Red Alert At The Silverdome Lions Coach Fontes Continues To Make Light Of Critics’ Remarks As His Team Prepares For The Seahawks
In Detroit, fans and newspaper columnists are calling for the ouster of Lions coach Wayne Fontes.
If it happens, Fontes easily could slide into a new line of work as a comedian. His specialty: Gallows humor.
Fontes began a conference call Wednesday morning with Seattle media as if his Lions were on a four-game winning streak instead of the four-game skid that has put the “Wayne Watch” on red alert.
“Hey guys, how you doin’?” said Fontes, whose Lions entertain suddenly hot Seattle on Sunday. “I’m still hanging in there. … At least I’m walking on the right side of the grass, which means they haven’t buried me yet. Ha! Ha!”
Detroit players insist Fontes is impervious to the harsh words of the scribes. Lineman Ray Roberts, a former Seahawk, suggested that Fontes is playing the media like a fiddle.
“They think they’re really getting to him and they really don’t,” Roberts said. “They don’t know that he’s manipulating them. He’s laughing, having fun, smiling, trying to get the team going.”
If Fontes’ ploy is to take the heat for his players, hey, it’s working better than many of his play calls.
Wrote Charlie Vincent of the Detroit Free Press: “There must be reasons for the Ford family (Lions owners) to invite Wayne Fontes back for another few seasons. It’s just that I can’t think of any.”
Added the Detroit News’ Mike O’Hara: “For the first time as head coach of the Lions, Wayne Fontes faces a situation which he does not appear to have the resources to turn around. The first time. And maybe the last time.”
Fontes acknowledged that the latest sniping has been the heaviest to date.
“The wolves are out and they’re out in force this time,” he said. “They (Detroit media) can get out old newspapers from 1992 and just put a new date on them. If I felt I was losing the team, the respect of the team or the respect in the locker room, I’d walk away.
“I’m going to stay in the race.”
Fontes, in his eighth year with the Lions, has a record of 66-66. But several of his teams have charged home over the last half of the season, leaving a glimmer of hope for this year’s 4-6 club.
Presumably, his previous teams didn’t have to deal with the current one’s injury list.
“This is the most banged up we’ve been,” Fontes said. “We’re without eight or nine guys that we planned on (at the start of the season) that aren’t playing.”
Fontes answered several more questions before the conference call ended.
“Thanks, guys,” he said. “How’s the weather up there in Seattle?”
Injury update
The Hawks signed Coleman Bell, a journeyman pro who played for Erickson at the University of Miami, to back up starting tight end Carlester Crumpler and backup Ronnie Williams. Erickson said Christian Fauria (broken ankle) is out for the season.
Brian Blades (separated shoulder) believes he’ll be able to play on Sunday. “It’s one of the greatest healing jobs I’ve ever seen, but we’ll see how it is,” Erickson said. “It’s the trainers and doctors he’s got to convince that if he plays there’s no chance of him reinjuring it.”
Blades is eager to play because his brother, Bennie, is a Lions’ safety. Bennie has a hamstring injury.
Fullback Mack Strong (knee) also might return on Sunday.
For the battered Lions, quarterback Scott Mitchell (ribs), defensive end Tracy Scroggins (ankle) and offensive guard Mike Compton (ankle) are doubtful, Fontes said.
Notes
The Seahawks are moving closer to signing quarterback John Friesz to a new contract, Erickson said. “I’m not involved in the negotiations, so I don’t know exactly where they’re at. I would assume that they’re pretty close.”… Defensive tackle Sam Adams has a shoulder injury, but is expected to play. If Adams can’t start, Erickson said, “Joe Nash would start and Henry (McMillian) would be the guy that would rotate.”
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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COMING UP Sunday on television: Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions, 10 a.m., NBC.