Do Sheila’s Comments Help Inspire a Win?

Earlier this week, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp voluntarily addressed the media, hoping to provide fans comfort. She offered support to the team and the leadership in the organization, but was it enough to inspire a win?

The Detroit Lions are currently riding on a 1-5 record this season. A record that has most of the fan base back to the “same old Lions” mindset. Many had high hopes for this season, even several players saying this year just felt different. Well, Sheila feels the same, and she still has confidence in this team’s success.

“I think we really are making progress. We’ve seen it. It’s just – this was a huge teardown and then turnaround. We’re only a third of the way through the season. We’ve got 11 more games to go, so I just don’t want everyone to push the panic button and give up the ship, because I think we’ve got the right people in place to pull this off.”

Sheila Hamp talked to reporters today because she wanted to send a message to everyone, especially the fans.
“The rebuild is hard, but we really believe in our process. We really believe we’re going to turn this around the right way…we got the right people in place.”
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) October 26, 2022

Dan Campbell was very appreciative of the owner’s willingness to come out and say what she did, however, it wasn’t new to him. Campbell says the communication between himself, Hamp and Brad Holmes is very open and honest, and always has been.

“Look, I appreciated it. But I also I know that – she’s told me that’s how she feels, so I’m not surprised by it either. But I appreciate it, she didn’t have to do that. And certainly, I appreciate that and I know that – I know that we have her support. But I don’t take that for granted. I don’t take it lightly either, I know that that’s not easy. It’s not easy at all. It’s not easy on anybody. But certainly, I appreciate it.”

In her first season in charge, Hamp began the teardown by firing General Manager Bob Quinn and Head Coach Matt Patricia. After a thorough search, she hired Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Many believe Campbell’s clock is running out, but Hamp put those thoughts to rest.

“We really had to take it down to the ground level. And it’s been not only on the football side but across the organization. We’ve put in a lot of new talent at the top. I really believe in the top leadership in this organization and I think we’ve got the people to do it, to carry this out.”

When Martha Ford and Sheila Hamp sat down with 5 reporters and told us they were giving Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn one more year to figure it out, but with an ultimatum, Patricia was 9-20-1.
Right now, Dan Campbell is 4-18-1.
Thoughts in the mailbag: https://t.co/kIZSKu3HAf pic.twitter.com/ld0QWzjqmg
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) October 26, 2022

While these words give comfort I’m not sure it brings motivation. Everyone knows the kind of League this is. Campbell even spoke on this topic on Friday.

“I mean, look I’m not blind to any of this. It’s – I appreciate that and I know, but I also know the reality. I mean, we’ve got to win. I mean there’s still urgency here. I mean that’s not – that’s never changed. This is a – I mean, we know what kind of business we’re in. I know what kind of business I’m in and I know that the patience only goes so long.”

“I know that the patience only goes so long.”
Dan Campbell knows winning is the priority in Detroit. #Lions
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) October 28, 2022

The front from the team has never changed. Everyone says the are confident that they can be a good team, it just comes down to the execution. Jared Goff said Wednesday that it’s great to hear from her, however, it’s our job to get it done.

“Yeah, very confident. I appreciate when she’s able to speak in front of you guys like that. It takes a lot for her, but very confident. We’ve got the right guys in place, and I just need to execute. I know it’s redundant. I know I’ve said it every week, but if we execute what we do in practice on Sundays, we will typically have good results, and we have at times this year. We have certainly at times done it right and executed, and our leadership has been as good as we want to be, and then there are times we haven’t executed, so it’s about doing it on Sunday.”

If there is one thing to take away from Hamp speaking earlier this week, it’s that the communication is strong throughout the organization. For Campbell to have a lack of a reaction I think speaks highly of how much they work together and are transparent. While the words from the owner may not have been motivating or inspiring to the players, I think it gives a sense of comfort to the fanbase that they are all hands on deck.

The Lions will look to get their second win of the season on Sunday verse the Miami Dolphins.

Photo Credit-AP