Martha Ford Addresses Team; 'She Wants To Change What's Gone On For A Long Time'
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Like the old game of telephone, word quickly spread around the Lions' locker room Monday: "Guys, it is not a good day to be late."
Team owner Martha Firestone Ford was coming to address the team. According to several players, this was the first time ownership had ever addressed the players during their regular team meeting. Owners will often come to the locker room after games, but are very rarely represented in a team's day-to-day, Xs-and-Os operations.
She was "passionate," according to running back Joique Bell, and "letting us know what was going on," according to defensive end Darryl Tapp. But Ford's message was clear: This franchise's culture has to change.
"As an owner, we respect that, as far as her (being) willing to come in and talk to us," offensive guard Manny Ramirez said. "We know what she comes from, what she means … She wants to see change."
That change got off to a running start last week, when Ford stood at a podium and announced she had fired general manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand. Their interim replacements – Sheldon White and Allison Maki – would report directly to Ford, who has fully taken the reins on running the team.
Ford apparently spoke to the team for about five to 10 minutes, addressing her expectations for the future.
"Not just (these) eight games," Ramirez said. "She wants to change what's gone on for a long time."
She also, according to players, talked about the management changes she had made and introduced White and Maki. One thing not addressed, however, was head coach Jim Caldwell's job status.
"There was nothing to address," Tapp said. "He's our guy. Everybody's elated about that. He does a great job. His staff does a great job preparing for games."
Ninety-year-old Ford is one of only two females in the NFL who have taken full ownership control of a franchise (in addition to Virginia Halas McCaskey in Chicago). Whether it's because of age, gender, or simply her family's history of owning the team (and not winning), many fans have doubted whether or not Ford can do the job. Calls to sell the team have been around for weeks, although their momentum has slowed considerably since Ford made last week's personnel decisions.
Tapp joked that Ford was tiny, but fierce, and that she was the right woman to lead the Lions to a true culture change.
"My grandma, she's 87 and this tall, she'll beat me down right now," Tapp laughed. "Mrs. Ford is cool. This is their baby. It's their family's baby. It's something they've worked hard to have and own. … They want the best for us."
