Why the Lions will contend in 2011
The Detroit Lions have long been a pigskin piñata. Who didn't love taking swings at their soft, defeat-filled underbelly after every stupid move they made?
Their long-term lack of success made it easy. Some Detroit fans reveled in the treatment, hoping the humiliation would someday cause the Lions to turn over a new leaf.
Well, consider that leaf turned ... and not just because Detroit landed a stellar draft class last month.
First, you need to know that Jim Schwartz's Lions turned a huge statistical corner during the 2010 season ... and they did it in spectacular fashion, too. And, yes, they may have turned another corner at the end of April 2011, with what appears to be a small but smart, talent-filled draft class that could make the Lions -- hold your breath here folks -- a contender in the top heavy NFC North in 2011.