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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lions Get ‘Perfectionist’ Ross Signs A 5-Year Contract; To Have Final Say On Personnel

Associated Press

Bobby Ross is the new coach of the Detroit Lions, bringing stern discipline and hopes for a championship.

“I want perfect practices,” said Ross, whose appointment was announced Monday. “Perfect practices make for perfect games.”

The Lions have had few of those lately, completing a 5-11 season that got Wayne Fontes fired on Dec. 26.

Ross, who resigned after five years as coach at San Diego on Jan. 3, signed a five-year contract worth a reported $7.5 million.

He will have the final say in all personnel moves involving trades, free agency and the draft. Detroit has the fifth pick in the NFL draft.

“It’s not so much where you work … as the people that you work with and the people that you work for,” Ross said, calling Detroit “as fine an organization as there is in the National Football League.”

There will be no hugs from Ross, 60, who got his start as a three-sport player at Virginia Military Institute.

“The fact that I have a military background doesn’t mean I would be a disciplinarian,” Ross said. “I do think discipline is important. But I think discipline needs to be consistent. I’m a firm believer that ‘we’ comes before ‘me.”’