No matter what you might think about the Detroit Lions 01-16 season, the fact remains that former Lions coach Rod Marinelli handled it with about as much class as one could given the circumstances.  That doesn't make it any better on his legacy as Detroit's head coach, but it may give you an idea of the character and integrity he has a human being.  Running a losing operation is no fun, especially when many of the decisions made aren't yours and are being made by people who shouldn't be making them.

Though he was a bust as a head coach, Marinelli is still a respected defensive line coach.  So why shouldn't Lovie Smith hire the guy when he became available?  Forget for a moment that Lovie and Rod are BFF's, if Rod is the best guy out there available for the gig, I say hire him. 

The road in the NFL is littered with coaches who were respected coordinators and were busts as head coaches.  Some of the more recent NFL firings prove that.  Romeo Crenell.  Scott Linehan. Mike Nolan.  And then there are those who have returned to coordinating after a tough time as a head coach.  Cam Cameron, who was 1-15 last year as head coach of the Dolphins has done a masterful job of running the Baltimore offense this year.  Dan Henning, who struggled coaching both the Falcons and Chargers did a great job with Chad Pennington this year getting the Dolphins back in the playoffs.

While Marinelli will always be "the Rich Kotite of this generation" it shouldn't prevent him from getting a job as an assistant.  And if he can help guys like Tommie Harris get to the quarterback better, I'm all for it.  Even if he was a bust as a head coach.