Early Christmas for Dallas

Eric Ebner / Asst. Sports Editor / The USD Vista

For my first article in The Vista, I would like to write about something that most sports fans do not care about: the Detroit Lions. Being from Michigan, near Detroit, I was speechless as the “Lie-downs” disappointed me once again and lost their most beloved player in the last decade. On Oct. 18 the Lions traded their star wide receiver Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas will give up three NFL draft picks including one first rounder for the Pro Bowl caliber wide reciever.

Since 2001, the Lions have been a NFL worst 31-84 under their former general manager Matt Millen. Granted, Millen was given the reins to a terrible team back in 2001, but once upon a time, the city of Detroit had all the optimism in the world.

Improving from year to year, they drafted Williams from Texas as their first round draft pick in 2001. This turned out to be the best draft choice the Lions have made in the last half of a decade. For as long as I have been a Lions fan, Williams has been the bright spot of the team. Each year he continued to make highlight-reel grabs while giving the Lions hope for the future.

Yet, the future never arrived. As Detroit cycled through different quarterbacks, coaches and dud draft picks such as Mike Williams from USC and Charles Rogers from Michigan State, Roy Williams stayed the course of excellence.

Furthermore, while the team struggled, he kept his head high and spoke only about improvement and potential. He has been consistently on record as a Detroit man and loved playing for the usually terrible Lions. Other than Barry Sanders, I have never seen another player throughout the Lions’ history that was more loved. The team and even the city rallied around his enthusiasm when there was no hope for the team. Earlier this year he told a reporter that he would love to play in Detroit for the rest of his career, a opinion that is not shared with anyone in the NFL. Before his final season in Detroit, Williams had expressed hope that the team would tag him as a franchise player and lock him into a long-term deal.

As the Lions went 0-5, they lost their season and the hope for their best player. The “Lie-downs” continue to top themselves as they cement their spot as the worst managed, coached and performing team in the NFL. Detroit may end up benefiting from the three draft picks for Williams, but it is a sad end to an underachieving era in Detroit. His honesty, talent, enthusiasm, work ethic and personality will be sorely missed.