Lions vs. Steelers - Week 17

Optimism is high here in Steeler land today. No you silly Lions fan, not for us, but for a Steeler team that sits poised for the playoffs with a win over our

Optimism is high here in Steeler land today. No you silly Lions fan, not for us, but for a Steeler team that sits poised for the playoffs with a win over our Lions today. As if the Steel men needed more motivation, it is also presumably the last home game for the Steelers Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, a Michigan native.

The Lions, however, came out and quickly gave up a punt return for a TD after their first possession to the Steelers and things threatened to get really ugly early. The Lions embattled QB Joey Harrington, however, had something to say about that. “I wanted to come out today and play like I did at Oregon. What did I have to lose?” Harrington did just that. He admitted after the game that he played with a so-what attitude, not that he didn’t care, but that he didn’t care what people said about him.

Harrington did just that as he made great passes and rather than make him what they wanted, the lame duck coaches let him be what he was: a good vertical passer. Harrington played like the QB we thought he was when he was drafted and looked great. As bad as Joey looked in the wet toast offense of his last two “official” head coaches, he looked as good here today. Joey addressed all the speculation about his return to Detroit and said, “I would love to feel wanted, I would love to feel like I had a coaching staff that wanted me.”

Lions’ center Dominic Raiola also addressed the turmoil that has surrounded his QB, “Joey has handled it as best as can be. We don’t need to come in and make major changes; we just need to improve. I want Joey back.” The sentiment of support that has been lacking all season for Harrington certainly was evident today. Roy Williams, when asked about Harrington’s situation, said, “I want Joey back. I think he should be back, if it was up to me, he will be back.”

Kevin Jones looked good also in the Lions loss. A loss against one of the best teams in the NFL, a playoff atmosphere, and an opportunity for the Lions to quit and they didn’t. Playing possibly one of the best games of the season patched and sewn from so many injuries on defense, I personally feel with all of the circumstances it was one of the best games of the season. Let’s face it, we all want wins in January, but what we saw today can and should give us some hope in the midst of a dark season.

Now, the players return home for physicals and hopefully an off-season of great work. Certainly the Lions players and fans now look to President Matt Millen for guidance and vision as he looks for a new head coach. That search is sure to be exhaustive and extensive. Millen looks to bring in someone strong enough to lead, both the team members with a strong work ethic but also the group that needs a heavy hand. Finding that balance should be difficult but one that Millen certainly can do.

As far as what players will and won’t return; several Lions in the last year of contracts voiced to me that they have yet to be talked to about returning to Detroit. I am sure that Millen is waiting so as to let the new head coach have some input. One thing that I am very confident of however is that Millen realizes priority number one is a coach. If Millen gets a vertical thinking coach (and I have reason to think he is) then don’t push Harrington out too fast, as he could be a great fit in that system.