Suddenly, Ross Leaves the Lions

Detroit Lion Coach Bobby Ross, emotionally drained and embarrassed Sunday after a bumbling loss to Miami, said he needed to go home and talk things over with his wife.

Since he didn’t stick around with his offensive coordinator or his special teams coach, maybe everyone should have realized what was coming.

In a move that seemed bizarre except to those who know him best, Ross resigned as the Lions’ coach Monday, even though his team was 5-4 and in playoff contention.

The Lions named assistant Gary Moeller to replace him, giving a three-year contract to the former Michigan coach who was fired in 1995 after an alcohol-related altercation in a Detroit-area restaurant.

This wasn’t Bruce Coslet quitting as coach of the Cincinnati Bengals or Vince Tobin being fired as coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

This was a coach whose team was 5-2 only two weeks ago, with victories over preseason Super Bowl favorites Washington and Tampa Bay.

But the Lions lost their next two games to Indianapolis and Miami--falling behind the Dolphins, 14-0, before touching the ball in a 23-8 loss Sunday--and the earnest, emotional Ross submitted an apologetic letter of resignation to owner William Clay Ford.

“I am sorry, also, for not giving you the championship trophy you so richly deserved,” wrote Ross, 63, who guided the Lions to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons but was 0-2 in postseason games.

Only six seasons ago, Ross coached the San Diego Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance, but was forced out after the 1996 season because of philosophical differences with former general manager Bobby Beathard.

The departure of Ross as coach remains one of the black marks in Charger history.

In addition to the Super Bowl XXIX loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Ross coached the Chargers to two AFC West titles and three playoff appearances in five seasons, and was 8-8 in his final season.

Since he left, the Chargers are 17-40--they’re 0-9 this season--and have gone through two coaches with another, Mike Riley, expected to fall by the wayside.

Ross’ emotional reactions to losses were familiar in San Diego too. He sometimes apologized to the entire city for disappointments.

Sunday’s game somehow struck a low. Ross--who didn’t attend Monday’s news conference--called it one “of the most embarrassing losses I’ve ever had.”

The Lions gave up a 46-yard touchdown run on Miami’s first play from scrimmage, then watched as the Dolphins fooled them with an unexpected onside kick and recovered it to drive for another touchdown and take a 14-0 lead.

Detroit didn’t score until 11:01 remained.

“I think he felt that he just burned himself out physically and mentally and he didn’t have any more to give,” Ford said, adding that the move was completely Ross’ decision.

Chuck Schmidt, a team vice president, said Ross had considered resigning previously.

Detroit’s 5-2 start was surprising, even though the Lions--8-8 last season before losing to Washington in an NFC wild-card game--signed free-agent running back James Stewart during the off-season.

Quarterback Charlie Batch, who has been ineffective and was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a concussion, missed all of training camp because of a broken bone in his knee. Mike Tomczak, slated to be the backup, is out for the season because of a broken leg.

Ross had said after Sunday’s game he would decide early this week whether Batch--whose 67.2 passer rating is the third-lowest in the NFL--or backup Stoney Case would start against Atlanta next Sunday at the Pontiac Silverdome.

It’s some choice--and it’s Moeller’s now.

“I really think I can put less pressure on myself,” said Moeller, who was 44-13-3 as Michigan’s coach and took the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl in 1992 and 1993, defeating Washington to win the 1993. “But I’m not sure, you know what I mean? You get into it, things start to tighten and the screws start to tighten. . . .

“This honeymoon is going to end, probably in two or three hours.”

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Through the Years

Ross’ NFL coaching career:

1992

San Diego* 11-5

1993

San Diego 8-8

1994

San Diego** 11-5

1995

San Diego* 9-7

1996

San Diego 8-8

1997

Detroit* 9-7

1998

Detroit 5-11

1999

Detroit* 8-8

2000

Detroit 5-4

* Playoff appearance

** Super Bowl appearance

*

The Associated Press contributed to this report.