Lions say coach Matt Patricia, GM Bob Quinn will return in 2020.
The Lions are sticking with their leaders in the front office and on the field, hoping continuity helps the franchise have success that has been elusive for several decades.
The Lions announced general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia will be retained for the 2020 season ending speculation about their futures. The Lions (3-10-1) have lost seven in a row — for the first time in seven years — and 10 of 11 games after a 2-0-1 start.
“I’m always appreciative when things like this come out,” Patricia said Tuesday.
The decisions to keep Quinn and Patricia was made on a day off for players, but it didn’t take them long to hear the news.
“It’s good for them that they’ll have another year to prove what they’re all about,” Lions offensive guard Graham Glasgow said. “The amount of people who got hurt this year didn’t help our cause.”
Most significantly, the Lions have been without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford (back and hip) for six games and they won’t have him back until next season after putting him on injured reserve Tuesday.
Quinn was hired in 2016 and Detroit was 9-7 for two consecutive years under Jim Caldwell. Quinn fired Caldwell and hired Patricia after the 2017 season.
Ravens have 12 Pro Bowl players
Twelve Ravens, including second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson, and seven Saints, highlighted by league-leading receiver Michael Thomas, made the Pro Bowl, to be played Jan. 26 in Orlando, Florida.
Jackson became the first Ravens quarterback selected since Vinny Testaverde in 1996. Only the Dolphins (Dan Marino, 1995) have gone longer without having a quarterback selected.
Joining Jackson from the Ravens are tight end Mark Andrews, long snapper Morgan Cox, cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, running back Mark Ingram, linebacker Matthew Judon, fullback Patrick Ricard, tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Earl Thomas, kicker Justin Tucker, and guard Marshal Yanda.
“This honor is all about my teammates and our coaches, because without them, the success we’ve had as a team wouldn’t be possible,” Jackson said.
The Dolphins and Giants were the only teams to have no Pro Bowl players.
This and that
The Steelers are sticking with rookie quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Coach Mike Tomlin said that Hodges will make his fourth consecutive start against the host Jets on Sunday.
♦ The NFL suspended Broncos safety Kareem Jackson for the final two games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was arrested Sept. 19 on suspicion of driving under the influence.