Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Stirring The Garbage: Sometimes Ya Gotta Do It

Way back in the early 1970's, the Pistons were coached by Earl Lloyd, a former Piston player and the first black man to step on an NBA court as a player. When the Pistons were going thru a rather messy internal squabble, Lloyd was asked about it.

"I'm not talking about it. When you stir up the garbage, it stinks more."

Using that as a description, then Dre Bly just made Allen Park and Ford Field a tad more odiferous.

Bly, the Lions' Pro Bowl cornerback, guns blazing, is talking to whomever will listen and push "record" on their tape recorder or can jot down notes real fast on a pad. And he doesn't show any signs of stopping until the rickety ship that is the Detroit Lions is repaired and flying high.


Bly: get better or get me out


"I don't want to be here if things are going to stay the way they are," Bly told the Detroit News. "I told Matt (team president Millen) that.It hurts to have so much talent and not win. I want to win, not lose. It's not just about me. My teammates hurt, too."

Bly, in a separate interview with the NFL Network, also sharply criticized quarterback Joey Harrington, saying basically that he -- Bly -- wasn't convinced Harrington was the man that could lead the Lions to any season where the W's outnumber the L's.

Speaking to the News, Bly didn't back off from those comments.

"As of today, I don't know if he can get it done," Bly said, referring to Harrington.

It is a sentiment shared by Lions fans everywhere, and, apparently, some players as well. For it is highly unlikely Dre Bly is a lone wolf here, the lone disbeliever in the Lions' lockerroom in Harrington's ability to be a serviceable quarterback in the NFL.

Bly wants out of Detroit if things don't improve. I think what was most telling was this comment: "I'm in the middle, near the end of my career," said Bly, in his seventh NFL season. "I don't want to end my career losing. I don't want to go out like this."

It's a cry for help, Dre Bly's comments. He is seeing the best years of his playing career being wasted with an organization that has, collectively, played the role of Mr. Magoo for far too long when it comes to building a winning program.

Bly's words about Harrington has been semi-compared to the Philadelphia Eagles' Terrell Owens and his diatribe against QB Donovan McNabb. Owens had said to ESPN The Magazine that the Eagles would be far better off if they had Brett Favre at quarterback instead of McNabb.

But Dre Bly isn't upsetting the apple cart of a defending conference champion. He is voicing his concerns about a situation that anyone with a pulse can see is outrageously dysfunctional. If anything, Bly's comments might actually help -- if anyone will listen.

The garbage may stink a little more now that Dre Bly has stirred it, but sometimes you need to smell it all the way up your nostrils and into your brain before you change the bag.

3 comments:

mhofeld said...

Bly is an All-Pro DB and Harrington has been a bust to this point. I don't really expect Joey to be back next season and I think there is a message in Garcia starting Sunday.

the sports dude said...

I can see why there are comparisons drawn between T.O. and Bly but I don't agree with that comparison, I think it is a stretch. With T.O. you had a serious malcontent who directed his contract rage at the franchise player in McNabb. T.O. was directing his comments at the heart and soul of the Eagles, a pro bowl QB and someone who had done all he could do for the Eagles for three years, coming up short each time. McNabb is one of the better QB's in the league and has been for a long time.

Bly was directing his comments at Joey, a QB about as opposite on the spectrum from McNabb as you could get. Furthermore Bly was speaking the truth, straight from his heart, where as T.O. was just being a selfish punk. Plus, Bly was saying something that clearly has been obvious for quite some time now whereas T.O. and his comments made no sense what so ever.

Why is everyone getting on Bly, I don't understand it! We always want athletes to drop the cliche encyclopedia and when one does we put him under the bus? It makes no sense and to me I have no problem with it what so ever. If it would have come from one of the "three divas" I may have issues with it, but from Bly I say "Way to go man, speak that truth!"

Lastly I would like to say this - Jauron has named Garcia his starter for Sunday, what does that say? I think the development of the young receivers and Kevin Jones is what Millen was speaking of and Jauron feels that the best chance to get those guys the ball comes from Garcia and not Joey has been.

Later.

David Lithman said...

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Lions this offseason. Surely they can't go with Harrington or Garcia next season.

I don't see the Lions drafting a QB. They can't afford to wait another 3 or 4 years for a qb to develope. They need someone who can throw. But who is out there?