Quote:One thing nobody mentioned during Teryl Austin's interview tour was the possibility that if Jim Caldwell gets fired, the Lions could promote him. The Lions would not have been able to interview Josh McDaniels anyway because he is working in the playoffs. I definitely would have put Austin on my favorites list if the players did not like Caldwell after the OC change. It could have been like the Giants situation with Ben McAdoo.

 

  The Teryl Austin scenario you mentioned is one that I discussed for quite a while.  If Jim Caldwell would have been let go,  Austin would have been my top choice for the Lions HC position.   Austin is very popular amongst the Lions Defensive players and has proven to be a highly skilled Defensive Coordinator.  

 

  Having said all of this,  it was highly unlikely that Teryl Austin was going to become the Lions HC this winter.  Ernie Accorsi was the Lions Consultant for the G.M. search and has been kept on as a consultant.    Accorsi talked about the importance of pairing a first time NFL G.M.  with an experienced NFL HC.   I don't think Bob Quinn would have been hired as Lions G.M. if he was looking to hire an NFL HC w/o experience in that role.  

---