When the Detroit Lions unveiled their new logo on Monday at a Metro Detroit sporting goods store, fans of the organization showed up to cast their vote for Saturday's NFL draft.
"Cur-ry, Cur-ry," they chanted, urging team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew to draft Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry with the No. 1 overall selection.
Lions fans spoke. The team didn't listen.
Fans who wanted Curry had to know it was a longshot. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was rumored to be the pick for months. It was inevitable.
With the agreement of a huge contract Friday night, reality has set in. Stafford is now the face of the Detroit Lions' future.
Like it or not, Lions fans, it's time to accept it. And as hard as it may be to do, fans need to support it.
I understand why Lions fans were pro Curry before this weekend. He was considered by many the best overall talent available and should make an impact from day one for his new team on defense.
Detroit was worst in the NFL last year in a number of categories, including points and yardage allowed. Curry would have no doubt been an improvement.
Lions fans also supported Curry because he wasn't Stafford. For 50 years, Detroit has struggled to find a quarterback and Stafford certainly isn't considered to be a "can't miss" prospect.
The stench of Joey Harrington has yet to clear from this organization and it's understandable how any long-suffering Lions fan would raise concerns with another quarterback when the team has so many other needs.
But this is the direction the organization has decided to go down. Accept it. Embrace it.
I'm not a big believer in curses. Someday, some group of executives coaches and players will win in Detroit. Whether it will be Lewand, Mayhew, head coach Jim Schwartz and Stafford is still too early to tell. But I'm not ready to write it off from the start.
Detroit is set to give Stafford the benefit of the doubt, especially if he can essentially "redshirt" for his first year. That's right, I don't want to see Stafford on the field until 2010.
Daunte Culpepper will go into this year as the No. 1 quarterback and says he feels he's in as good health as he's been in since 2004. Let Culpepper play and let the team succeed or struggle as Stafford develops on the sideline.
In 2010, if Stafford wins the starting quarterback job, he will have weapons. Calvin Johnson has already proved to be an elite receiver and Kevin Smith has shown promise as a young running back.
This could end up being a good situation.
I can't blame Lions fans if they don't run out this week to renew season tickets or buy new No. 9 Stafford jerseys. They deserve to proceed from this point with caution.
But this is your team. And now Stafford is your quarterback. Support it.
Isn't that what being a fan is all about?
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