Would You Rather be 0-16 or 11-5?

I am a Detroit Lions fan. "We" did not win a game this season. Since starting the 2007 season 6-2, the Lions have lost 23 of their last 24 games. Futility of that nature is unprecedented in professional sports. I am biased, but I have watched a lot of pro football over the past two decades and the 2008 Lions are definitely NOT the worst team I've ever seen (no, I can't specifically name a worse team off the top of my head). The Lions lost 8 games by 10 points or less this season. Obviously, they will have the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, and they can use help at just about every position (except wide receiver -- don't take another receiver). I expect them to take either a quarterback (Matthew Stafford or Sam Bradford), an offensive lineman, or a defensive lineman. They finally fired Matt Millen as general manager so there is nowhere but up to go in that position. Today, they fired head coach Rod Marinelli -- I don't blame all of the team's struggles on Marinelli, but you have to get fired when your squad goes 0-16.

It is a difficult time to be a Lions fan, but - believe it or not - it might be a harder time to be a New England Patriots fan. Sure, they have 3 Super Bowl championships this decade, but they have had some bad luck in 2008. First, they lost to an inferior team in the Super Bowl and blew the rare opportunity to go 19-0. Even in a losing effort, you could argue that the 2007 Patriots were the best team ever. Then, Tom Brady injured his knee in the first game of the 2008 season and missed the entire season. His backup, Matt Cassell, looked great at times this season and finished the year strong for the Pats. However, due to some weird circumstances and unfavorable tiebreakers, the Pats went 11-5 and still missed the playoffs. You could argue they are the best team ever to not make the playoffs. The Pats are a veteran team, and their window for success is shrinking every year. The Pats will likely have to part ways with Cassell this offseason as well -- they will get Brady back, but Cassell has a chance to be a solid starting QB in the league. The new GM for the Lions should call Cassell's agent today. Dan Orlovsky should find a new job.