With former Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn becoming the new G.M. of the Lions, the first order of business will be to decide the fate of coach Jim Caldwell.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Caldwell is not safe.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Quinn won’t ultimately decide to keep Caldwell, at least for a year. But as the NFL becomes more and more of a year-to-year proposition, the notion that Quinn could parlay 2016 into a scholarship season by keeping Caldwell for one more year may no longer apply -- and one more bad year with Caldwell and company could get Caldwell and Quinn fired by an impatient nonagenarian who wants to win now.
Then again, firing Caldwell raises the stakes for Quinn, especially in light of multiple reports that owner Martha Ford wants Caldwell to stay. Whoever Quinn hires had better do better than however Ford thinks Caldwell could do, if given another chance to turn things around.
With quarterback Matthew Stafford under contract, Quinn could be able to lure a very good coach to the Lions. Maybe Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will decide to finally leave the New England nest, given the chance to work with a guy who clearly has the talent to become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Regardless of what Quinn chooses to do, his arrival in Detroit goes like this: “Welcome aboard, there’s your office, now go make right out of the gates what perhaps could be the biggest decision you ever will.”