[ad_1]
The Detroit Lions decided ahead of their search for a general manager and head coach that they wanted Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders involved in the process. Before things started, they announced Sanders as one of the few advisers they would use to identify and screen candidates for the job.
While his role is not clearly defined – he describes himself as “on the fringes” of research – Sanders obviously has an inside look at the Detroit process and where things stand now. On Wednesday, he took to the media and dropped some interesting nuggets on the current situation this week. He joined SiriusXM NFL Radio and The Rich Eisen Show.
Here are the most interesting things Sanders revealed about the Lions process.
Chris Spielman “ leading the research ”
The Lions hired Spielman with the ambiguous title “Special Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer.” And while Spielman has explained that as a simple bondage to Sheila Ford Hamp and Rod Wood, it looks like he’s leading all this research right now.
“Chris Spielman is the one leading the research,” Sanders told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Of course Chris has been in the game for many years. I think we are in good hands when it comes to finding a new coach.
This, of course, shouldn’t come as a total surprise, considering owner Ford Hamp has been at work for less than a year and team president Wood is not from football. Still, it’s interesting to see Spielman running things after just a month on the job.
Matthew Stafford sticking around?
The subject of Matthew Stafford was brought up in both interviews and Sanders revealed his understanding of the quarterback’s future with the team.
“I guess (the future) involves Matthew, but it’s me,” Sanders told Eisen. “I don’t know how another coach can view this situation, but I still think he’s playing at an extremely high level.
When it comes to Stafford’s interest in staying, Sanders once again believes his future is here.
“I would expect Matthew to come back, and yes, I would like him to come back,” Sanders said on SiriusXM. “I don’t know what he thinks about this. I understand he definitely and definitely intends to return.
Stafford still has two years on his contract, but with Detroit currently holding the seventh overall pick, and Stafford’s business value is unlikely to increase, many believe Detroit would be wiser to move on and catch. a rookie smuggler.
University coach candidates are at stake
At this time, we haven’t heard from the Lions interviewing a college-level coaching candidate, but Sanders said the team is definitely looking at the pool of candidates there.
“From what I understand, there are definitely some college coaches involved in our process of knowing who Chris is actually watching,” Sanders said by Birkett. “He watches the two carefully.
The Lions are said to have been interested in Northwestern Pat Fitzgerald, but he’s turned down every NFL interview request as of today. There were also vague rumors that they may have sought an interview with Matt Campbell from Iowa State, but he appears to be returning to college in 2021.
[ad_2]
Source link