Detroit Lion coach Jim Schwartz nervously paced his Ford Field office waiting for his cell phone to ring. The shrill sound of the ring tone was music to his ears. He immediately sat down, hoping this was his highly anitipated and important call. A call which for all intents and purposes would change his life.

The voice on the other end had both the cadence of a Baptist preacher and the timbre of a Harvard professor.

"This is Barack Obama."

"Yes." Coach Schwartz tentatively acknowleged.

"I have just signed the NFL Stimulus Bill. It is effective tomorrow."

The Lion Coach's heart beat uncontrollaby. Now the possibilites were endless. The bill he had virtually single-handedly created and lobbied for was now a law. A bill created because of astute foresight and not desparation. The eight lowest ranking teams in the NFL National and American conferences would have a choice of drafting an outstanding Big 10 college athlete. The chosen player would participate in one game only.

Coach Schwartz knew he needed to move quickly to secure the athlete of his dreams. Even though the critics unanimously agreed the Lions lacked defense, he was going with a QB. Feeling a twinge of guilt as he remembered Matthew Stafford's herioc efforts against the Cleveland Browns, he forged ahead. The ultimate goal was to post another win this season. His choice was Terrelle Pryor of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who had a great passing and running game and whose team was going to the Rose Bowl(they won this game earlier this evening.) And Terrelle should feel a sense of loyalty since he had almost had Michigan ties.

"Mr. President, do the college coaches know the NFL Stimuls Bill will be in effect tomorrow?"

"They will know as soon as I end this call. They're next on my list. You're my first call because I'd really like to see the Lions win one more game this season."


Coach Schwartz listened intently for the excitement in Terrelle Pryor's voice as he relayed the astoundingly good news. Pryor would be the first college QB to lead a NFL team to victory.

There was silence on the other end. Was it profound joy or total shock?

"You are aware of the new NFL Stimulus Bill?"

"A.......yeah," the Buckeye QB hedged. "I just didn't think anyone would call so soon."

"I'll bet," the Lion's Coach thought. Pryor was probably holding out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only were they his hometown team, they also had injury prone QB's in Ben Roethlisberger and one of Terrelle's mentors, Charlie Batch. "I have first choice and it's you. It's pretty much a done deal."


On game day, each time the Lion's newly acquired QB caught a glimpse of himself in his new uniform, he was startled. The monotony of the Lion's blue and silver could have the ability to lull him to sleep. In contrast, the red hot color of the Ohio State Buckeyes created a fire in his belly.

Because he was fiercely competitive and recognized he was the initial experiment in the newly legislated NFL Stimulus Bill, he would make both President Obama and Coach Schwartz proud.

On game day, Terrelle Pryor burst from the Ford Field tunnel and never looked back as he helped lead the Detroit Lions to a much needed victory.


This article was written approx. two weeks before the Super Bowl.