Detroit Willing to Do Whatever it Takes to Keep Precious Thanksgiving Day Game

I’m a traditionalist at heart and grew up watching the Lions play on Turkey Day after the parades, but before Dinner.  I always consider Thanksgiving Day a very special day and would be disappointed to see that the Lions don’t play on that day.  I know my opinion probably doesn’t mean much to the NFL, but I would love to see that tradition continue.

Keep it in Detroit. Tradition counts for something I hope!

The NFL would be crazy to keep the Lions on Thanksgiving. It’s a bad game year after year. That is a showcase game, some people only watch football on Thanksgiving day.

I’m all for tradition but enough is enough .
A team should be at least .500 from the year before to qualify .

I’m with fan82 and mrett, the Lions on Thanksgiving is part of the fabric of the NFL.  May it always stay that way!

I’m with some of the comments above.  It is nice to have a tradition that actually stays around.

I have nothing against Detroit. I just think that it would be best if the NFL would split the Thanksgiving day games up. Rotate different teams each year, it would be best for the NFL and all fan bases.

I’m kind of in favour of this but with other sports changing I think the NFL should. Withe the Leafs now a laughingstock of the NHL CBC has taken them off several Hockey Night in Canada schedules. As a Torontoian I liked this idea because I’m not a Leafs fan and I could now watch good hockey. Tradition is nice but nobody wants to watch a game that’s over after the coin toss. Put on good teams that will make for good games and don’t just rely on tradition

I have nothing against Detroit. I just think that it would be best if the NFL would split the Thanksgiving day games up. Rotate different teams each year, it would be best for the NFL and all fan bases.

I agree Detroit is a bad team but they have the right to keep that game in Detroit because of the fact that nobody wanted to play the Thanksgiving Day game when it began. With that said and now all the franchises see the success of the games it is a joke they want to infringe on what Detroit promised to do when they said "yes" to playing the game and that is as long as they were the team chosen they wanted the game every year. Leave it alone. It’s like saying we are moving the Capitol of Washington D.C. somewhere else because nothing good comes out of Washington. 

I normally would say that tradition comes first, but I just can’t in this case. The Lions are horrendous and they shouldn’t be televised nationally on Thanksgiving where you want a spectacular, hard-fought game of football, not a lopsided destruction of the worst team in football. Unless they manage to add significant players to their lineup (and no, Stafford alone is not considered significant) and can pull off at least 7 wins this year, they shouldn’t be playing on Thanksgiving. It’s as simple as that.

If you are going to take the Lions off to rotate Teams then the Cowboys should be taken off too!!!!

Barbed wire coated in gravy.

Noooooo!! Although I think the Lions are going to finally start getting better. And yes, I realize one win would be an improvement. But I’m talking better than that.

-Laddy
laddymcfaddy.com

The only reason the NFL is will to continue letting Detroit pollute the airwaves on Thanksgiving is that they’re on in the early afternoon instead of Dallas which has the juicy 4 p.m. slot and whatever the NFL Network shows at 8 p.m. If the Lions were on later in the day, or, God forbid, in prime-time after football fans have finished their turkey and want something good to watch, the Lions would put millions to sleep before the tryptophan does. And bad ratings is something the NFL absolutely will not tolerate. But who cares what’s on at 1 p.m.? Damn sure not me as I’ve haven’t wasted my time with the Lions in well over a decade. Let Detroit keep their wretched, half-baked "tradition", I can live without nonsense like that.

I say keep it, good or bad, the Lions are apart of Thanksgiving tradition.  I hate the Cowboys but I don’t want them removed from Thanksgiving either.  It’s one game, and one day a year, what’s the big deal, leave it the way it is.

I say keep it, good or bad, the Lions are apart of Thanksgiving tradition.  I hate the Cowboys but I don’t want them removed from Thanksgiving either.  It’s one game, and one day a year, what’s the big deal, leave it the way it is.

I don’t want to seem like I am dog piling on Detroit with all of their recent woes, but for the love of God, get the Lions off of Thanksgiving Day.  Playing on premier day when everyone is at home watching TV should be reserved for the very best that the NFL has to offer fans.  That description does not fit the Lions now or for most of their history. There are a lot of traditions that no longer fit modern times and the Lions getting blasted on Turkey Day is one that needs to retire. Did anyone see last year’s edition? Jeez!  Since I have been alive, this game is hardly ever competitive.  I think the league can rotate this game amongst the other East Coast teams that have been more succesful than the Lions. How about the Bears or the Packers or the Steelers? Anyone, but the awful Lions.  Look, I am sorry about GM, Ford and all, but if you had been observant, you would have seen this coming since the 1970’s— it was just a matter of time. It may be another stab at civic pride, but the Lions need to go.  It a funny thing that the Ford family mismanaged both the auto company and the Lions.  I don’t think that is a coincidence, brother.     

As bad as they have been, the Lions and their losing ways are always a welcome sight on Thanksgiving Day.

Wilmer is exactly right. Detroit keeps the game because they stepped up to the plate when no one else would. And Detriot is 33 – 30 – 2 on Thanksgiving Day. This shows how long they have been playing on Turkey Day and reminds us that they actually have a winning record in all those games. They’ve only won one of the last eight but they should keep the game.

Tell Detroit, to heck with their " tradition"!  Who stole the Reds’ tradition of the the first game of the season?  The Detroit Tigers, that’s who. You guys moved up your start time a half hour to do it!!  Then ESPN moves it a day earlier than that!  Tradition?  None of you know what you’re talking about w/ the tradition argument!

keep with tradition, make the game stay

Keep the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

And, as one poster stated above, Thanksgiving is the Only day some watch the NFL, then those "fans" are not really fans at all.

Keep the Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

And, as one poster stated above, Thanksgiving is the Only day some watch the NFL, then those "fans" are not really fans at all.

Only day they watch football is Thanksgiving…I know a few people like that. Of course they are not real fans. Watching the Lions every year is never going to convert anybody. Even the NBA puts top games on Chrismas.

It’s a "showcase" game LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It’s a football game PERIOD. Another brainwashed fan overestimates the importance of pro sports. Your comment is all about you and not the fans who only watch once a year. Poor baby "has" to watch Detroit while it rebuilds. What an selfish remark. Detroit has played well in alot of those games of the years. Detroits JL Hudson Parade (now the America’s Thanksgiving Parade) is still one of the nation’s largest and Thanksgiving football in Detroit are two things that can never be messed with. Showcase game LMAOOOOOOOOOOO. Keep it in Detroit. A showcase game because some fans only watch once a year hahahahahahahaaaa. Poor baby. Try to think about what the Thanksgiving holiday is all about. It’s not football. Be thankful your team doesn’t suck if you can’t think of anything else to be thankful for. Good grief!!

I live in Detroit and the thanksgiving game is a TRADITION STARTED in Detroit in 1934.  The team got destroyed because of Matt Millen and we fans shouldn’t be penalized any more because of what he did.  We are the worst hit economically in the country and  it’s gonna get worse (GM goes bankrupt).  My parents had to move in because my dad retired from a steel mill and they went bankrupt.  Now they have no income or insurance.  And this is real common here.  This is horrible to keep kicking us why we’re down.  Everyday Detroit is the butt of everybodies joke.  I stopped watching sportcenter because of all the Detroit jokes.  I enjoy getting up on Thanksgiving and supporting my team no matter what.  I’m sorry our team isn’t "entertaining" enough for you.  But keep in mind the Thanksgiving game was started here in 1934 and should stay here as long as the Lions are around.  Good luck getting Mr. Ford to sign off on this because I’m sure they would really miss his money.  75 years is a pretty strong tradition to me.  Sorry for the rant but this is personal for Lions fans.

Look.  I’m a Lions fan who lives in Iowa.  The Lions are horrible.  I get it.  But this is the ONLY Lions game I actually get to watch all year long.  I don’t’ even care if they get blown out.  Just let me have my one game a year.

I’m a Bears fan who lived in Detroit right after I was born until I was 8 years old. I loved the JL Hudson’s parade and remember my folks going to the game on Thanksgiving. The NFL better keep their mitts off of The Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit. Detroit has added a few more activities during the Thanksgiving weekend since I moved away like the Turkey Trot and the Hob Nobble Grobble. My Mom got hit in the stomach with a deflected hockey puck at a Wings game while she was pregnant with my brother. Man did he grow up messed up!!! Anyway, I have very fond memories of that time of my life, when I was a pup, as I am sure alot of Michigan peeps do. Hands off NFL!!! This game belongs to Detroit. I think they should schedule Chicago or Green Bay or Cleveland. Those teams just seem to fit the atmoshere of the game. Those teams can get home if they wish and are narural rivals. This is Detroit’s game and if you take it away you lose something special. There are alot of other issues that need addressing in the NFL and this is a NON ISSUE. Don’t even think about it owners.

The Lions, just like the Cowboys deserve the Thanksgiving day game, because they were the only two NFL teams that had the forsight to see it being a big game.

Maybe the argument for the lions would be a little more solid if the Lions actually looked like they cared.  The last 5 years has been a joke.

The Lions started the Thanksgiving game. Just because they suck right now doesnt mean they dont deserve to keep it going.

If you take the game away from Detroit, take it from Dallas too.

The Lions adopted this tradition in 1934 and the Cowboys in 1966.  Both teams should not be messed with.  If you don’t like these games you could try to find the NFL Network game on your cable channels.  As a child (and now adult), it is great to go to the football game and root for our Lions win.  Then you can go home and have some Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s house.  Hot dogs and beer for breakfast and a homemade meal for dinner.  The Lions have made steps to improve their team.  We fired Millen, hired a young aggressive GM, hired an accomplished young defensive coach (that wanted to come here), he brought in two experienced coordinators, they got rid of some deadwood (Kitna, Marinelli, R.Williams, Bidden), signed moderately priced FA (P.Buchannon, M.Morris, Grady Jackson) and hopefully will draft an impact players in the draft (Jason Smith, Aaron Curry, or Eugene Monroe).  Besides it took Millen how long to ruin this franchise, and I am hopeful that these men will turn this team around and fill it with talent again.  But we realize it will take a couple of years to be competitive again.  I am hoping for 3-5 wins this year.  But If we hear Stafford w/ the first pick you may hear some people jumping into the Detroit River off of the Ambassador Bridge (those still not recovered from Joey Harrington)

Detroit should get to keep the game for a few reasons.  First off is tradition.  The Lions took the game on thanksgiving when no one else wanted to touch it and now that its a success they want to take it away.  To what end, to appease the one-year football fans?  Those aren’t even real football fans if they watch only games on thanksgiving.

Secondly the NFL needs to reward Lions fans for a change.  Everyone of you can run off at the mouth, but Detroit has some of the most loyal fans in sports.  It takes a lot more to be a true fan of a losing team then it does to be a fan of a good team.  This is the only time of the year a lot of Lions fans get to see Detroit play, you can’t strip them of that.  Detroit is hardly seen on TV in any sport, even when winning championships.  You can’t strip the one guaranteed Lions game the fans get to see.

Lastly if you strip away this game your depriving everyone of seeing one of, if not the best young recever in the game, Calvin Johnson.  A lot of fans know who he is, but have no idea how unstoppable he is because they never see him on tv.  The NFL needs to advertise its great, young, and morally sound quality guys in the leauge.  You don’t see Johnson in news causing controversy yet the league insists on showing the controversial teams in the league.  Leave the game in Detroit, they started the tradition, they keep the tradition.

I think the better matchups should be scheduled. It’s not even entertaining to watch these blow-outs. Mix things up.

As a Lions fan, I’d rather see the Ford family forcibly removed from ownership rather then take the game away from the fans of Detroit, especially considering the current state of the city.

I understand where the people who want it removed are coming from, as it really has degenerated into an embarrassment for the NFL, the franchise, the fans and even the city since Millen took over. I would hope though that at least a year or two is given to the new GM & coaching regime to turn it around and actually make it a compelling game again before it’s taken away haphazardly; just because of the history behind the game in Detroit, if no other reason.

Let’s keep our priorities straight here—Thansksgiving is about spending time with the family (forcing yourself to interact with the in-laws)…and, of course, gluttony.

How is anyone supposed to do that if there’s an actual, worthwhile, competitive, compelling game on?!?!?

So, keep the Lions. 

By doing so,  people will actually interact with their family members…at least until a REAL game comes on. 

Seriously, though—as much as I detest these snooze-fests, there’s something to be said for tradition, for its own sake.    

Some scores from past Thanksgiving day games hosted by the Lions, last 5 years excluded.
2003 – Lions 22 Packers 14
2000 – Lions 34 Patriots  9
1998 – Lions 19 Steelers 16
1997 – Lions 55 Bears 20
1995 – Lions 44 Vikings 38
1994 – Lions 35 Bills 21
Believe it or not there was a time not too long ago when teams whined and complained to the league about playing Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. There was a time not long ago when NOBODY wanted to play that Thursday game in the Motorcity. But sports fans – correction – blogging east coast sports fans and sports writers have short memories and are constantly looking for the latest reason to try to get the rest of the nation infatuated with the latest team their ownership went out and BOUGHT in the offseason. The Lions were at least mediocre and kicking butt on Thanksgiving when the majority of the east coast teams were the joke of their divisions. So Pats fans, I can appreciate all your hubris for the RECENT success but take a 50 year snapshot and lets get a real perspective. The game stays in Detroit and I sincerely feel Coach Schwartz will soon make this a non-issue.