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That there were no complaints. To the contrary. It was an opportunity to see Barry Sanders and his remarkable moves in the open field. It helped relieve a nation's indigestion. Not cause it.

It was humorous when John Madden presented the Lions players with turkey drumsticks after they had won at the Silverdome. An event. Fun. A celebration. Something for us to feel good about.

It wasn't like what happened Thursday as the Lions were destroyed, 47-10, by the Tennessee Titans. This was more a reason to desperately want the season put out of its misery, and for the Lions to start anew.

Not that the Lions of the 1990s were that good. It's just these Lions are so bad they have made that era the good old days.

Barry's moves have become Shaun McDonald fumbling on the second offensive play of the game. Chris Spielman's vicious hits have been replaced by Dwight Smith's wave. Did you see Smith just stand there and watch the Titans' Chris Johnson run right on by?

Jason Hanson remains and, if anything, he is better now than he was then. With all due respect to Hanson and the Hall of Fame-caliber numbers he has garnered, his 53-yard field goal Thursday was a small, small consolation prize. If there is anybody in the Lions' locker room who understands that, it's Hanson himself.

"We only confirmed what everybody in this country and city and outside this locker room has been thinking," Hanson said. "I know everybody has to feel embarrassed to play like that on national TV."

Hope? Hanson is as hopeful as it gets. Just his nature. But he is also honest. "We have four games to get a win," Hanson said. "Hopefully, there is time to do it. Every time you lose like that, your hope gets extinguished a bit."

Speculation is running rampant that head coach Rod Marinelli is in danger of being fired this weekend. There is recent precedent for it. Steve Mariucci was released after a dismal Thanksgiving Day performance in 2005 against the Falcons.

The similarities pretty much end there, though. The Lions had won some games by that stage of the season, and there was an assistant coach, Dick Jauron, with extensive NFL head coaching experience already on the staff. Matt Millen called the shot. The Lions didn't have an interim general manager like they do presently (Martin Mayhew).

It's much more difficult to discern who is actually in charge. Owner William Clay Ford, who has all the authority, has become reclusive in regard to the Lions.

Couple that with Millen being fired only after his son, William Clay Ford Jr., came out publicly and said he would do it, leads to the possibility Ford Sr. will give up that authority to his son in the near future.

There was a time when Ford Sr. would have kept Millen just to let his son know emphatically that he is still the boss.

The fear is Ford won't do much after this season. With each rout like this one, that seems less of a probability. There should be two things on the Lions' wish list:

1) A win to take the stigma away from being the first 0-16 team in NFL history. Retaining Marinelli the rest of the season gives them the best chance. There is nowhere for the Lions to turn in that regard, because of his underwhelming staff.

2) To make a splash as soon as possible once the 2008 season ends. That's a means a new coach and general manager -- and owner. At least in a sense.

Ford Sr. should hand the keys over to Ford Jr. The Lions need wholesale changes. The Fords aren't going to sell the team. The next best thing then would be for the father to give his authority to his son.

The Lions have lost their last five games on Thanksgiving Day -- and seven of their last eight. They were 7-3 in Barry Sanders' 10-year career on Thanksgiving.

The line about how, "It can't get worse," isn't true. It can. The Lions could lose their Thanksgiving Day game. Time for drastic changes.

They start at the very top.