Whether or not you are a Detroit Lions fan, you almost have to feel a little sorry for the tribulations the team is going through right now. It seemed that the hiring of Steve Mariucci after his success at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers marked a new era for football in the Motor City.
But in his tenure with the Lions, which ended last weekend, Mariucci's record is 15 wins and 28 losses.
Mariucci was fired and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron was put in place to run the team as interim head coach.
A report in the Detroit Free Press this past week indicates that things still are not OK for the Lions, with players blaming each other for the team's record under the coach they call "Mooch."
The report says that both cornerback Dre' Bly and quarterback Jeff Garcia are put the responsibility on backup quarterback Joey Harrington and the front office.
Garcia, who played for Mariucci in SF and had a dismal stop in Cleveland, was to be the starter in Detroit. But he broke his leg in the final preseason game and missed the first five games of the regular season.
He came back and started two games, but missed three more because of soreness in the leg he had broken. Bly told the Free Press that Harrington, who was the third pick in the draft four years ago, hasn't done a good enough job as Garcia's backup.
For his part, Garcia reportedly told a Motown radio station that he questions whether the front office has hired the right peo-ple to hire the right players.
That seems to mean Garcia is targeting Matt Millen, who took over as General Manager in 2001. Millen first hired Marty Mornhinweg as head coach, then replaced him with Mariucci.
Under Millen's direction, the Lions have a record of 20-55, the worst in the NFL. Even worse, folks, than the Browns!
But how can it get better when players blame each other and team management? Somewhere along the line, they will have to start pulling in the same direction. It's simply a basic principal of team sports … or team activities of any kind … that the various elements have to cooperate to be successful.
Dick Jauron may be the unluckiest man of the past week.
From the "Who you gonna believe?" department comes the claim by Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren that the NFL called him and admitted that referees made two errors during the Seahawks' overtime win over the New York Giants last Sun-day.
Seattle won the game, 24-21 but the Giants were credited with two touchdown receptions during regulation time that led to the tie score.
The first happened with less than two minutes left in the first half. Jeremy Shockey caught a pass in the end zone and the ball was knocked loose. A touchdown was called but the booth official asked the referee to review it.
He did and decided there was no reason to overturn the decision on the field. The score gave the Giants a 10-7 lead.
Then, with just over two minutes left in regulation time, the Giants' Amani Toomer caught a pass at the back of the end zone. That also was ruled a touchdown and was challenged by Holmgren.
The touchdown stood and Toomer caught another pass for a two-point conversion that tied the game at 21.
On Monday, Holmgren said the NFL called him and told him that officiating errors were made during the game.
On Tuesday, League officials denied that any such admission was made.
On top of that, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that the NFL now is looking at whether Holmgren violated league rules by talking about a confidential conversation with the officiating department.
The question then becomes, "If the league didn't call the coach and admit mistakes, how could he have violated a rule by saying they did?"