The Curse of Bobby Layne
by Texas Chief on Apr 4, 2009 3:15 PM CDT
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PrintFrom 1950 - 1958 the Detroit Lions had a quarterback named Bobby Layne. Layne is a hall of fame quarterback that won 3 championships in his 8 year tenure with the team, including 2 back to back.
In 1958 fresh off his 3rd championship the Detroit Lions decided that Layne was past his prime and traded him away to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Layne was dejected and upset by the trade. As he boarded a bus to head to Pittsburgh he publically stated that the Detroit Lions would not win for 50 years.
The Detroit Lions have had the worst winning % of any NFL franchise over the last 50 years, ending in their 0-16 record setting debacle of 2008.
The end of the 2008 season coinsides with the last year of the 50 year curse of Bobby Layne. Begining in the 2009 season the curse will be lifted and Detroit will pick #1 overall in the draft.
Given that football news nuggets are few and far between on a Saturday afternoon in the offseason I thought I'd give Chiefs fans a chance to chime in on the validity of the Bobby Layne curse. Is this the year the Lions turn it around and start winning again? Does Layne's curse have anything to do with the last 50 years? Would anyone in thier right minds (besides the Ravens) trade away a QB immediately following a championship season? Let's have a little fun with this. Do you believe in the curse? What are your thoughts?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
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THere is a curse
and lions at this point still wont take a qb even when handing them stafford and cutler what a bunch of cunts. hahah
FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.
Aye
Read an article in a sporting magazine about Bobby Layne and the 50 year number stood out.
Now that you have mentioned it I popped over to Cracked (btw WTF is up with their site? Took ages to load up) That article is shockingly similar to this post; but I swear I didn’t plagerize it. I would have linked to it if I had cited it.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
Bah
This is why I don’t like polls. Everyone votes and scoots. No discussion.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
Well Since i m The Lionchief
well since i am on my two fav sb Nation I do Have to Say if The Lions Do Draft A QB This Year Or Next Year (Bradford) No More Bobby Layne Curse
by Detroit_lionchief on Apr 4, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions
OHHHH
And We Shall Overcome LoL OK i M Going Down to Ford Field To Hang Out At The Final Four There Are People Everywhere Downtown ….And gonna See The Pussycat Dolls today and Fergie Tomorrow perform Live as Part of the celebration Going on Be even Nice If Michigan State wins
by Detroit_lionchief on Apr 4, 2009 5:08 PM CDT reply actions
we have loved are lions even tho they have been the laughin stock of the nfl we love them like the fans do the chiefs including myself maybe there is some light now that we have new gm and coach on both the chiefs and lions and this draft can be the start of it so i m hopeing to say good bye to the bobby layne curse and the lions and chiefs makeing a big push in the nfl the next few years
by Detroit_lionchief on Apr 4, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions
My goodness
^ The grammar police would have a field day on these comments. ^
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
Mind Over Matter?
While my first thought is not to give the subject any credence, curses can have real substance. There is a lot about life above or beyond the physical realm which we see clearly with our natural eyes. Things are not always as they seem – black and white or easily understood.
Bottom line: Curses are only effective if we BELIEVE they are. If we internalize this belief, we will forever sabotage our conscious desire to succeed by subconsciously acting upon that belief thereby making poor decisions which insure the curse is fulfilled.
someone send a letter to Mr. Ford
Ask him if he is releaved that the Layne curse is not over after last seasons 50th year. If he responds that hes glad it’s over we will know that he had internalized the belief of the curse. If he scoffs at the notion of any such curse we will know the Lions just sucked on their own for 50 years with no super natural help.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
not = now
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
I think Detroit is going to begin steady improvement, and while it may not actually have anything to do with the curse, the advent of the improvement will coincide with the end of the curse.
Regarding The Curse
Bobby Layne wasn’t even that good of a QB…the Lions have sucked for all this time because they’re owned by an incompetent guy by the name of William Clay Ford, who has mismanaged that franchise repeatedly. He hires terrible coaches, he has a dysfunctional management structure, he’s reportedly a tyrant as boss. And he hired Matt Millen and kept him on staff for seven years. It can’t be understated just what a grievous example of stupidity that is…Matt Millen is quite possibly the worst general manager in the history of the NFL and certainly the worst in our generation. And Ford kept him on staff for seven long, miserable years.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
Basically
The Lions fell prey to the curse of William Clay Ford.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
But the Ford family kept NFL Football alive in Detroit
You can begrudge ineptitude. Cleveland, St. Louis, and Houston lost their teams.
Detroit is still alive and kicken’
That's because Ford goes on the cheap
He’s more interested in the other family business. He’s the Walmart generation of the NFL and keeps ticket prices very reasonable considering the size of Detroit compared to smaller markets. He also is supported by the autoworkers that are his bread and butter in regards to season tickets as well as individual sales.
He’s more interested in his Ford stock than his hobby and treats it as a weekend jaunt. He’s also interested only in the profit and ensuring that the team is not in the red financially (wins come second). As long as he doesn’t have to pay a #1 pick a high salary (ergo, not going QB), they’ll go with another position to save a buck on the first pick.
Sanders saw the writing on the wall and retired before his contract expired. That team hasn’t had a player carry the team before or since.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
Got To Agree With Truth (On Everything Except His Draft Remarks)
The main reason Ford hasn’t tried to move that team is because that’s where his family’s businesses are and that’s where he has the most financial options…he’s not doing it for altruism. And the only reason the tickets are cheap is because that team is usually so bad that nobody would pay top dollar to sit in the Silverdome for a Lions game.
He’s been a rotten owner and even his own son has come out and publicly questioned his judgment on running that team.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
Correction
Ford Field…not the Silverdome.
As for the best indicator of what kind of owner Ford has been…the Lions won three NFL championships in the 1950s, making them one of the most successful teams in 1957. In 1960, 1961, and 1962 the Lions won the Playoff Bowl. In 1963, William Clay Ford bought the team and the Lions didn’t win another playoff game until 1991, and haven’t won one since. And for this decade, they’ve posted a win-loss record of 31-81 (.277) because the owner refused to fire Matt Millen.
He’s the shittiest owner in the NFL.
Predictions for 2009
1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
And the only reason the tickets are cheap is because that team is usually so bad that nobody would pay top dollar to sit in the Silverdome for a Lions game.
And that makes sense since I realized this season that a lot of the profit comes from televised games (hmmmm, guess the turkey game in Detroit makes sense)…..as well as merchandising. Ticket sales are the cherry on top. I didn’t realize until KK talked about it earlier this year how much a team makes BEFORE ticket sales.Incredible. I always thought it was the other way around….ticket sales first and foremost.
He’s the shittiest owner in the NFL.Yep. And for the longest time I thought it was Modell. I also felt his move to Baltimore (Browns turned Ravens) was purely economical and wouldn’t lead to a championship. I’d still put Modell in second behind Ford tho.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
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