According to Rosenthal Schwartz Must be Average..?

[John_Brian_K]

NBCSports.com's NFL All-Pro team, postseason awards, by Gregg Rosenthal - NFL- NBC Sports

Didn't even get a top 3 for coach of the year....? I would have given it to Harbaugh as well, but not even a top 3 consideration?

[Yoda]

How/when did Lions fans get so sensitive? I think this would be a more interesting discussion. It used to be we were the laughing stock of the NFL... for a very long time, and we agreed with what everyone had to say. "Yeah, tell us something we don't know." And now we're complaining that our coach wasn't given top 3 credit by one writer?

[GuitarGod19]

I think it's more of a shock that Andy Dalton wasn't top 3 for OROY or that Stafford wasn't top 3 for comeback player of the year.

[Yoda]

Yeah no kidding.

[John_Brian_K]

How/when did Lions fans get so sensitive? I think this would be a more interesting discussion. It used to be we were the laughing stock of the NFL... for a very long time, and we agreed with what everyone had to say. "Yeah, tell us something we don't know." And now we're complaining that our coach wasn't given top 3 credit by one writer?

Just a talking point to generate more discussion about the Lions.....we have very similar threads in the baseball section all the time.

I do not think it is a sign of being too sensitive.

I was just shocked he didn't even get top 3...along with come back player for Stafford etc etc. If this makes me too sensitive then I am guilty.

[John_Brian_K]

Schwartz did not and should not have garned any attention last year, but if taking over an 0-16 team and taking the new team to the playoffs 3 years later doesn't qualify him for coach of the year he is never going to get it unless he wins the super bowl.

I think he is a very good coach and I think recognition is important. It is just one writer; I know, but again...just a talking point.

[Yoda]

I was referring to the fact that if he had him at 4, that would mean he considers him average? I wouldn't be to offended by it. Schwartz did a great job but I think a case can be made for the others as well. Regardless, if he had him at 4 or 5, I don't think it should be taken as an insult, IMO.

[Yoda]

It is a trend also, not just this thread (didn't mean to pick on you) but Lions fans do seem to be pretty sensitive these days in regards to their team not getting certain recognition/respect. I guess it's a good thing that we even have reason, for a change... I just think it's a bit odd considering where we came from.

[pyrotigers]

I would guess part of it is that for a big chunk of the season the media narrative switched from 'WHAT A COMEBACK BY THE DETROIT LIONS' to 'THE DETROIT LIONS ARE LITERALLY EVIL AND MUST BE STOPPED AT ALL COSTS, JIM SCHWARTZ IS LETTING THE INMATES RUN THE ASYLUM!!!!!!' crap

[Nastradamus]

I think it's more of a shock that Andy Dalton wasn't top 3 for OROY or that Stafford wasn't top 3 for comeback player of the year.

I could have seen putting him in over Smith, but IMO Newton and Green were head and shoulders above the rest. Those guys came in and looked like men amongst boys much of the time. I think too much is made of Dalton's team winning more games myself. They beat a lot of bad teams, had a top 10 scoring D and he lead the 20th ranked passing offense, 24th in ypa. Newton was 13 and 8 in those respective categories while breaking a rushing TD record for all QBs, not just rookies. He was good, I give him credit, but he was more Alex Smith than Aaron Rodgers.

[pyrotigers]

Smith was amazing this year, depending on how valuable you think offensive linemen really are you could probably make a case for him being #1

[T&P_Fan]

Stafford will most likely win Comeback player of the year, this writer has no clue.

[Cylander]

To be quite honest I and lot of other people had the Lions as a sleeper team and a potential playoff team. Most people had them pegged as a 9-7 team. They really didn't exceed expectations as much as the 49ers or Bengals did.

[John_Brian_K]

2011 NFL Preview: Detroit Lions Predictions and NFL Futures Odds | Bleacher Report

"The Lions’ "over/under" win total on WagerWeb is 7.5, with the "over" a -135 favorite."

"I think the Lions will win eight games, so go with the "over" on that."

Page 2's DJ Gallo projects over/under win totals for each NFL team - ESPN

"Detroit Lions: 7.5

Under. By picking the Lions to go 7-9, you might think that I'm not drinking the Lions Kool-Aid. That's not true at all. But we're talking about the Lions, and I am a student of history. Although I enjoy Kool-Aid, I don't like Kool-Aid when it's been spiked with large amounts of alcohol. That's dangerous. Kids could get into that."

Every game is HUGE in the NFL...exceeding expectations by more than 2 games is a big deal....you kind of have to take into account how bad we used to be as well...going 0-16 was legnedary and we were truly a HORRIFIC franchise/team in 08.

[lordstanley]

The "Coach of the Year" award in any sport could just as easily be named "The League's Surprise Team of the Year". Just as the NHL's Norris Trophy is really given to "The Defenseman with the Most Points Who Isn't A Total Sieve On The Backend and Who Made One Highlight Reel Bodycheck". And MLB's Gold Glove is awarded to "The Big Name or Hitter Who Has Won One of These Things in the Past Which Means I Won't Embarrass Myself by Voting for Him".

[davidsb]

...... or that Stafford wasn't top 3 for comeback player of the year.

You have to have a good year first before you can have a 'comeback' year!

[Big Frame]

. Just as the NHL's Norris Trophy is really given to "The Defenseman with the Most Points Who Isn't A Total Sieve On The Backend and Who Made One Highlight Reel Bodycheck".

Nick has a highlight reel bodycheck?

[Motor City Sonics]

Nick has a highlight reel bodycheck?

I think that is a Zdeno Chara reference.....

[Yoda]

You have to have a good year first before you can have a 'comeback' year!

Very true. He had more of a "breakthrough" than a comeback.