I don't think there are many parallels between the two situations. What frustrates Lions fans (at least this one) is that, after years of cellar dwelling, the Lions finally were gaining momentum because of successful draft picks. Yes, they were high draft picks but they were the type that Detroit had screwed up in the past. Getting Stafford, Calvin and Suh was going to be the building block Detroit could build on for a decade. Then the team had the rug pulled out from underneath them when the NFLPA negotiated the new agreement and the assets quickly became a liability. The way that contracts were structured under the old rookie format pretty much doomed the team. Not only were they saddled with the high costs of players that, if drafted only a few years later would have cost less than half as much, but the "Franchise tag" rules also changed as well. The trio's contracts were backloaded and when the rule was changed so that players franchised had to receive at least a 20% raise meant the team was behind the eight ball. The franchise tag was no longer an option in keeping the players and it cost the team significant in re-negotiating contracts.
Atkins:136 comb tackles, 29 sacks, 6FF, 2Fum rec, 5 PD
