FanHouse RobParker

Rob Parker, the former Detroit News writer who resigned from the paper in the wake of a controversial question to ex-Lions coach Rod Marinelli, appeared on ESPN Radio this morning to defend himself, and he stressed that he wasn't fired.

"I asked the paper for a buyout and they granted me one," Parker said.

Parker was reportedly demoted from columnist to general assignment reporter after he asked Marinelli (whose son-in-law was his defensive coordinator), "Do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?" But Parker said that's not the only reason he asked for the buyout.

Detroit News columnist Rob Parker was harshly criticized last month after he badgered Lions coach Rod Marinelli over his daughter's marriage to his defensive coordinator. Now he's out of work because of it:

"He doesn't work here any more," Managing Editor Donald Nauss said. He said Parker resigned on Friday. Asked whether this followed a suspension of his column, Nauss said, "I can't talk about personnel matters."

Parker reportedly was demoted from columnist to general assignment reporter because of the incident, and he apparently resigned because of that demotion.

Marinelli's Lions became the first team in NFL history to finish a season 0-16, and the Lions' defense was the worst in the league under coordinator Joe Barry, who is married to Marinelli's daughter. At Marinelli's press conference following the Lions' Week 16 loss to the Saints, Parker asked, "Do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"

Parker later apologized, but Marinelli said he did not accept the apology.

Parker also appears on ESPN, which did not take any action over his comments.

The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

Our unnamed resident FanHouse Packers fan is convinced that the Lions will avoid 0-16 thanks to the generosity of Green Bay's defense. I find that very hard to believe because Detroit hasn't won a game this season and are fresh off a 35-point home loss to the 8-7 Saints.

When you include the starting quarterback situation, the head coaching situation (or, if you're Rob Parker: the defensive coordinator/son-in-law situation), and the general apathy towards winning, well, oh-for-'08 appears eminently doable.

More proof: Detroit cornerback Travis Fisher either has very little confidence in the Lions' chances or he LOVES walking.

"If we win, man, I ain't catching the plane back home," Fisher said today. "I might walk. I'll walk back. I'll walk back to Detroit."

Asked jokingly whether the media can hold him to that, Fisher said, smiling: "That's a guarantee. I'll walk back to Detroit."

It's not an Anthony Smith-style guarantee, and certainly less eye-gouge-worthy than when ESPN employee Sean Salisbury's "promised" to walk naked from Bristol to DC should the 'Skins make the playoffs. But, if nothing else, it was a lighthearted moment for a team in desperate need of one. (Assuming you're not into the comedy stylings of Rob Parker, of course.)

It's probably worth mentioning that Fisher suffered a concussion against the Saints, although he sounds more lucid here than Marinelli has at any point this season.

Detroit News columnist Rob Parker apologized to Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli for making a joke about Marinelli's daughter and her husband, who just happens to be the Lions' defensive coordinator. But Marinelli says he doesn't accept the apology, which appeared in today's paper.

"I didn't read it, but I was told a little bit about it. I don't accept anything," Marinelli told MLive.com. "... Because his intent was to stir me up which is never going to happen. I can shoulder anything you bring. Easy. I can shoulder anything you bring.''

Parker's comment to Marinelli -- "do you wish your daughter had married a better defensive coordinator?'' -- crossed the line, and I can't say I blame Marinelli for saying he won't accept the apology. This has been a miserable season for Marinelli, but he comes out of this run-in looking a lot better than Parker does.

Detroit News reporter Rob Parker issued an apology of sorts in his column today, saying that he was just trying to lighten the mood when he asked Lions coach Rod Marinelli a pointed question about his son-in-law, who is also his defensive coordinator.

Last year Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli hired his son-in-law, Joe Barry, as his defensive coordinator, and the results have been dismal: The Lions are the worst team in the league with the worst defense in the league. But still, Detroit News columnist Rob Parker may have crossed the line in today's post-game press conference:

Parker asked Marinelli, "Do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"