In Philadelphia, Jeff McLane writes the Eagles' roster is an "unmitigated disaster, the product of poor personnel moves made" since the team won the Super Bowl in '17. Eagles GM Howie Roseman's fingerprints are "all over the franchise." Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie's trust in Roseman "has long been established." He "exonerated him for the end of the Andy Reid era" and "restored his front office standing" after Chip Kelly's firing in '15. Lurie "excused Roseman for the personnel mistakes of 2010-12 by saying that he had kept voluminous notes on evaluation success and failures." And he has a ring that "could be reason enough to retain the GM beyond this season." But there "can't be any plausible redirection for a series of decisions that have backfired at almost every turn" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/24).
TIME TO START OVER? In Detroit, Jeff Seidel noted Lions Owner & Chair Sheila Ford Hamp in June "made a bold statement" after being elevated to her current role. She said, "We want to see major improvement." Seidel: "If Hamp is true to her word, there is no objective reason why Matt Patricia, 13-28-1 as head coach, will keep his job." If she is true to her word, she "will clean house and start over -- the sooner the better." It is "time to realize the truth: the Lions are regressing before our eyes and there is no sign of progress" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/23).
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: In Boston, Jason Mastrodonato writes Patriots Owner Robert Kraft's "best chance at winning a championship this season" might be with his "oft-forgotten second child," the Revolution, who won their first playoff game in six years last week. Mastrodonato: "The buzz you feel around Gillette Stadium lately isn’t that of excitement for the Patriots, but their younger sibling finally showing signs of promise" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/24).
