Amid a loud chorus of fans and media singing the praises of Jim Tressel to the Cleveland Browns is an undercurrent that has him going to Detroit.
And at this point that possibility seems more realistic.
Tressel could join new Lions coach Jim Caldwell in some capacity of importance.
One person close to Tressel even said a deal to bring him to Detroit has been agreed to, pending approval of the front office. That has not been confirmed by the Lions or Tressel, though. Caldwell will be introduced to the Lions media Wednesday afternoon.
Tressel to the Lions does make sense.
Tressel and Caldwell are very close. The two worked together in Tressel’s one season in Indianapolis with the Colts. Tressel spoke very highly of Caldwell on last week’s appearance on Columbus radio station 97.1 The Fan.
The University of Akron employs Tressel, and he is a trusted adviser of president Luis Proenza. But Proenza is retiring in the spring, and Tressel is unsure of his status at Akron once a new president is hired.
Tressel also has made no secret that he would like to get back into coaching, and because he has a show-cause penalty from the NCAA the most likely destination is the NFL.
Tressel’s public statements recently indicate he would be more than willing to talk to the Browns, but the Browns have shown no inclination to include him in the search.
The tea leaves are strong that if Tressel does get in the NFL, it will not be in Cleveland.
It will most likely be in Detroit.
