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Ross says his energy level wasn't there
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When Bobby Ross abruptly resigned as head coach of the Detroit Lions on Monday, he did not speak publicly about his decision. Wednesday, however, Ross got in touch with ESPN's NFL analyst, Chris Mortensen, who filed this report from their phone conversation:
Chris Mortensen: Bobby, where are you?
Bobby Ross: I'm in Portland, Ore., visiting my daughter and her four kids. Trying
to relax and get caught up on some rest and family time.
|  | | Bobby Ross now plans to spend time with his immediate family, not his football family. |
Mort: Even though you met with your team and the front office staff to explain your decision to retire, why did you choose not to have a news conference to explain what happened?
Ross: Well, Chris, I don't like all the attention. There's no anger or
anything like that. I just didn't want to do a press conference. I wanted to
get out of there right away because I think it's best for the team to move out
of there fast. It's a team that has a winning record (5-4) and still has a
chance, so I needed to disappear as quickly as possible so the coaches and
players could get focused on Atlanta. I had my boxes sent home, put 'em in a
garage and [Tuesday], Alice and I got on a plane headed here, in Oregon.
Mort: I take it, then, that the reasons given by the Lions are accurate -- that you're physically, emotionally and mentally spent, burned-out, whatever you want to call it?
Ross: Well, I just don't have the energy level that you've got to have for the job, however you want to put it. You need it for the good of your team. I don't have any trouble physically, not anything serious, other than the energy level. It's not my nature to do something like this. But I'm tired. I thought this was the best time to do it, rather than to keep struggling.
Mort: Your critics will call you a quitter. You do understand that, don't you?
Ross: Yeah, but I don't feel like a quitter. You know, I'm going to be 64
years old next month and other than my three years in the military, I've
spent all my life as a coach, and I've given it my all. I didn't think I
could do that anymore. This was probably going to be my last year, but I reached a certain point where the time had come.
Mort: Was there another moment this season when you almost stepped aside?
Ross: I was very close to doing it during our open date [Oct. 15], to be honest with
you.
Mort: That was after a victory, over Green Bay, right?
Ross: Yeah, but I was feeling those things, no energy. Then I got a little
rest and a little reenergized, so I hung on. But then I was still struggling
to get back that energy each game. It just got harder and harder. The pro
game drains on you. There are certain other elements that drain on you.
Mort: Like what?
Ross: It serves no purpose now to talk about those things. I really don't
want to get into it. The pro game is different, and I no longer had the
energy. I did the best thing for myself and the team.
Mort: Do you think your players believe you quit on them?
Ross: I'm sure there are a lot of them that weren't happy with what I did.
But I can walk away with my head high. I gave it my best. I know it wasn't
perfect timing, but I don't know how you can have good timing on something
like this. I had to be fair to the team, fair to the organization, to Mr.
Ford [chairman and president, William Clay Ford]. I couldn't give my best, I don't think, and that's what they deserve. I
still think they have a shot at making it to the playoffs and doing something,
and I don't believe my stepping aside hurts those chances.
Mort: Well, I know there have been plenty of people, your coaches, your
friends, front office people like [general manager] Chuck Schmidt who urged you to cut down your work load. Why not try that, for the sake of finishing the season?
Ross: I only know one way. Everyone says, "Why don't you delegate more?" I do
delegate. I delegate quite a bit. But I've got a pretty strong commitment to
anything I do. I am still going to know what's happening on the defensive
side, I was more involved on the offensive side, special teams ... all that
stuff's important for a head coach to be on top of it. You have to stay in
tune with everything. That's just my way.
Mort: Did you get frustrated, wondering whether your were making a difference?
Ross: I hope I did make a difference, but again, there are a lot of elements
I don't want to discuss. I think that the team is in better shape to move
forward. I believe there's a good solid base there, I really do.
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I can walk away with my head high. I gave it my best. I know it wasn't perfect timing, but I don't know how you can have good timing on something like this. ” |
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— Bobby Ross |
There's two solid bookend tackles in Aaron Gibson and Stockar McDougle. I still feel good
about our young quarterback, Charlie Batch. We look like we've got two pretty
good running backs in James Stewart and Mario Bates, he's been a pleasant
surprise. When Germane Crowell comes back healthy, our wide receivers will
be in good shape. I think our defensive talent is there, with a chance to
get better. The secondary is good and solid. We almost rebuilt the whole
football team and I know it doesn't necessarily show noticeably in our
win-loss record, but I really think the franchise is at a good jumping off
point. It has a chance to be pretty good, and I feel good about that.
Mort: By the way, Barry Sanders' agent, David Ware, told me that Barry
reiterated to him this week that he did not retire because of Bobby Ross, as
has been speculated. Did you wonder about that?
Ross: I felt I had pretty much reconciled that Barry retired because he
didn't want to play any more, but I certainly appreciate hearing that again. Barry was a great, great player.
Mort: You mentioned how the pro game drains you. Does that mean there's a chance you would coach again at the college level?
Ross: No, not really. I'm pretty much done. It's time for me to give my time
to my wife, children and grandchildren. My family's pretty spread out, so
that will be a task in itself. But I owe my family so much for all the time
they sacrificed over the years. I do love the game. I still love the game. My wife is worried about how I'm going to handle being away. I know it's going to feel strange not being a part of it. I've played, I've coached in high school, college and pros as an assistant and head coach. It's a game that has been very good to me, but I feel it's time to go.
Mort: So what do you do the rest of the season?
Ross: Other than visit the family, Alice and I will head back to Detroit and
probably spend three or four more months there. We've made some real friends
there, but we'll probably go back to Virginia, where we have a home. I'm looking forward to it, believe me.
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