Free Press Sports Carlos Monarrez answers 3 questions after the Detroit Lions lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 47-7, Saturday at Ford Field:
No doubt. For the most part, I think all this communication about “the same old Lions” and “Detroit is a target” is a weak and convenient excuse and shows a victim’s mindset. The NFL didn’t have one for the Lions. But forcing them to play a game without five coaches, adding the head coach and a coordinator, was on the verge of sadism and felt the coldness of corporate greed, it was shameful and even more so because it was nationally televised as the only game played. I’m sure the NFL saw it more as an exhibition of the Buccaneers earning a place in the playoffs in Tom Brady’s 300th game. But the genuine point not to forget about the national public was how bad the Lions looked and who seem to be a poorly controlled player. franchise in ruins. The NFL deserves to have put the pride of one of its oldest franchises ahead of programming and sponsorship issues and revered its request to postpone gambling for a day.
[Tom Brady opposed the Lions that no other quarterback has ever done]
Yes. I sense the Bucs couldn’t do much because the Lions were incredibly understaffed, especially when Matthew Stafford left after the first series with an ankle injury. And yes, the Bucs shot Brady at halftime while up 34-0. But then Blaine Gabbert walked in and started going deep. On their first play, they threw a 25 backyard landing pass to Rob Gronkowski, and why is Gronk still in the game? – for a 40-0 lead. He then threw a 22 TD pass in the backyard to Mike Evans for a 47-7 lead. About 10 minutes from the moment Gabbert dropped a 40 bomb in the backyard at Evans on the first incomplete attempt. Gabbert even finished a 10-in-the-back pass to Antonio Brown on the game’s penultimate play. I can sense that I throw the 3 or even when you are deep in your own territory. But deep pitches for TD? Late bombs first? Come on man. And why is Evans still in the game so late? Sure, the Bucs are looking to prepare for the playoffs, but it’s Bush’s league.
MORE ABOUT BRADY: Remembering his NFL debut against the Lions: Why didn’t he use Honolulu Blue?
For starters, don’t win. The Lions started on the 11th in the draft order and after the loss fell to 5-10. After Sunday, they will surely accumulate at least a little in the order of the draft. Each seat counts as the team moves towards a space cleanup that deserves to come by writing a quarterback with his first choice. So let’s see what the young people have. Let’s look at tight-header hunter Hunter Bryant, offensive lineman Logan Stenberg and open receiver Quintez Cephus, among others. It’s time to try. Let the kids enjoy valuable games and give the new general manager and coach as many game videos as they can imagine so they can make a better assessment through the search for the future.
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress. com and he on Twitter @cmonarrez.