New Lions coach Dan Campbell gets it, which is as good a start as any
Updated Jan 22, 2021;
Posted Jan 22, 2021
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell’s First Day at Allen Park. (Detroit Lions via AP).Detroit Lions
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Editor’s note: This is an opinion piece from MLive.com reporter Kyle Meinke.
ALLEN PARK -- Dan Campbell says he drinks a gallon of coffee a day, which might seem like an absurd exaggeration until you hear Dan Campbell speak. Then you might wonder whether he actually meant two gallons.
The new Detroit Lions head coach barrelled into his highly caffeinated introductory news conference on Thursday with a 19-minute opening statement that included cameos from R.C. Slocum, Bill Parcells, Sean Payton, pretending to be Matt Campbell, finishing sentences with new general manager Brad Holmes, scouting, roster building, the Ford family tree, how to change a culture from the top, heart, humility. He talked about recruiting free agents. He talked about the trappings of ego and sycophancy. He was sweating. He was almost crying. He was talking about Detroit, this city, this franchise, what has bogged it down, what it needs to break this endless carousel of mediocrity that has gripped this franchise and its fans for six decades. He was threatening to break in teeth and bite off kneecaps.