With the continued efforts of the Detroit Lions' communications and marketing departments, coach Jim Schwartz should be a free agent in no time as soon as the Lions' 2013 season ends on Sunday.
The Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday that one day after the Lions' 23-20 overtime loss Sunday to the New York Giants eliminated them from postseason contention, some of their fans received postseason tickets in the mail.
The article said that the Lions mailed playoff invoices to season-ticket holders last month. At the time, Detroit had a 6-5 record and was tied for first place in the NFC North. As the Lions head into the final week of the season, they are 7-8 with no shot at the NFC North title. The 8-7 Chicago Bears will play the 7-7-1 Green Bay Packers Sunday, meaning that the winner will be guaranteed of a better record than the Lions.
The Lions sold playoff tickets in two-game blocks - teams can host up to two home games during the postseason - and the Free Press reported that organizations chasing a playoff berth routinely take ticket requests late in the season.
The ticket snafu, however, is just another reminder that embattled coach Schwartz failed to live up to expectations. In five seasons, he has a 29-50 record and has led the Lions to the playoffs just once - in 2011.
Sports World News previously reported that the Lions' media relations department left out questions about Schwartz's job security at his postgame news conference on Sunday, along with Schwartz's answers.
That issue sparked a separate media controversy.
If the Lions decide to retain Schwartz for the 2014 season, they must find a way to avoid putting him in any negative situations before working on the damage the 2013 has caused to his reputation as a head coach.
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