Martin Mayhew greets new head coach Jim Caldwell, right. (Detroit Lions pjoto)
Update 2, 3:45 p.m.: The brief video above from the Detroit Lions is incoming Coach Jim's Caldwell's first message to local fans.
"You’re gonna enjoy seeing a very, very intense smart, fast, physical football team,” he says. "We want those standards high. We want you to expect the best from us."
Update 1, 1:30 p.m.: Caldwell was greeted by Lions general manager Martin Mayhew as he got off a private jet today for a media introduction at 4 p.m.
"The first of many touchdowns for Jim Caldwell in Detroit!" the team tweeted with the photo at right and a video (below article text).
Wednesday morning article:
A new era begins this afternoon as the Lions introduce Jim Caldwell as the team's first African-American head coach, and one prominent sportswriter is underwhelmed.
"Caldwell is, however they spin it, a second choice," Mitch Albom writes, noting that Ken Whisenhunt, the San Diego Chargers’ offensive coordinator, declined to interview for the job.
There is not much to excite fans over the hiring of Jim Caldwell. And, with due respect, for now, there shouldn’t be. . . .
Maybe Caldwell improves the offense, maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he changes chemistry, maybe he doesn’t. . . .
All we know is that when “maybe” is all you’ve got — and that is all today will be about, no matter how upbeat the news conference turns out — you can’t expect fans to be thrilled. They are cautious. They are weary.
Drew Sharp, a fellow sports columnist at the Free Press, is a more upbeat -- though also cautious.
Caldwell wasn’t the Lions’ first choice, but he could be the right fit.
That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, but that’s all this decision merits. Considering the franchise’s futile history in identifying their first choice, can the second choice fare any worse?
Nobody’s asking for much from the 58-year-old Caldwell. Just win a playoff game for only the second time in 57 years. Just develop a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback. Just make everyone in this football-crazed, championship-starved city think that the Lions might have finally stumbled upon the correct head coaching mix of discipline, design and demeanor.
Caldwell, who'll be at a 4 p.m. media briefing Wednesday, replaces Jim Schwartz -- canned Dec. 30 after five seasons that included 51 regular-season losses.
For his part, Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News feels skepticism is premature and misplaced:
I’d be careful making rash judgments or underestimating a coach who may be mild-mannered and soft-spoken . . . but is highly respected around the NFL for his meticulous work with quarterbacks, including Peyton Manning. . . .
It doesn’t really matter if you respect Caldwell’s credentials, or if the media respects his credentials. It matters that the players respect him.
Wojo cites supportive Tuesday night tweets from Reggie Bush and Joique Bell, and adds: "Ndamukong Suh is believed to be a booster."
Good to know I'll have my old Head Coach back to replace another great coach. Great move by our front office. #MovingForward #OnePride
— Joique Bell (@JoiqueBell) January 14, 2014
