BY KEN W PACZAS
William Peterson sits alone in his basement, doing what he does every Sunday in the fall. He watches the Detroit Lions play football.
Since he was born in 1940, he has watched many Lion teams come and go and the frustration that comes with being a Lions fan.
The Lions haven’t had a proven winner at quarterback since Bobby Lane . Under Layne, they had won three NFL championships in six seasons, the last in 1957 when Layne shared the Lions' quarterbacking with Tobin Rote.
Then, unexpectedly on Oct. 6, 1958, Layne was traded away to the Steelers. The Lions received Earl Morrall, a promising young quarterback and some draft choices.
It was the beginning of the Lions' quarterback shuffle that continues 48 years later, with Matt Stafford, Shaun Hill, and Drew Stanton.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the Lions are gripped by the Curse of Bobby Layne.
Since Layne left, 44 different athletes have attempted to play quarterback for the Lions. Most have played without success. Only one has qualified to play in the Pro Bowl -- Greg Landry, in 1972.
William Peterson says that he has heard this build for the future talk before, almost every year since Layne left.
Since Layne left, 44 different athletes have attempted to play quarterback for the Lions. Most have played without success. Only one has qualified to play in the Pro Bowl -- Greg Landry, in 1972.
William Peterson says that he has heard this build for the future talk before, almost every year since Layne left.
The 1970’s was filled with flipping back and forth with Bill Munson and Greg Landry.
In the 1980s, Monte Clark coached some decent Lions teams. But he never coached a top quarterback, having flipped back and forth from Gary Danielson and Eric Hipple.
You have to be at least 50 now to have vivid memories of the Lions' last championship, won with Rote at quarterback after Layne's ankle was broken.
Fresher in the memories of Lions fans is Wayne Fontes' quarterback quandary of a decade ago.
When Fontes was promoted to head coach to replace the fired Daryl Rogers late in the 1988 season, the Lions were in a sequence of playing five different No. 1 quarterbacks in five seasons.
Fontes proceeded to expand the quarterback shuffle in the early 1990s. He rotated Rodney Peete, Eric Kramer and Andre Ware, as if they were baseball caps.
At last, Fontes solved his problem. He figured. In 1994, the Lions signed Scott Mitchell, as a free agent whose pro credentials were that he had been backup inMiami
Mitchell was the quarterback Bobby Ross inherited when he replaced Fontes in 1997.
It was Mitchell who eventually drove Ross crazy.
At last, Fontes solved his problem. He figured. In 1994, the Lions signed Scott Mitchell, as a free agent whose pro credentials were that he had been backup in
Mitchell was the quarterback Bobby Ross inherited when he replaced Fontes in 1997.
It was Mitchell who eventually drove Ross crazy.
Quarterbacks come into this town as Kings, and then leave with the trash the next Monday.
In 2002 the Lions drafted Joey Harrington in the 1st round to be the savior. Who could forget Joey’s first game against Green Bay
Maybe things will be different this time we all said. Matt Stafford looks great when he plays. However, unfortunately for Lions fans, Matt is slowly earning the nickname, Glassford. Now Hill is back at quarterback and he has a broken arm. Could ofs, Should ofs, and Would ofs are echoing through Detroit. Did Detroit get it right or is it time to start looking at quarterback number 45.
So William will be in his basement doing what every Detroit sports fan does this Sunday, watching the Lions try to regain the glory that Bobby Layne brought back in the 50’s. He will sit and watch and hope that maybe next year, they will put it together.
Hey maybe Bobby Layne can still throw a football?
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