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Does Former Lions OC Mike Martz Suffer from Selective Memory?

Written by: Hondo S. Carpenter Sr. on 8th April 2008

ProFootballTalk.com recently ran this blog, http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/04/06/martz-says-that-the-lions-werent-good/.

It humors me to read and see what Martz has been saying since he left the D.

I want to address two things that have been attributed to him since his leaving that I KNOW FOR A FACT are either not accurate or for those that know the facts, are very interesting based upon his actions.

#1 “We were last in the NFL on defense,” and this hilarious gem, “We weren’t good enough on the offensive line to protect and throw the ball like we did.” Mike Furrey, the Lions WR, told me an interesting story about Martz and it wasn’t him wanting an OL. He said before the draft, “Mike (Martz) really explained to us how Calvin just makes us all better.” Martz spent the time leading up to the draft leaving post it notes on Marinelli’s desk and he sold Kitna and Furrey on why the Lions should select CJ. In fact he said to me at the press conference held at Lions headquarters during the draft, “Sure he was the best player in this draft. He is a difference maker and that is why I wanted him so bad.” Marinelli even joked about Martz’s campaigning for CJ at the press conference talking about him being picked. There was no doubt on the day of the draft whether it was Martz making sure that everyone knew he had encouraged the pick of Calvin Johnson, or everyone else making sure we knew it was Martz’s influence that his hands were all over the pick.

In fact, late this past season a high ranking Lions official told me angrily, “He was the guy that wanted the kid so bad, why doesn’t he actually use him?” I asked Martz that question last season and he simply gave me a dirty look and walked off.

So why is this so stupid? The Lions really liked Joe Thomas and Patrick Willis. In fact they had discussed situations in which they would have either taken Thomas or traded back and got Willis. The latter being the option they liked most, but no teams were willing to step up and give them the value they thought the pick was worth. So when the Lions were contemplating, it was the thought by some within the Allen Park facility that Thomas was going to be the man for some time, until Martz began his campaign. The thought process culminated with players and their OC lobbying so hard, not picking Johnson may give people the impression (accurately in my opinion, notice he isn’t here anymore) of a less than united Lions brain trust and the momentum went to the Johnson pick.

Now, that is in no way implying that Millen and Marinelli didn’t like or weren’t impressed with CJ. No one questions his character or talent. I simply find it humorous that Martz’s campaign to get Johnson is one of the biggest reasons he is a Lion and now Martz is trying to be critical of the Lions for not addressing offense or defense.

Don’t get me wrong, I said it at the time and have maintained it since the pick. CJ is a great kid and has the potential to be one of the best, but the Lions made a bad pick and should have taken Thomas like many wanted and didn’t. When Martz rips the Lions for a bad OL, he should look in the mirror since that was what the Lions heavily contemplated doing, but Martz wanted yet another skill position guy.

#2 Martz never wanted Stanton! I have not seen this exact quote attributed to Martz, but I have gotten a ton of email from people telling me that they have heard this. Since this is only an ATTRIBUTED comment to Martz I won’t rip him as hard. I will, however, make anyone who believes this understand that Martz loved Stanton and the Lions wouldn’t have taken him had he not signed off.

At Drew’s pro day at MSU, it was Martz that spent an inordinate amount of time with Drew looking at many things. He worked with Stanton that day on his technique and raved to the Allen Park brain trust about how teachable Stanton was. Soon after the pro day, Martz raved to me about how Drew needed to fix his mechanics, but said, “He has the it factor you want from your guy.”

The Lions brain trust, including Martz, raved about Drew at the combine. Assuring Martz that I wouldn’t report his thoughts prior to the draft, I asked him what QB stood out the most to him and he was emphatic, “Stanton, Drew, he has exactly what you want. He has the swagger and the skills he just needs the coaching. Other guys have had some better coaching and technique, but he is the guy you can develop and want.”

How much did the Lions like Stanton at the combine? They met with him and afterwards, one of the Lions senior officials told me, “He is the real deal. He has the charisma and talent. Mike is sure he can fix the mechanics. We want that kid. Make sure he knows that we really liked everything about him.” So I did just that. I spoke with his agent Drew Rosenhaus and communicated to him the level of Lions interest.

After that conversation with Rosenhaus, the Lions official I mentioned earlier asked me to let Drew Stanton know that unless someone fell that they couldn’t imagine falling, they were going to pick Stanton in the second round. I was eating dinner that evening with Clifford Ryan and my friend Greg Skipper and Drew Rosenhaus came in. I walked over to his table to let him know what I had been told and when I saw Drew Stanton later I told him that if he were available, the Lions would take him in the second round.

A few weeks later, I was asked (by the previously mentioned Lions official) if I had communicated to Drew Stanton the Lions thought process and I assured him I did. I was told then, “Make sure he knows that. He is what this franchise is about.” I saw Stanton just a few days later at the MSU spring game and I told him to remember what I said and that the Lions WOULD pick him in the second round if he was there. Stanton (a lifelong Lions fan) flashed his All American boy smile and said, “Let’s hope so.”

The day of the draft, after the Lions selected Calvin Johnson, a Lions beat writer I was sitting next to told me, “If they go QB in the second round we know that Martz has way too much power in this organization.” The Lions did, they picked Stanton whom I told they were going to.

The day after the Lions picked Stanton he arrived at the Allen Park facility with his parents and I was standing near the door. All I did was look at him and smile and he said, “You were right, you said so.” That day Martz raved about his new signal caller and made no doubt that this was the kid he wanted.

Martz didn’t want the Lions to follow their original plan and address the OL or the D with Thomas or Willis. He wanted CJ. He also wanted Stanton. Those are facts. Those can’t be changed with selective memory.