense, they would. Yeah, the coach-GM thing works great. Ask Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells in Dallas, and Andy Reid. No, I’d prefer to stay with a coach. If we’re going to get a new coach, he better be a clear upgrade. I’m not down with Cowher being the cure, either. I think he may help in the short term, but not in the long term. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/30 "2008-12-29T04:40:50Z")
Parcells wanted the job a couple years ago. It could be the only way to get credibility. Ford decided to stay with Millen. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/31 "2008-12-29T04:48:22Z")
I dunno. Will Bill Ford keep his hands off? Did hitting rock bottom show them how badly they’ve been doing? Will they spend like they did with Mariucci? No, we need a pretty good football mind in there, and I’m all for trying something off the wall EXCEPT I fear that if we don’t start with something established and secure, free agents won’t come in at all. Hell, it was hard enough last year getting free agents. We even traded away two impact players that were impending free agents because they’d have almost certainly walked. Short-term: I’m cool with a Cowher or Parcells Long term: they better be gone/not coach-GM in three years’ time. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/32 "2008-12-29T07:49:39Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Yeah, the coach-GM thing works great. Ask Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells in Dallas, and Andy Reid. Pretty sure if you were to ask, each would look at his own track record, then at Detroit’s, and give you a pat on the head. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/33 "2008-12-29T14:37:25Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Marinelli stays. ESPN is reporting that Marinelli has been fired. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/34 "2008-12-29T15:17:32Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Pretty sure if you were to ask, each would look at his own track record, then at Detroit’s, and give you a pat on the head. Parcells wanted the job and showed active interest a couple years ago. They have a few players and will get a great draft. With the bar set so low ,he could look like a genius in a short time. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/35 "2008-12-29T15:20:31Z")
> [@Soapbox\_Monkey](#): > > Well, if I’m correct, the NFC North plays the NFC West next season… Oh, good. I can jot one down in the win column for the 49ers. Plus, with the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams each getting one more win, the division won’t look as bad. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/36 "2008-12-29T16:38:22Z")
Actually, Detroit probably could beat both Seattle and the Rams. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/37 "2008-12-29T17:00:13Z")
Marinelli is holding a press conference. He was canned . ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/38 "2008-12-29T17:58:51Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > ESPN is reporting that Marinelli has been fired. Well, I can’t say that it’s not understandable. Now I just want to know what the plan is. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/39 "2008-12-29T18:12:26Z")
Plan? ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995/40 "2008-12-29T23:52:41Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Actually, Detroit probably could beat both Seattle and the Rams. 😃 Bullshit. We’re bad but we’re not THAT bad. Even WITH FOURTEEN PLAYERS on Injured Reserve (including3 WRs, and 8 OL, not even counting the fact 80% of our team missed at least SOME time this year.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-0-16-nfl-thread-2009-edition-or-how-i-learned-to-love-the-lions/478995.md?page=3)