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Bob Quinn Case Study

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After Bob Quinn's initial press conference back in January we were able to learn that he is a no nonsense kind of guy and he will not simply tell the fans and media what they want to hear by promising winning seasons and championships.

Quinn was back in front of the media at the NFL Combine and continued that stance by saying, "this team didn't make the playoffs last season. There's a reason for that." This statement is proof that Bob Quinn and his staff recognize that the Lions need help.

Quinn was hired in January to take over as the team’s general manager and he's said all along that his plan is to build for the long haul. There isn't a quick fix included in his plans but a Super Bowl championship is the ultimate goal.

"I think everything…show more content…
Quinn is not afraid of admitting his mistakes. Three significant free agency players were let go, two of which were added just this year. Steven Ridley was brought aboard to be the Lions power runner in 2016 but was gone before the third preseason game after struggling to return from a 2014 ACL tear. Jeremy Kerley was added in late March and looked as though he would be a perfect fit as part of the Lions' receiver depth but was traded by Quinn before the necessary 75 man cut. Geoff Schwartz provided a much-needed depth along the offensive line, but was let go when he failed to emerge as a true upgrade.

Quinn brought these guys in to be part of Detroit's 2016's roster but was quickly mistaken. He offered fairly high signing bonuses suffering a $250,000 cap releasing Ridley, and $200,000 for Schwartz. Despite these losses, Quinn didn't let his pride get in the way and cut them as soon as he felt it was necessary.

Another thing we learned about Bob Quinn throughout this process is that he gives veterans an extra chance to get signed. He knows that just because a player isn't a good fit for the Detroit Lions doesn't mean that they won't be great somewhere…show more content…
This allowed the five-season veteran time and opportunity to get signed with the Indianapolis Colts just three days later.

We also know that Quinn is building Detroit for the future, the Kerley trade is a perfect example. The Lions traded Kerley, an aging receiver, swapped for a younger lineman with an untapped potential in Brandon Thomas.

In other areas of the team, the Lions opted for a young guy like Cole Wick over the recently cut Matthew Mulligan. Crezdon Butler was let go while Alex Carter took a big step toward making the final 53. And now that Ridley is gone, the Lions are looking forward to rookie running back Dwayne Washington stepping it up.

Although we are not certain if any of Quinn's strategies will work in the long-term, at least we know a little bit about his roster philosophies. As Bob Quinn continues to distance himself from the Patriot way, the Lions are slowly starting to see the kind of guy they hired to handle this department. There might just be a future for the Lions
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