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Detroit Lions outside linebacker Bobby Carpenter (59) celebrates with fans after defeating the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. Detroit won 38-10 to clinch a playoff spot. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola (51) celebrates with fans after defeating the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. Detroit won 38-10 to clinch a playoff spot. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
DETROIT ? The last time the Lions took a victory lap around Ford Field to share joy with the fans was in 2009, coming off the 0-16 season and two straight losses to start the year.
When they beat the Redskins on Sept. 27, they thanked the fans by high-fiving them as they walked along the field.
?Coach Schwartz told us late in the fourth when the game was in hand to go ahead and do that," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. ?I thought it was a great gesture and our fans responded great."
The fans are important to this franchise and it starts at the top.
With the players it starts with Schwartz, who led the players single file around the brick wall that separates the seats from the field.
?Unless something really strange happens, it?s probably the last home game that we?re going to play this year," Schwartz said. ?So our crowd?s made a big difference. We?ve said all along how they don?t just go to the games, they participate in the games. I?d like a few less waves when our offense has the ball when we?re holding the lead and we don?t want to get any penalties, but our crowd?s been great and they deserve to celebrate it and that?s why we stayed out."
With Schwartz in the lead, Stafford picked up the rear of the formation. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter shared the experience with his son, who he was holding in his arms.
The team has come a long way since that lap in 2009, the first season with Schwartz and Stafford.
?It?s been a long road, that?s for sure. For me personally, for our team, for everybody involved. (There?s) a lot of mentally tough people in that locker room ? a lot of people (who) have been through a lot of hard times to get to this point and you know I?m just happy to be a part of it and glad I got to share it with the guys in the locker room there. They?re a great bunch of guys and it?s just fun to be a part of it," Stafford said.
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Source: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/25/sports/doc4ef687dae8ff0419621679.txt
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