NFL teams
Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Detroit radio station embraces Jets, promotes 'Green Monday'

Funny thing, sports.

A couple of weeks ago, the New York Jets were beseiged with hate from their own fans. There was the plane over their practice facility ("Fire John Idzik"), the plane over their stadium ("Jets Rebuilding Since 1969") and, of course, the anti-Idzik billboards near MetLife Stadium.

Now the Jets are going on the road to Detroit, where they can expect to receive ...

A warm embrace?

Yep, it's a possibility.

A local radio station, Detroit Sports 105.1, has started a pro-Jets campaign. Or maybe we should say it's an anti-Jim Schwartz campaign.

The station has dubbed game day "Green Monday," imploring fans to root for the Jets. The locals are down on Schwartz, the former Detroit Lions coach who compiled a 29-51 record in five seasons. He was fired after last season and, after being hired by the Buffalo Bills as their defensive coordinator, he asked his new players to carry him off the field if they beat the Lions in Week 5 at Ford Field.

They did, and they did. Schwartz, milking the moment, pumped his fist as they carried him off.

So now you know why Detroit loathes Schwartz.

The folks in Detroit apparently have short memories. Marty Mornhinweg, the Jets' offensive coordinator, also is a former Lions coach. He was 5-27 in 2001 and 2002.

The size and makeup of the crowd will be interesting, considering Buffalo is only 250 miles from Detroit. The Lions sold out an undisclosed number of free on-line tickets and are offering another 500 free tickets. When the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings played at Ford Field in 2010 -- the game was moved because the Metrodome roof collapsed -- the announced crowd exceeded 40,000.

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