2011 Detroit Lions: Staying Positive in an Uncertain Climate

The Detroit Lions have often been the butt of jokes due to having a series of less-than-stellar seasons.  We, the Lions faithful, have continued to cheer for them, regardless, waiting for the winds to change direction and fall on the side of the Lions.  It has just been a matter of time.

The time has arrived.

Curious, isn't it?  When others are worried about the lockout and if there will be a football season this year, the Detroit Lions have chosen to press on, and so should we.

Last year, we saw our Lions show true heart.  This coming season, we all have great expectations of what we will see our Lions accomplish. Ndamukong Suh believes the winds have changed direction already.  His comment about there not being any reason why the Lions can't be 16-0 shows the confidence level and the change in climate.

Matthew Stafford will be back, Kyle Vanden Bosch will be at full health, Jahvid Best will be healed up and all of the other guys who had season-ending injuries should be back on the field.  Even Zack Follett, who could be risking his own long-term health, has decided to come back and play for Detroit. 

They can feel the wind finally at their backs pushing them forward.

I have been following the players through Twitter and reading their blogs.  They have helped me maintain my faith, and so I work under the premise that there is now, and forever will be, football.

It is extremely unlikely that the Lions don't get to participate in free agency, but that means no one else can, either.  They are in a very good position if they end up keeping all the guys they have who could have been (and may still be) lost to the free-agent market.  All they would absolutely have to do is replace Julian Peterson, which I know head coach Jim Schwartz will find a way to do.

Why is it so important for fans to keep a positive attitude about this upcoming season? 

Because our players still need to feel our support right now.  They ended on a high note and we need to help them sustain this in good times and in uncertain times.  It's like a marriage. 

Fortunately, I am not the only one with a positive attitude about the Lions and their upcoming season.  So far, several of the players are with me.

Cliff Avril and Vanden Bosch are working out together everyday.  They have not given up.

Stafford is rehabbing and strengthening his shoulder. He has not given up.

We have talked about the importance of this draft for Martin Mayhew in previous articles and concluded that this could be Mayhew's most difficult draft by far.

I bring Mayhew's situation up because this season is Stafford's equivalent of Mayhew's drafting abilities.  He has to show that he is the guy that can lead this team to the playoffs.  This is the year he has to stay healthy and be the franchise player we keep hearing that he is.  It's his time to step up, show he can take some hits and rid himself of the "accident prone" label.

We need to get behind Stafford right now and encourage him to be that spectacular player we know he can be.

As for some of the others: LoJack (Lawrence Jackson) is extremely positive about this upcoming season and posted that he is already running plays through his head.  He is visualizing himself sacking one QB after another (well, to be fair, he actually only highlighted sacking Cutler). 

I'm sure that with Vanden Bosch at Avril's side, both are getting in complete game mode. 

There may be a lockout, but it isn't stopping our guys from preparing for the season, and we shouldn't either.  They feed off of the energy and feedback we give them.  So if you don't have a Twitter account or follow different players' blogs (not many of them keep up on their blogging very well), please consider doing so.

LoJack recognizes how important the fans are to the Lions.

He complimented the Lions fans for being "dope" (yes, that's a compliment, at least where I come from) and called us "the best in the league."

So let's BE the best in the league and give our players the shout-outs to keep their motivation and drive strong.

Don't let your spirit be weakened by this lockout or by what other fans or writers are saying.  The media wants to milk this, but that doesn't mean we have to be drones to anger or fear not having a season this year.

There WILL be a 2011 season and our Lions are going to be at the top of their game.

You can also find me @DLions_1 or leave a message here that I will send to the players and coach Schwartz.