ESPN Anchor Trey Wingo Questions Firing of Jim Caldwell
ESPN anchor and "Golic and Wingo" co-host Trey Wingo questioned the firing of Jim Caldwell by the Lions during Wednesday's broadcast of the show.
Caldwell was hired by former Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew in 2014, and was the successor to Jim Schwartz.
Looking back now, Caldwell's tenure looks more favorable, given the fact that current coach Matt Patricia has only won nine games in two seasons.
After being let go by current Lions GM Bob Quinn, the reason given for the dismissal was that the organization wanted to take the next step forward.
Caldwell led the Lions to two playoff appearances, but failed to win a playoff game during his time in Motown.
Quinn and Patricia, though, have not met expectations, and have actually taken the team backwards the past two seasons.
Wingo acknowledged that there has been heavy scrutiny regarding minority coaches not being allotted the same opportunities and when given the chance to be head coaches, being shown the door too soon.
“When people look at African American coaches and sometimes how quickly the hook has gone, this is why they question it," Wingo said. "When Steve Wilks was fired after one season in Arizona, people are like ‘why is this happening?’ I’m not saying it’s not the right reason and the right thing to bring Matt Patricia back and Bob Quinn."
He added, "But when you’ve had someone who’s had the success that Jim Caldwell has and it wasn’t enough, and you bring in a guy whose record is nowhere near what Jim Caldwell’s was -- by the way, he has a .562 winning percentage, (which is) the best for a Lions head coach since Buddy Parker in the ’50s -- this is why people say, ‘Why is this happening?'”
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