Can Detroit Lions Staff Overcome Their Owner?

Much has been made of the new Detroit Lions' coaching staff of Jim Schwartz, Gunther Cunningham, and Scott Linehan, as well as the moves new general manager Martin Mayhew has made. A lot of hope is, yet again, riding on these men.

But the 800-pound gorilla in the room is owner William Clay Ford, Sr. Can the Lions' new brain trust overcome the consistently bad management Mr. Ford has shown in his 45 years of ownership?

If one looks at owners of other, more successful teams, such as Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, Ford had comparable opportunities and revenue sources to have as many championships as them.

However, what Ford lacks that both Jones and Kraft have an abundance of is passion for the game and a strong will to win.

All too often in Ford's tenure as owner, the Lions have appeared to be on the road to greatness. Perhaps the best opportunity was during the 1990s under Wayne Fontes and the running of Barry Sanders. But Ford put men in place to make bad decisions; if Fontes hadn't pleaded, Ford would not have drafted Sanders. 

In recent years, mostly under the Matt Millen regime, there was an inexplicable loyalty extended by Mr. Ford to Millen despite a long series of losing seasons. How can a GM do so poorly and be rewarded for it? 

When the trigger was finally pulled on Millen, many Detroit Lions' fans begged and pleaded to bring in someone of caliber, such as Scott Pioli or Floyd Reese, to finally bring competency to the front office. There was even an unsubstantiated rumor that Bill Parcells could be lured away from Miami to work his magic.

But fans knew it wasn't all up to the management. Ford has had a lot to do with ruining this team, but his staff gets a lot of the blame.

So after Millen left, Martin Mayhew was promoted from within. He has done far better moves in his short tenure than Millen did in his eight years. Mayhew got multiple picks for WR Roy Williams and hired a good, possibly great, coaching staff. He also has cut under-performing players.

It seems like a good, committed staff is in place to bring Motown's team out of the losing bin. But will the spectre of William Clay Ford, Sr. cause the Lions to fail yet again?