Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand said hours after firing Jim Schwartz that he would seek out the right successor, not necessarily a big name who would "win the press conference."

It's a good thing that was never his endeavor, because there's little chance Detroit wins the press conference now. And barring a major surprise, it won't win in the court of public approval either.

Not after they whiffed on Ken Whisenhunt, their obvious and popular first choice, who instead will be the new coach of the Tennessee Titans.

Ken Whisenhunt, right, has chosen Tennessee over the Lions. And now Detroit will have to settle for its second (or third) pick for its next head coach.

The Lions can be counted upon to heavily spin their eventual hire. They will laud their new coach, probably either Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell or fired Tennessee coach Mike Munchak. They might even call him their first choice.

But don't buy any of that spin for a second.

This search was always about Whisenhunt. He had head coaching experience, a pedigree for developing quarterbacks and a strong reputation for discipline and detail. He was exactly what Detroit covets. And that's why the club was so willing to wait him out.

The Lions interviewed Whisenhunt on Thursday, and no one since. What does that tell you?

They gassed up a plane in a private hangar at Detroit Metro Airport -- a plane believed to be owned by William Clay Ford himself -- and intended to fly that plane to San Diego on Monday, according to travel logs.

You don't do all of that if Whisenhunt isn't your No. 1 guy. Especially when comparing him to Caldwell, who interviewed almost two weeks ago and could have been had at any time.

The Lions were waiting out Whisenhunt's decision. A day after San Diego finally was ousted from the playoffs, they got it, and it's probably one they didn't expect to hear.

"I think this will be one of the most, if not the single most, attractive head coaching opportunity in the National Football League," Lewand said at that news conference 15 days ago.

That's become the narrative, too. That Detroit is the top job out there. But Whisenhunt, the team's first choice, didn't think so.

Nor did Lovie Smith. The Lions really wanted to interview him, but he accepted the Tampa Bay job without ever formally speaking with Detroit.

Penn State's Bill O'Brien made a lot of sense for the Lions, too, but had no interest in pursuing the job whatsoever before heading to Houston.

The Lions are on to at least their second pick now, and more likely their third or fourth. And they now have a perception problem.

If they're so talented, and supposedly the team most ready to win of the six who fired coaches, why do they keep getting turned down?

Caldwell, the new favorite to land in Detroit, has been a fine coach. In fact, he features many of the same credentials as Whisenhunt. He has head-coaching experience with the Colts, appeared in three Super Bowls and worked extensively with quarterbacks. That'll be the Lions' sell.

But the reality is, Whisenhunt was the first choice for a reason. He was the league's most-coveted coach for a reason. And now whoever the Lions hire will be viewed as nothing more than a consolation to their failed pursuit of the Chargers offensive coordinator.

That won't generate much excitement.

Fans strongly preferred Whisenhunt. One MLive poll showed 69.2 percent of readers wanted him. And the runner-up in that poll?

"Other," at 15.6 percent, beating out Munchak, Jay Gruden and, yes, Caldwell.

It was always Whisenhunt or bust, for both the Lions and their supporters. And now they've busted out.

It's on to Plan B. Or is that Plan C?

Things could still work out. Popularity alone has never won a football game, after all, and a lack of popularity has never lost one.

But whoever ends up being the guy is going to be one tough sell in this town, and will face immense and immediate pressure to win now.