Lions have to earn their lions???

[stomperrob]

Some Lions' fans were concerned that the players are wearing plain silver helmets without the Leaping Lion in mini-camp - apparently there was fear the symbol was being retired! Turns out Marinelli is starting everyone out with the plain helmets and making them earn the Lion for their helmets in camp.

Marinelli Wants Players to Earn Their Time

For Head Coach Rod Marinelli, nothing will be handed out – it will have to be earned.

He is even making his players earn their Leaping Lion helmet decals. Throughout this offseason, players have been practicing during OTA days and mini-camps with blank silver helmets.

Marinelli on having no decals on the helmets: “It’s a team with just a bunch of guys trying to make it to training camp right now. Then we’ll get to training camp and it’s the next phase and guys earn them.”

Source: DetroitLions.com

[Dr. Duran Duran]

Didn't Bill Parcells try that same "earn your logo" deal with the Cowboys a few years back?

[Santacruzer]

Fast forward that photo and I think it will look the same by the start of the season - not a Lion logo in the bunch!!

[Teck]

lol couldn't agree more.

[Atog]

I can't think of anything funny to say about the Lions at the moment but I'm sure that something is warranted

[dream_017]

Maybe they should just wear paper bags like the rest of us

[beanoX3]

The explanation might be much simpler than Marinelli wanting his players to earn the right to wear the Lions logo. It was probably just cheaper for the Ford family to order helmets without a logo on it.

[LoveBoatCaptain]

I thought this was stupid when Parcells did it, and I think it's stupid now that Marinelli is doing the same.

[killiansjmd]

Jets have done this both years under Mangini as well.

[joelamosobadiah]

Yes, DDD, it has been done before and I don't think its stupid. It's just another motivator to use with people. If there is somebody that you like, but don't think they are giving out full effort, give a guy or two in front of him a decal and make him sweat about his position on the team and work harder. Motivation is a good thing.