The Detroit Lions' front office wanted to dismiss coach Jim Schwartz after last season's 4-12 finish, but were prevented from doing so by ownership, according to a report from ESPN's Ed Werder.

Appearing on a SportsCenter segment Wednesday morning, Werder speculated Schwartz would be fired if the Lions don't make the playoffs, referencing that the coach was nearly canned last year as one of the primary reasons.

"Then, there's the fact that Schwartz was nearly fired last year," Werder said. "Really, the only reason he wasn't was Bill Ford Jr. felt that the buyout number in his contract was far too high.

"But there are people, internally, who question how undisciplined this team is and they really have an aversion to Schwartz's personality."

A voicemail left for Werder seeking additional context to his comments was not returned.

The idea ownership didn't want to buy out Schwartz's contract before his new, three-year extension kicked in isn't far-fetched.

It's also not unreasonable to think there were people in the organization that wanted to make a change after the team lost its final eight games of the 2012 season.

In a brief session with local media in June, Ford Jr. declined to comment on Schwartz's contact or job security. The team's vice chairman spoke in more general terms, praising the coach.

"I think Jim's got a really good staff that he's put together this year," Ford said. "I think Jim will be the first to admit that there have been times where he's learned on job, but I think he's a very, very good coach."

There was also a report last season that there was a rift between Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew. Both refuted the report.

"I don't like to comment on rumors and stuff like that, but particularly people that aren't in our building, that don't see us every day," Schwartz said. "That couldn't be farther from the truth."

Mayhew didn't deny friction, but said tension between a coach and the front office is natural. He clarified by saying his relationship with Schwartz had not changed during the time they've worked together.

It's fair to question whether money will play a role in a potential coaching change this offseason.

After all,

as the only team to lose money last season, the fourth consecutive year the publication has had the team in the red.

But it wouldn't be the first time the Lions ate money to go a different direction.

Steve Mariucci had two years remaining on his five-year, $25 million contract when he was let go by Detroit in 2005.

Details of Schwartz's contract have never been made public, but it's estimated that he's making between $3-4 million per season.

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