A Dirty Team in our Backyard?

This is crazy, the first post I ever write on my blog is about a team I have almost no feelings for. I've never been a Lions fan. They have smashed my hopes just about every year of my life. This team has had only one player I've ever rooted for that played for them. Until now...

This current group of Lions gives everyone in our area a person to root for. A team with a bit of edge, which we love here in Detroit, a team that hits hard, even after the whistle and plays with a take no prisoners attitude. Sadly the rest of the league has taken notice. This isn't going over well...

Recent History -
Sadly the Lions recent history has in a way lead to the bashing this team is getting. The Lions in 2008 went 0-16 the only team to ever do so. They seen their franchise player walk away from them the day training camp started. They had a GM that felt it was his job to draft WR's who were bound to go bust and a owner base that was far to loyal. On top of this, their division sported some of the best teams in football. Leading the Lions to the doormat of the NFC Central.

This current group of Lions is going out of its way to erase the stigma attached with the Lions over the last decade and half century. Are they going to far?

A man named SUH -
We might be witnessing the arrival of a superstar to which the NFL has never really seen. A man who is stronger and faster than anyone who has ever played the position before. Suh might very well be the Shaq of the NFL, to big and to fast! From what everyone says, he is the nicest guy off the field you could meet. On the field he has a thing about him that says, "I'm going to meet your QB today and it won't be nice". I'm excited for this player, I'm happy the Lions picked Suh to play on a side of the ball where we haven't had a star since 1971. He is mean, strong and young, how good will he be when he learns? Suh and the rest of this young D get to learn from a solid coaching staff and maybe the hardest working player to ever play in the NFL, Kyle Vanden Bosch is a machine and never stops.

So with the recent history and group we have on defense, the rest of the league (including writers and media) have now witnessed whirlwind of brashness and attitude coming from a team that is tired of being stepped all over and "that team" that every team wants to play during the year. The Lions in the last few weeks haven't played well but they have sent the message to the league "we aren't going to take the crap any longer". Do they deserve respect yet? Probably not but they are telling everyone that regardless of what you thought about the Lions, that's gone. Get ready, you now have a fight on your hands and if you bring out the cheap tactics you will get it right back.

I read a column from a Chicago reporter (not sure if he watched the game, his article sure says he didn't or he doesn't know football well) who say the Lions are bully's who can't back it up. I don't see it this way, going into the game, the Bears seemed to be doing the majority of the talking and none seemed to be respectful. No matter, its adding to the rivalry that has been dormant to long. I love what this game is going to do for future games.

The Lions are young, hungry and learning how to be competitive again. Bad days are going to happen even to the best NFL teams. Are they dirty? Not sure, after all this is football and I've watch teams dance into Ford Field for years and beat the snot out of Lions. I hope the teams of the league get the message I believe is being set....the Lions are no longer the doormat!