NFL: Detroit Lions Talk

2008-11-25T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm getting my football watchin' sweats all ready for Thursday's game. Turkey+football=good times indeed.

2008-10-30T14:28:00.001-04:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Detroit!

2008-10-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

Damn, 0-6 now. I want to win a couple!

Crime Does Pay

2008-09-03T20:33:00.002-04:00

Hasn't anyone told Chone Figgins that crime doesn't pay? That guy steals more bases...and it always works for him. I caught the Tigers/Angels game last night, and it was so close. But man, that Figgins makes it work, damn him.

2008-06-18T12:55:00.000-04:00

Ever since we had the SuperBowl in Detroit a couple years ago, I've been even more desperate to buy Super Bowl tickets for my own team someday. Our city always has such sad news, but the people here have hope. We could really use a good year sportswise, just to keep us peppy. No pressure, Lions, but our happiness depends on you this year. :)

Not a Fan

2008-06-16T13:17:00.001-04:00

I will never understand why he wants them, but I'm going to buy NASCAR tickets for my brother for his next birthday. I prefer the brutality of football players smashing into each other. The zoomzoomzoom of racing around a track over and over just does not do it for me.

Oh well, to each his own.

My first angry comment!

2008-06-02T13:35:00.003-04:00

Dude, get a sense of humor. And read more carefully. I said I'm happy to have him stay here for now, and that he's an asset anywhere he'll be. There's not even a draft to dodge, so the joke was implied. Nothing more than a play on words. Lighten up. I think Campbell, and anyone who makes the choice to serve our country, is brave and admirable.

A New Way to Dodge the Draft?

2008-05-30T12:48:00.001-04:00

Caleb Campbell gets to avoid going to Iraq and gets to be on a pro football team. That is some serious good luck! He should go buy a lottery ticket. :) Here's the article about it.

If I sound at all snotty about him not going overseas, I don't mean to. I really am happy anytime a soldier gets to stay safe at home. (Not sure how safe it is having other huge men trying to crush you on a football field for a living, though. haha.)

I'm sure he'd be an asset to the army as well, but I'm happy we get him for now.

Sad beginning, just sad

2007-08-29T17:07:00.000-04:00

So I could either write out my own thoughts on the Lions' crappy pre-season performance, or I could point you to someone who did it better than I would have. The latter's easier, so go commiserate over at the DetroitLionsBlog.

'Tis the Season for the Detroit Lions

2007-07-04T03:30:00.001-04:00

Looking like this will be a pretty easy season this year, considering the only real tough teams we're up against are the Chicago Bears and the San Diego Chargers. Given good performances those nights, I'm seeing some good numbers coming our way!

2007 Preseason

2007-04-04T10:38:00.001-04:00

The Detroit Lions will open their 2007 preseason at Ford Field against the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL’s Preseason Week 1 (August 9-13). The match-up will renew a preseason rivalry that featured an annual game between the two franchises from 1970-2001.

Following the ’07 preseason opener, the Lions take to the road in Preseason Week 2 (August 16-20) to face the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. It is the second consecutive year Detroit will travel to Cleveland in the preseason and it marks the sixth renewal of the Great Lakes Classic.

In Preseason Week 3 (August 23-27), the Lions stay in the Midwest as they travel to the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. The Lions and Colts have met 19 times in the preseason with Indianapolis holding a 12-6-1 record over Detroit. Though on opposite sidelines, the game reunites Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli and Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy.

Verba's night in jail

2007-01-17T17:56:00.000-05:00

Busted for writing bad checks in Nevada, Detroit Lioins guard Ross Verbas was arrested Jan. 2nd.

Dont Lose at Lambeau

2006-12-15T16:07:00.000-05:00

Lambeau field is one of those awe inspiring sporting arenas, like Indianapolis or Talladega for racing, like the Madison Square Garden of old for basketball. It was popularized in NFL films from the 1960's when Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers were a powerhouse on the frozen tundra. With global warming and a suprise "heat wave" rolling through the midwest this is not going to be your grandfathers favrite match. The Detroit Lions have lost every game they have played on the now famous field since 1991. Now 15 years and they are returning looking to break that streak. Normally other teams do not fare well in the Packers home stadium due to thier die hard fans and a cold most other players are not used to, a cold that most teams do not have to deal with.

With no shot, you better play hard

2006-12-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

With a 4 game losing streak the Detroit Lions, having no shot at the playoffs, need to pull out their A game. Now is the time when Head Coach Rod Marinelli will be watching the field to see who will perform for the team when the chips are down. These final games are also used as a building block for next season. The games might not count for the playoffs but they are still counted in the books and the confidence level the team as a whole needs to move forward. Marinelli is not looking for raw talent, he is looking for those that will put in the extra effort for the team who is under a new coaching staff and a new style of play. Take for example, Mike Furry who has spent his past several years in the arena football and XFL leagues just to keep playing. That is the type of dedication Marinelli is wanting to see when the teams season stand at a measly 2 wins and 10 losses. That is the type of dedication this team needs to pull together not only for next season but for this weekend as the Detroit Lions meet the Minnesota Vikings on the home turf of Ford Field.

Lions Fall Short

2006-12-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions fell 7 points short today in their game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Lions took an 18-13 lead into the 4th quarter, but the defense could not prevent Tom Brady and the Patriots offense from scoring 15 points in that quarter. This is the fourth straight loss for the Lions, but with the Minnesota Vikings coming to town next week maybe that can all change if they can play 4 complete quarters.

Michigan and Football Have Lost an Icon

2006-11-17T17:13:00.000-05:00

I just heard the news of the sudden passing of Bo Schembechler, who will always be the coach I associate with Michigan football. His heart attack was of course untimely, although not completely shocking since he had had bypass surgery and was recently back in the hospital with related problems. But tomorrow is the date of the annual event that continues to conjure up the memory of Bo and his one-time mentor and later arch-rival, Ohio State's Woody Hays.

What a game that is going to be! No matter how either team is doing throughout the football season, anything can happen in this classic rivalry. But in 2006, we will be seeing the nations's top-ranked Buckeyes vs. the #2 Wolverines. Bo, you'll be there in our hearts and memories.

Detroit Lions’ Better-Than-Usual Day

2006-11-06T19:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a nice day for an upset. If you were a Detroit Lions fan, not if you were the much-lauded Michael Vick. From the fumble on the first drive, to the interception in the 2nd quarter, both of which ended up with Kevin Jones in the endzone, I loved watching the Atlanta Falcons come unglued. Roy Williams’ TD in the 4^th was the capper for me—60 yards and 6 more points.

It’s not like the Falcons were so terrible and the Lions were overpowering. They were just okay—and we were better!

Lions Home Watching the World Series

2006-10-26T15:31:00.000-04:00

This coming Sunday would have been the perfect day to skip football and focus on baseball, not something I do very often. But it is pretty amazing--the St. Louis Rams had a bye week last week, allowing their fans to watch Game 2 of the Series. (Aww, too bad, St. Louis lost.)

I wasn't really hoping to be watching Game 7 on the 29th, but it would be great if the Tigers could be home at Comerica when they win. Now the weather has thrown a monkeywrench into the whole schedule. Game 4 (in St. Louis) got rained out last night and tonight doesn't look any more promising. I don't know how they're going to finish up the Series if the rain keeps dumping.

Sure hope they don't end up playing on Halloween.

Buffalo Bills glad to visit Detroit

2006-10-14T19:23:00.000-04:00

The Buffalo Bills must be the happiest people in their town -- because they're not in their town. They're here in Detroit to face off against our Lions at Ford Field tomorrow, not sitting in the dark back in Buffalo. We all live in the snow belt, and we all know how to deal with that. But nobody's ready for it in mid-October. And when the power goes out...no fun!

(I'm hoping for a football game the fans in Buffalo wouldn't want to be watching on TV anyway!)

The apocolypse is near

2006-10-04T18:07:00.000-04:00

Proof of this? The Saints won their first two and here we are looking down the barrel of no wins. There is something wrong with that on a very deep level. Its easy for keyboard quarterbacks to assess the right and wrong and point out ppls failures. What seems odd to me is this team obviously has talent yet here we are winless, hopefully Kitna and Roy Williams will give us another show. For those that I haven't gotten back to, the 914 is almost up and running w00t!

Not the Streak the Detroit Lions Want

2006-10-01T20:20:00.000-04:00

Four and Oh-oh-oh. This is not what Rod Marinelli was hoping for either. But I say today's game against the Rams at St. Louis showed we Lions can stay in the game. Maybe for only 56 minutes...no, I didn't say that! We caved at the end, but we kept up our end of the see-saw battle, and real close to the end the Lions were up 34-33. That was exciting even if ultimately frustrating.

I'm looking for our breakthrough next week, when we head off to Minnesota to take on the Vikings; they lost today to the Buffalo Bills (17-12), so at 2 and 2, they don't look too scary.

If school can go year round, why can’t sports?

2006-07-11T13:26:00.000-04:00

Well this summer did not start off as nicely as I had hoped it would. I figured the Detroit Pistons would win the NBA Championship and I would be so elated I could ride the high all the way into football season. Unfortunately I ended up having to turn to the World Cup, Wimbledon and Tigers baseball to fill the void left by the Pistons fall from playoff glory. While I have been sufficiently entertained the past few weeks I have no idea how to spend the rest of this off-season.

On a more positive note: My girlfriend scored Nickelback tickets for their show July 22^nd at Joe Louis Arena. That should be fun.

Detroit Lions Strength on the Sidelines

2006-06-30T12:35:00.000-04:00

Lions fans are, of course, waiting for the kickoff on August 11th--the Denver Broncos will be here to launch the preseason. But before that date, there is a lot of serious football groundwork being laid. I know, I know, changing head coaches has been tried before here, several times. But I think that the tough-minded Rod Marinelli may just be the right fit. I'm also impressed that we'll have Mike Martz, who was head coach for the St. Louis Rams, taking charge of the offense and Donnie Henderson sparking the defense. I'm not saying we have tons of talent on our roster, but I think we do have some coaches who should know how to guide and inspire the players we've got.

Nothing personal guys. Its just business.

2006-05-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Lions have lost Big Daddy. Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson was released by the Lions and will be missed like a father-figure by the defensive linemen he leaves behind. Shaun Cody says he learned a lot from Wilkinson in the 2005 season and feels it will be difficult to fill the void he leaves behind. When players develop such camaraderie it is difficult to watch them separated by the business of the game.

Linebacker Sims Joins Motor City Crew

2006-04-30T20:12:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Lions owner Rod Marinelli appeared this morning in a press conference welcoming Ernie Sims to the team. He was selected ninth overall and is just what we needed and more. Marinelli says he was chosen for his fire and ambition. According to him he is intense on the field and off so it seems that we should expect great things from Sims this season.

I’ve got the Detroit Lions football blues.

2006-04-10T12:48:00.000-04:00

I haven’t been able to get my mind off football since the season ended. With Detroit hosting the Super Bowl the excitement level was ultimately high and I don’t feel like I have come down. I am trying to get my mind off the Detroit Lions and onto the Tigers with training camp over and the season started. I just can’t seem to focus enough to eve get my fantasy team rolling this year. I suppose it is because I had a glimmer of hope that the Lions are getting better and could be on the road to a winning season in the near future.

Lions signing away during free agency blitz.

2006-03-19T14:28:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions are looking hard for some good players to round out this team in 2006. We have re-signed some key players like Kalimba Edwards and have acquired some gems like tight end Dan Campbell, whom we signed to a 5 year deal. Are there any rumors about future acquisitions out there?

Martz, a Step in the Right Direction

2006-02-12T23:21:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions have hired Mike Martz to be their new offensive coordinator. Head coach Rod Marinelli has said that he feels Mike Martz has a great talent for moving the football and especially a keen aptitude for running the football, which he demonstrated as head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Motor City Hosts Super Bowl

2006-01-22T00:43:00.000-05:00

While I am disappointed that I won’t be watching the Detroit Lions play, I am not going to give up on my quest to buy some Super Bowl tickets. It is nice because this year the season didn’t end for Detroit fans on the first day of January. We get to have the Super Bowl in our city and any fan would be crazy not to want to go. I am hoping to see a battle between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.

Lions Secretive About Head Coach Prospects

2006-01-09T19:50:00.000-05:00

Like many NFL teams this year, the Detroit Lions are on the hunt for a new head coach. Matt Millen went public saying he was looking but will not divulge whom he is looking at. I guess it’s not smart to give out that information early because some candidates may have jobs with other NFL teams. It is just a matter of weeks before they will tell us everything and make a selection but I am still crawling the net looking for answers to all my doubts and questions. This is such an important quest for this team because the Detroit Lions need a great coach to lead them to a winning season in 2006.

Lions Play Hard Against Steelers

2006-01-03T20:08:00.000-05:00

I don’t understand where our offense has been hiding all season. They came out on New Years day with 308 yards total for the game and 21 points. I can’t understand why we couldn’t have played like that all season but felt it was a positive note to end on at least. It is crazy that the Lions could do that against one of the better defensive units in the NFL. The Steelers had only allowed an average of 12 points in their recent games, making our performance on Sunday even more amazing. Hopefully with some good draft picks we can build on what we learned this year and win some more games in the 2006 season.

Hats off to Harrington

2005-12-28T17:50:00.000-05:00

Our spectacular win over the New Orleans Saints on Saturday came at the right time for the Detroit Lions team. Next week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers could have a great effect on their playoff chances and would be a nice win for us to end the season with. Joey Harrington is being really positive about the upcoming match up and claims that he feels fired up about the game despite the fact we are not advancing to the playoffs. His attitude reflects his nobility as a player. Harrington is a good leader and a committed team member who puts forth his best effort no matter what the reward.

Rogers Makes Some Big Plays

2005-12-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Our game against the Cincinnati Bengals was challenging and tough and one player shined above the rest. That player was Charles Rogers. He hasn’t really been in the spotlight much since we signed him in 2003. On Sunday he came ready to play and pulled off some plays worthy of much recognition. First he set up a touchdown by catching a 26-yard pass that brought the Lions to the five yard line. Later in the game he made a trip into the end zone on a 35-yard pass from Joey Harrington. Rogers made a good show of it, breaking tackles on the way to scoring the touchdown. Hopefully Rogers’ performance will earn him some more minutes on the field in the end.

Lions Offense Fails Against Packers

2005-12-12T18:35:00.000-05:00

The Lions dropped the ball on Sunday in their 16-13 overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers. Jeff Garcia felt very responsible for the offense failing to convert and score. He felt that the offense failed where the defense was succeeding well. We kept the score down but needed to get into the Packers end zone to make any real difference. In the fourth quarter with minutes to go we had the chance to win when we pulled a fourth down quarterback sneak. We failed in this as well and just couldn’t stop the Packers when the game went into overtime.

Viking Interception Seals Lions Fate

2005-12-05T18:46:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions suffered a 21-16 loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. We looked pretty good on the first drive and we scored first with the field goal that ended the opening drive. But on the next Vikings possession they pulled off an eighty yard touchdown pass that won them the lead they would keep for the duration of the game. For every touchdown they scored we answered with a field goal and still had a chance to make a comeback into the fourth quarter. We had the ball with over two minutes to go. The Lions got a few first downs and then Jeff Garcia threw for an interception and just like that the win belonged to the Vikings.

Falcons Fly High over Lions

2005-11-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions could not get a good rhythm going in their game against the Atlanta Falcons. They looked pretty good at the start of the game, however the Lions game went downhill from there. An interception changed the momentum of the game in the Falcons favor and then a fumble on their next drive cost the Lions the ball once more. Most feel like our defense has been fair this season but we just can’t produce offensively. Unable to come back from a large deficit the Lions lost the game 27-7. With Steve Mariucci gone can we even hope to pull out a good record for this season facing teams like the Vikings, Bengals and Steelers.

Whistles Sound and Penalties Abound

2005-11-22T12:14:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions played well against the Cowboys but just couldn’t pull off the win. We were plagued by penalties to the tune of 120 yards given to the Dallas Cowboys. We had way too much long yardage to overcome on offense and just couldn’t convert on downs. With Earl Holmes and Boss Bailey out due to injury our defense wasn’t as strong as it should have been. They would have been the ones to stop the Cowboys from rushing 149 yards. Nate Wayne was one of the players keeping us in the game with his forced fumble and Jon McGraw was working for the good guys when he managed a fumble recovery for a turnover. There were a lot of good Lions plays and we were playing strong to the end, but the penalties controlled our destiny.

Beat Cowboys Without Garcia?

2005-11-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Seriously injured, Jeff Garcia is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. We have beaten them once already and hope to do it again. With how well we did against
Arizona, I wouldn’t be surprised if we stomp the Cowboys despite the fourth quarter luck they have had recently against teams like the Philadelphia Eagles. Steve Mariucci thinks we can learn from and duplicate some of the great plays and defense we executed against the Cardinals. Let’s cheer on Roy Williams because this will be his first chance to play in his hometown’s own Texas Stadium.

Then our Lions can come back home to Detroit and, in true Thanksgiving Day tradition, while we slice and eat our turkeys, they can carve up and devour the Atlanta Falcons.

Lions Get Some Rest for a Long Season

2005-09-28T12:11:00.000-04:00

With the Detroit Lions being 1-1, the season doesn’t look too bad but the way they are playing, it is going to be a long season. Their next game is against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa. It’s not a good way to get off a bye week but maybe they will get enough rest for the game against the Bucs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-0 for the season, so the Detroit Lions will have to make some big plays and have some things fall in their favor to come out with a win.

Detroit Gets Beat

2005-09-20T11:36:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Lions go down for a 38-6 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Bears picked off Joey Harrington 5 times throughout the game. The way the Chicago Bears played was like they were playoff contenders. The way the Detroit Lions played on Sunday did not look like the same team that took the field against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. At least the Detroit Lions have a bye week next week--maybe they can sit back and figure out what went wrong on Sunday. The next time we will see them play will be October 2^nd in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers. This will be a test for the rest of the season to see what the Detroit Lions’ year will look like.

Lions Beating the Packers

2005-09-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

Detroit Lions beating the Green Bay Packers 17-3, it looked like nothing could fall through for Brett Favre. You got to feel bad for Favre, knowing how much he plays with his heart. Even though the Detroit Lions won, they still need to work on their defense--if it was any other team they would have gotten beat. The Packers came out of that game with more passing yards and had the ball more than the Lions! The Detroit Lions’ next game is against the Chicago Bears. It will be at Chicago, so they better bring their game face because the Bears are ready to play.

Dangerous

2005-06-07T15:47:00.000-04:00

With a healthy Charles Rogers there will be no more excuses for the Lions. With three high profile receivers that posses a lot of talent and game breaking ability, the Lions passing game will be ridiculously threading. Joey Harrington has had plenty of time to learn the West Coast offense and should be expected to have a break out season. If not, Jeff Garcia is waiting for his moment to take the reins.

Team Report:

2005-05-26T15:07:00.000-04:00

- from FOXSports.com

One area where the Lions should be much improved defensively is in nickel situations where Boss Bailey, who was injured all of last season, will line up at linebacker with Alex Lewis. Bailey will replace Teddy Lehman, who did a decent job, but doesn't have Bailey's speed, instinct for playing zone coverage and playmaking ability. Lewis also has excellent speed and has a good knack of when, and how far, to drop. Both players need to improve in one-on-one coverage, but they only have one year of experience each, so that should improve with more playing time. Lewis has shown some pass-rush ability, but he's undersized and can get knocked off track too easily. Look for the Lions to spend more time with Bailey in pass-rushing drills. . . .

The Lions are still looking for candidates to back up Pro Bowl return specialist Eddie Drummond. Free-agent receiver Kevin Johnson is currently slated as the No. 2 punt returner, but neither the team nor Johnson wants to see that going into the regular season. The backup kick returner right now would likely be Shawn Bryson, who is solid but doesn't have enough burst to be a significant threat.

College Hall of Fame

2005-05-19T18:17:00.000-04:00

A former Detroit Lion is being honored in the College Football Hall of Fame. Former Detroit Lions offensive tackle/guard Keith Dorney (1979-87) originally came from Penn State. He will be officially added to the Hall in South Bend, Ind. in August 2006. His induction will take place in New York on December 6th.

“I was thrilled when I was notified. I really wasn't aware of just how special of an honor this is and the company I'll be with. I'm really proud to be a Penn Stater and will accept this honor on behalf of my teammates and our school.”
- Keith Dorney

Golfing

2005-05-17T18:39:00.000-04:00

Recently, if you check out almost any football team’s website, it seems like everyone’s taking it easy and playing golf. Many teams are hosting their annual invitational tournaments; the Lions will host the Detroit Lions Invitational. Last year with the participation of many fans, the Lions were able to raise $225,000 for Detroit Lions Charities. Not only will the team be participating in a golf outing, but also a bocce ball tournament.

MINICAMP MAYHEM:

2005-05-12T16:46:00.000-04:00

- from FOXSports.com

Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia raised some eyebrows when, during one practice session, several of his downfield passes came up short. Garcia is being counted on to step in and produce immediately if starter Joey Harrington struggles, but the Lions weren't concerned about Garcia's inconsistency. Mariucci said Garcia, who threw well for the majority of the Lions' minicamp, has a history of flubbing a few here and there in practice, and it's never been a problem. . . .

The addition of offensive coordinator Ted Tollner became evident from the first set of offensive snaps. The Lions are going to do a lot more shifting and motion with the idea of creating defensive mismatches. Even though teams will play a lot of zone against Detroit's three-receiver offense, getting a defender out of position at the start of a play could lead to more big plays downfield.

Mike Williams

2005-05-03T19:54:00.000-04:00

Detroit Lions wide receiver Mike Williams has been welcomed with open arms to the starting line. He joined the line by being the Lions’ choice at #10 in the first round. It was actually surprising that Williams was not picked up by another team before this. I personally thought that the choice would’ve been used for LB Derrick Johnson, but fattening up our receiving end never is a bad thing. Now, along with Roy Williams and Charles Rogers, Mike Williams comes into the fold to insure that teams will fear the Lions offense.

Williams (20) went to USC but abandoned the school during his sophomore year. After a year of waiting, he entered into the 2005 Draft. One of the most prolific receivers in this year’s draft, he will be a great addition to the Lions.

GO LIONS!!!

DRAFT DISH:

2005-04-28T18:22:00.000-04:00

- from FOXSports.com

The addition of WR Mike Williams will give opposing defensive coordinators a case of the willies. With Williams, Roy Williams and a healthy Charles Rogers, the Lions' staple will be a three-receiver offense that will force opponents into a nickel defense on first down. Few teams have the cornerbacks to match up with the size and speed of the Lions' three high first-round selections. The team had one thing in mind when it drafted DE Shaun Cody: Pro Bowl DT Shaun Rogers. Cody is an excellent pass rusher from the tackle spot, where he'll team with Rogers on passing downs. In that scenario, he should face a steady diet of single-team blocking, and the Lions believe he is good enough to exploit that. CB Stanley Wilson is unpolished but has excellent speed.

New Uniforms

2005-04-21T18:47:00.000-04:00

The Lions unveiled their new alternate uniforms right before the start of the new draft season. The new uniforms do look pretty fly. Maintaining the old school blue within the sleeved and the numbers, the uniforms acquired an intense look with black. Check it out on the official website of the Detroit Lions. You will agree with me.

DRAFT WHISPERS:

2005-04-17T15:57:00.000-04:00

- from FOXSports.com

The Lions want to do what most teams in the top 15 want to do: trade down and get more value. Because that isn't likely, they probably will stand pat at No. 10 and -- unlike previous seasons -- take the best player available regardless of need. The team is more likely to make trades in the second and third rounds to acquire targeted players. Though president Matt Millen believes the foundation of a team is its offensive and defensive lines, he knows the Lions have sorely lacked playmakers on both sides of the ball. If he can make an upgrade at a position such as receiver or cornerback that seemingly is set, he will do it.

Braylon Edwards

2005-04-12T17:16:00.000-04:00

Braylon Edwards visited the Detroit Lions headquarters recently to take a tour of the facility and associate himself a little more with the franchise. Coming from the University of Michigan, the receiver is a top prospect for many teams and is presumed to be drafted during the first 10 picks of the first round.

Edwards racked up an extreme 97 receptions for 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2004 school year. Hopefully, the Cowboys will be able to attain him and perfect his skill.

SCOUTING REPORT:

2005-04-07T18:28:00.000-04:00

- from FOXSports.com

Second-year running back Kevin Jones exploded onto the scene in the second half of last season, and he averaged 113 yards in the final eight games. Jones, though, is still a little rough around the edges, and the Lions want to smooth those out during the offseason. Jones still needs work on learning blitz pickups and must also get better in learning routes. Detroit's screen game was poor last year, partly because the running backs didn't do a good job of selling it. Now that the Lions have upgraded their line with players who can block in space, the screen can be a valuable weapon.

Lions and Youth Programs

2005-04-02T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions are scheduled to host two programs directed towards the youth. The programs (a Youth Football Camp and a Coaching Academy) will take place this summer and are open to youth (male and female) between the ages of 6-15.

Maybe this can establish a new draft. Find potential players while they are young and develop their skills throughout High School. In a way, this could develop superhuman players that could dominate the game.

But, moreover on a serious note, it is good that the Lions are putting together youth programs to get younger athletes interested in pursuing their dreams.

Go Lions!

OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS:

2005-03-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

Mariucci has said there will be a 25 percent change to the offensive playbook, but it's not likely to be anywhere near that high. President Matt Millen insisted on some changes, but Mariucci is a strong believer in his West Coast system and he isn't likely to make wholesale changes. With the addition of new coordinator Ted Tollner, Mariucci will do some significant tweaking by adding more no-huddle because Joey Harrington is more comfortable with it. The Lions will also try to be less predictable by adding different formations and doing more shifting and motion, but it won't be a "new" offense.

ABC Broadcasts

2005-03-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

ABC will be broadcasting preseason football this year, taking over for some “Monday Night Football” audiences. August 29th will mark the first “Monday Night Football” game ABC has aired of the Detroit Lions in preseason.

This is just the base of the cake. In this inaugural show, ABC is making a base attempt to show off Ford Field, which will be the location of Super Bowl XL. This Super Bowl will also be aired on ABC.

The first game of their preseason will be against the St. Louis Rams. It’s a great time to show off the teams new skills in the public frame.

Garcia and the Lions

2005-03-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

Just recently, Jeff Garcia signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions for a backup Quarterback position. At 35, Garcia is still a very resilient and resourceful player. He stills maintains the youthful exuberance of a draft pick with the skill of a player who has rocked the field for some years.

"Jeff said (recently), "There's some things I want to get better at and Steve would say (then), 'How can I get better?'...'What do I need to work on?' (Garcia) is the same...He's not looking to slow down. He's looking to get better at certain things and improve his game; and you've got to appreciate that about a guy."
- Lions head coach Steve Mariucci

Garcia spent his last year with the Cleveland Browns and the five years before that with the San Francisco 49ers. During this time he amalgamated 18,139 passing yards and 123 touchdowns.

Go LIONS!

Kennedy and Pollard

2005-03-12T19:08:00.000-05:00

- from the official site of the Detroit Lions

The safety hails from Texas and played his collegiate football at the University of Arkansas. The tight end is an Alabama native and spent his collegiate years at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.

The safety's NFL upbringing occurred in the rugged AFC West division with the Denver Broncos -- while sometimes playing home games amidst blizzard-like conditions. The tight end fulfilled his NFL dreams with the pass-oriented, quick-strike Indianapolis Colts -- who enjoy a home-field advantage in the climate-controlled RCA Dome.

And the safety is 27; whereas the tight end turned 33 last month.

On the surface, Kenoy Kennedy and Marcus Pollard have led vastly different lives, within the same sporting occupation. But a closer look reveals the two playmakers -- who both signed with the Detroit Lions Monday as free agents.

Time to play ‘Free Agency’

2005-03-06T15:40:00.000-05:00

Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci is looking forward to the opening of free agency. It’s time to open the gates of wheeling and dealing and Mariucci plans just that. On this upcoming Wednesday, Mariucci breaks open his doors to face-to-face interviews with different players.

"As a coach, you'd like to get some things settled as quickly as you can."
- Steve Mariucci

Detroit scouts and coaches are also heading to the University of Miami for “Pro Day” in order to view other prospects. So, the Lions are keeping the gates of possibility open. Either way, they plan to sign some people.

In other words, Mariucci says "we don't feel like we're going to get left out. We feel as if we will sign somebody."

Lions Updates

2005-02-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

- from FOXSports.com

ACTION PLAN: If the team's free agent strategy is successful, the Lions could meet with less than a half-dozen players because they're targeting a small, select group of athletes. Because they'll likely re-sign most of their own free agents, Detroit is looking at five key positions: three starters and two backups. Most importantly, the Lions need to solidify their offensive line and find a quality left guard and right tackle (if McDougle, as expected, enters free agency). Detroit is on the verge of having an explosive offense, but it won't go anywhere without good blocking and protection. Because of other needs, the Lions won't be able to afford two high-priced linemen and will opt to spend most of their money at tackle. . . .

The most vital position on defense for Detroit is strong safety, and the Lions' No. 1 target is Donovin Darius, if he isn't assigned the franchise tag. The Lions aren't likely to give up anything in a trade because they value their draft picks too much. . . .

The two backup positions are important because of the potential of playing time. At receiver, where the Lions already have Roy Williams and Charles Rogers, the Lions are looking for an experienced player for three-receiver sets and as a solid backup because both Williams and Rogers have been banged up in their short careers. The Lions could surprise some people by going after players such as David Givens, Corey Bradford and David Patten. The quarterback position will immediately spark controversy because the Lions want to bring in a player who has the ability to beat out Joey Harrington for the starting job. Players who could be on Detroit's short list include Drew Brees, Kurt Warner and Kelly Holcomb. . . .

The Lions have already done an excellent job of re-signing their own free agents. Pro Bowl-caliber Shaun Rogers, who would've been tagged as a franchise player, signed a long-term deal the day before the regular season ended. The Lions also added key contributors such as linebacker Donte Curry and punter Nick Harris.

Roy Williams

2005-02-08T19:15:00.000-05:00

Roy Williams, who has just completed his rookie season, is going to become an important part of the Lions’ offense. Playing as wide receiver, his stats for the previous year are as follows: 54 receptions, 817 yards, and 8 touchdowns. He is still a very youthful player.

This is Roy Williams’ first year out of college ball. He is blooming into a great player, but needs time to prove himself in the majors. The difference must be insane, going from just playing with many people who may or may not make it all the way to the pros to playing with men who know the game inside and out.

I still see potential in him and not only because of my burnt orange blood. He was put out most of the season with a broken ankle; surgery has not yet been decided upon. Williams will shine in this upcoming season.

MHSAA Plays on a Much Better Field

2005-01-27T19:49:00.000-05:00

After a 29 year tenure at the Pontiac Silverdome, the MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletics Association) with the assistance of the City of Detroit has decided to move the 2005 playoffs to Ford Field. Ford Field, which is home base for the Lions, is more than willing to accept this advance.

It is an advance because it is giving high school athletes the ability to play on the same field as the stars.

The expanse doesn’t end there. Not only will it host the MHSAA playoffs, but also the Mid-American Conference championship, the Motor City Bowl, the Detroit Football Classic, the 2005 Major League Baseball All Star game and the 2006 Super Bowl. I’m nicely jealous of these high school players. TAKE USE OF THE FIELD WHILE YOU CAN!!!

Who Will be the Next Off. Coordinator.

2005-01-22T15:19:00.000-05:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

The Lions have interviewed at least two more candidates -- Ted Tollner of the San Francisco 49ers and Mike McCarthy of the New Orleans Saints -- for their offensive coordinator position.

Coach Steve Mariucci is believed to have interviewed Tollner and McCarthy this week for the job left open when Sherman Lewis retired. Tollner and McCarthy were offensive coordinators this season.

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Earlier, Mariucci interviewed three of his own assistants -- running backs coach Tom Rathman, offensive line coach Pat Morris and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson -- for the job, but indicated he would prefer to keep those three as position coaches.

McCarthy, 41, has NFL coaching experience with Kansas City, Green Bay and New Orleans, where he has been the past five seasons. He is believed to be in line for an interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for a similar position.

Tollner, 64, was head coach at San Diego State and Southern Cal before moving to the NFL, where he has been an assistant with Buffalo, San Diego and the 49ers.

Both Tollner and McCarthy have experience with the West Coast offense.

By Curt Sylvester

Atlanta: Offensive tackle Todd Weiner and cornerback Kevin Mathis sat out practice on Thursday because of ailing ankles, leaving them questionable for the NFC championship game. While coach Jim Mora said both players "were a lot better," they skipped practice for the second day in a row. The coach is hopeful both will be able to practice today.

Indianapolis: Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell was promoted to assistant head coach. Caldwell was the coach at Wake Forest in 1993-2000 and was on Colts coach Tony Dungy's staff at Tampa Bay in 2001. He came to Indianapolis with Dungy the next season.

Miami: New coach Nick Saban said he would consider taking back tailback Ricky Williams, whose abrupt retirement last July precipitated the Dolphins' fall to a 4-12 record. "The door is open, if that's a possibility," said Saban, the former LSU coach who signed a five-year, $22.5-million contract 2 1/2 weeks ago. "But a guy has to want to do this. It has to be important to him." Saban also said that he plans to hoard draft picks, something the Dolphins didn't do under former coach Dave Wannstedt. The team has the No. 2 pick in April, but it is without a choice in the second or sixth round because of trades.

Minnesota: Offensive line coach Steve Loney will gain offensive coordinator duties, replacing Scott Linehan, whom the Dolphins lured away with a three-year contract. The Vikings ranked second in the NFL in 2002, first in 2003 and fourth in 2004 in total offense.

Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger is taking off the gloves. The rookie quarterback, who was scrutinized for using gloves during Saturday's subpar performance against the Jets, said he is going to try to play the AFC championship game barehanded. Roethlisberger started wearing gloves in high school to get a better feel for the ball, and he said he would continue to do so. But Roethlisberger, undefeated in 14 professional starts, said that his gloves Saturday were ill-fitting. And snow is in the forecast this weekend in Pittsburgh. "If it's wet, it makes it worse," he said. ... Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling told Fox Sports that he'll be rooting for the Steelers against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Schilling's dad grew up in western Pennsylvania, and Schilling wore Steelers jerseys during the baseball season.

San Francisco: Coach Mike Nolan, hired this week, said he plans to reach back into the 49ers' recent past on offense. After the 49ers spent two years running fired coach Dennis Erickson's hybrid schemes, Nolan anticipates a return to a stronger form of the West Coast offense, which originated with Bill Walsh and was used by former coach Steve Mariucci. Nolan -- referred to as "Mooch II" by one San Francisco paper -- also said he expects the 49ers (2-14 this season) to use the No. 1 overall draft pick, not trade it -- but only on a player who fits his vision for the franchise. "I learned that personnel is about more than a pretty girl who's 6-5, 240, and runs fast," Nolan said. "It's hard to have chemistry on a football team that you haven't built on the best character. Character is just as important, and we'll have that."

End of the season, brings back bad memories

2005-01-08T21:50:00.000-05:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

The Detroit Lions did in 2004 what they often have during their decades of futility since winning the 1957 NFL title.

Detroit teased its fans with some wins they didn't expect, and a handful of players showed flashes of promise for the future.

But by the end of the season, the Lions' record (6-10) was lackluster and their victories were overshadowed by several near-misses and a few blowouts.

``I look at the whole year as a huge, missed opportunity,'' Lions CEO Matt Millen said. ``We started OK, but finished really poorly. We got complacent, lost our sense of urgency and that led to losing to teams with less talent, and that's just an awful feeling.''

When the Lions were 4-2 in October, they were praised for turning it around after winning an NFL-low 10 games over the previous three seasons. When they lost eight of their last 10, they were regarded as the lowly Lions again.

``Even though we got off to a good start, we were winning without playing good football,'' Jeff Backus said. ``Then, we lost our sense of urgency and that really came back to bite us.''

Minnesota and St. Louis are both in the NFC playoffs despite 8-8 records. That's what really bothers the Lions, who wasted big leads in some games and missed opportunities to win others.

``It's a tough thing to handle,'' Joey Harrington said. ``The only thing you can do is use it for motivation for next year. We've gotten to that point where we're close. When we come back, it's going to be time to win.''

Harrington set career highs with 19 touchdowns, 3,047 yards and a 56.0 completion percentage and threw a career-low 12 interceptions. In his third NFL season, he was booed often at home and challenged regularly by coach Steve Mariucci.

``What he has developed is some thick skin,'' Mariucci said. ``I'm hard on Joey and he likes it that way. He's making progress.''

The Lions were determined to surround Harrington with help this season and they appeared to have succeeded with two first-round picks: receiver Roy Williams and running back Kevin Jones.

Williams had 54 receptions for 817 yards and eight TDs, all records for a Detroit rookie. With 1,133 yards rushing, Jones reached a milestone just Barry Sanders and Billy Sims did as Lions rookies. After an ankle injury slowed him early in the season, Jones ran for an NFL-high 825 yards over the final seven games.

When Detroit was struggling to score points, Eddie Drummond helped out with two TDs on punt returns and two on kickoff returns. Drummond was picked to play in the Pro Bowl, but likely will miss the game because of a shoulder injury.

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers solidified himself as a star -- earning his first Pro Bowl invitation -- and was rewarded with a six-year contract last week.

``I'm glad we got Shaun's deal done because we can really build around him,'' Millen said.

With Rogers clogging up the middle and James Hall getting a career-high 11 1/2 sacks despite playing all year with a broken thumb, Detroit's defensive line was among the league's best.

Rookie linebacker Teddy Lehman had a solid season, playing a team-high 1,225 plays, and cornerback Dre' Bly made four interceptions, earning a second straight trip to the Pro Bowl.

``I've got a thousand reasons to be optimistic,'' Mariucci said. ``Yes, the record is disappointing, we all agree on that. What is encouraging as we go forward, and I have to keep reminding myself, half of our starters and half of this football team are players that are on their first contract, which means they're young.''

Through free agency and the draft, starting with the 10th overall pick, the Lions hope to add at least one safety, at least one quarterback, a receiver, a guard and a defensive lineman.

They would like to re-sign some of their free agents, but it might be difficult to bring back offensive tackle Stockar McDougle, who is unrestricted and could draw interest elsewhere.

Some have wondered how long Millen, who just completed his fourth season, will stick around to run the Lions when he could be making stress-free millions again as a TV analyst.

``I'm going to finish what I started,'' Millen said. ``And by finish, I mean win a Super Bowl. It will not be enough for me to just win more games, because everybody who does not win the Super Bowl is a failure in this league.''

It almost seems as if we have a curse. We have been struggling for years, and I think we are ready to see a new Lions team. It's no suprise Sherman Lewis retired when he did, but this will either hurt us badly or make us benefit greatly. All of that simply relies on who becomes the new offensive coordinator. Lets try to turn it around for next year, and get this curse out of the picture. GO LIONS!

Hanson, Jones Leave Their Footprints On Lions' 19-13 Victory Over Bears

2004-12-27T17:48:00.000-05:00

By Jay Clemons, from DetroitLions.com

One may be the Lions' Ghost of Seasons Past. The other may serve as the Ghost of Seasons Future.

But longtime Detroit kicker Jason Hanson (four field goals) and explosive rookie tailback Kevin Jones (123 rushing yards, 1 TD) converged to shape the team's present on Sunday, as the reliable tandem catapulted the Lions to a hard-fought 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, before an audience of 61,924 at Ford Field.

This win, however, did not come easy for Detroit (6-9), which nearly lost a 16-0 lead in the third quarter before staving off Chicago's final-minute rally.

"A win is a win," says Lions head coach Steve Mariucci. "And I'm happy the team (was) not elated and celebrating (in the locker room)...our hopes and (long-term) dreams are a higher standard than that."

Boosted by Jones's consistent rushing gains (his longest run was 39 yards), Detroit seemed in high command throughout the game.

"Things are slowing down for me. I am just trying to get better each week, while preparing well at practice," says Jones, who also surpassed the 1,000 yard mark Sunday (a Lions feat only shared by Barry Sanders and Billy Sims). "I didn't have a complete game like I wanted to...I have just have to get better and do better next week (at Tennessee)."

But down by six with less than two minutes remaining, Chicago was moving methodically toward a go-ahead touchdown. And in a crucial play with 1:33 left, Bears quarterback Chad Hutchinson's 43-yard bomb to Bernard Berrian in the end zone was ruled incomplete.

In the instant-replay, though, Berrian may have secured the catch; but the officials ultimately declared that cornerback Andre' Goodman jolted the ball loose before Berrian took full possession.

Even if Chicago had scored then, Mariucci was very confident his offense would have executed a successful two-minute drive for the winning score. (But the point was moot, once the game officials upheld the Berrian incompletion.)

After this gut-wrenching sequence, the Lions' defense then prevented the Bears receivers from any more downfield catches -- thus sealing their third home win this season. Sensing the evolving maturity of his young club after an incomplete-but-positive result, Mariucci said his team is still resolute on achieving a "convincing win" before season's end.

"We're still striving for that," he says.

After Hanson's 31-yard field goal opened the scoring, the Lions then drove 70 yards in eight plays for a second-quarter touchdown, capped by Jones's one-yard plunge into the end zone. On the possession, Lions quarterback Joey Harrington completed four passes for 57 yards, including a 26-yard laser to rookie receiver Roy Williams at the Chicago 1. Detroit now had a 10-0 lead.

Detroit tacked on two Hanson field goals (34,39) before halftime, running the lead to 16. (In fact, the Lions were 3-for-3 in second-quarter drives.) On the final possession then, Harrington orchestrated a 62-yard drive in the waning moments -- including a picture-perfect 28-yard pass to receiver Reggie Swinton, between two defenders.

Mariucci was relatively pleased with the first-half performance before remarking, "Still, we've got to be able to finish teams off."

Detroit seemed on the verge of routing Chicago to open the second half, marching to the Bears' 24 -- before a fumble (resulting in a sizable loss) precluded Hanson from attempting another field goal. Two drives later, Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs intercepted Harrington's pass -- amid a Bears' all-out blitz -- and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. But with the missed two-point try, Detroit still had a 16-6 lead.

"We know we should have finished (Chicago) off. We played pretty well in the first half," says Harrington, who completed 15-of-30 passes for 166 yards and one interception. "We moved the ball, did some good things...(then) we kind of slipped into a comfort zone. We just don't quite have that killer instinct. The mark of a great team is when you put a team down, you put another (score) on them."

In the fourth quarter, Hutchinson and Chicago tailback Thomas Jones keyed a 90-yard scoring drive -- capped by Jason McKie's 15-yard touchdown pass -- which cut Detroit's lead to six (19-13). However, there would be no more scoring.

For the totals, Detroit outperformed Chicago in the following categories: total yards (314-229), first downs (17-16), time of possession, rushing yards (158-124) and passing yards (156-105). Swinton earned the Lions' most receiving yards (42), whereas Williams led with three catches. And Jones propelled the rushing corps with 123 yards.

"It's great to see Kevin run like that," says Harrington. "Today's a great example of what a solid running back can do."

Regarding Chicago, Hutchinson completed 20-of-35 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. Thomas Jones paced the rushers with 109 yards on 22 carries. He also amassed team-highs in catches (four) and receiving yards (34).

With its home slate concluded, Detroit wraps up the season next Sunday at Tennessee (4-11). The Bears (5-10) host NFC North winners Green Bay (9-6) then in their home finale.

The Singular Task Ahead

2004-12-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

By Jay Clemons, DetroitLions.com

It's neither avoidance nor denial. Think of it as tunnel vision.

On the heels of a painful loss to Green Bay from Sunday, Detroit Lions Head Coach Steve Mariucci bore the look of a man resolute on not the sweating the fates of other NFC clubs in playoff contention. Why worry about things you cannot control, right?

In fact, at his regular Monday media address, he barely broached the team's postseason prospects -- despite sitting one game back in the wild-card standings (with three games remaining).

"I'm not concerned about the playoff race right now, even though we're still in it," says Mariucci. "We're not going to talk about three games (remaining) -- we'll talk about the next one. Our focus, concentration and energy will be on beating the Minnesota Vikings."

Detroit's 16-13 defeat to Green Bay -- a game in which the Lions (5-8) only trailed for two total seconds -- plunged the club back into a six-team pool (along with Dallas, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Chicago) for the final playoff opening, behind 6-7 St. Louis and Carolina.

But it also served as a harsh reminder to Mariucci that moral victories have a limited shelf-life of acceptance in the NFL.

"We lost (Sunday) close...but we lost it and that's the bottom line," says Mariucci, adding the club had an excellent showing in the first half, in terms of being properly prepared, playing physical football, weathering the cold and windy elements of Lambeau Field and displaying high confidence in the coaches' game plan. "However, the bottom line is winning the football game and making the plays necessary at the end to win it -- not to come close.

"We have too many ‘close ones.' Whether it means getting one more sack, one less penalty, one more catch, one more throw, one more first down when you have 3rd-and-1 or one more red-zone touchdown, that’s what we have to do; and that’s the bottom line," he says. "While I was pleased with a lot of things in that football game, there were not enough good things that occurred in order for us to steal a win. It would have been a great win, but close doesn’t get it done. Close gets you 5-8."

Generally speaking, Mariucci was heartened by the Lions' defense and running game (193 total yards) -- especially the blocking prowess of the offensive line and skill-position talent. Specifically, he marveled at the high-speed evolution of tailback Kevin Jones, who ran for 156 yards on 33 carries (a club record for rookies). In the last four games, he has accrued 551 rushing yards.

"That's one of the areas that we feel good about -- it is not just a one-man 'Kevin Jones Show.' Yes, he's playing well and he's doing it for us as a rookie," says Mariucci. "There is still upside, (and) he is going to get better as he keeps playing."

Amid Jones's stellar period, though, the offense has failed to score a touchdown in the second half of the last five games -- heavily factoring in the Lions' recent road losses to Jacksonville, Minnesota and Green Bay.

"It's a lack of efficiency and a lack of execution...In a game a like (Sunday's), the Packers controlled the ball in the second half -- especially in the third quarter," Mariucci explains. "They put two long drives together...we haven't had as many snaps in some of the second halves. Whatever the reason is, it's not acceptable. We need to score touchdowns in the second half."

Similar to most NFL teams, the Lions' success is predicated on the proficiency and playmaking capabilities of their quarterback, Joey Harrington. Coming off a tough outing (completing only 5-of-22 passes for 47 yards), Mariucci empathized with his signal-caller on Monday, amid a bevy of questions centered on whom would start against the Vikings -- Harrington or backup Mike McMahon?

"You know that I like Joey and that I like Mike -- I've said that several times publicly," says Mariucci. "They're both good guys and hard workers...you have to take that into consideration: Who gives us the best chance to win? Who is the most 'practiced up' at the time?"

Regardless of any future changes, Mariucci reaffirmed his trust in Harrington to win games and lead the team. (On the season, Harrington has connected on 201-of-366 passes for 2,174 yards and 15 TDs).

"I have confidence in Joey; I have faith in Joey. Would I like him to play better? You bet, absolutely. I can say the same thing about most of the guys on our football team...whose performances have been inconsistent, up-and-down and close but not always there," says Mariucci. "I'm looking at Joey hard, in terms of what he has had: in terms of coaching...experience...playing time...practice time...where he is right now and where he is headed (and) what kind of team do we have around him, in order for him to be more productive and successful."

5 Straight losses doesn't cut it

2004-11-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

From sports.yahoo.com

The goal is not to settle on a quarterback for next season. Or to build Joey Harrington's confidence. Or to get another long look at Mike McMahon before he becomes a free agent.

At least, those are not coach Steve Mariucci's goals going into the Lions' last five games of the season.

"First and foremost, we're trying to win games right now," Mariucci said Friday. "Who gives us the best chance to win a game right now? So the last five games are the most important thing -- this Arizona game and the last five, obviously.

"We will have to determine what we're going to do for next year and going forward. Of course, we have to determine that. You've got one guy that's a free agent, you've got one guy that's been here for three years.

"That evaluation is taking place. Our aim is to develop these guys and improve these guys."

That might mean more relief appearances for McMahon or it might mean Harrington goes the distance, but for now -- to maintain a semblance of stability and order with an offense that has struggled for the past month -- Mariucci said he will stick with Harrington as the Lions' starting quarterback.

Mariucci opened the speculation season Thursday when he brought McMahon off the bench to play the final 17 minutes of the Lions' 41-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

He made the move, Mariucci said, not because Harrington was playing terribly but because the game had gotten away from the Lions and it was a good time to let McMahon get some work.

Harrington will be the quarterback Dec. 5 when the 4-7 Lions line up against the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field.

"Would we like him to be better?" Mariucci asked. "Of course, of course." And he shrugged off suggestions that the other players might be losing confidence in Harrington.

"The team's going to rally behind whoever's playing quarterback," Mariucci said. "It just will.

"I think playing Mike for however many snaps he got -- a bunch of throws and 20-some snaps -- was really good for him and really good for us.

"He's been practicing more. If he needs to be called upon again -- and I'm not ruling that out -- then he's more ready. So we'll just play it one game at a time here. We're not naming Joey the starter for the next 12 years. He's the quarterback now and if we choose to go to our backup and play, then we'll do that. It's not out of the question."

McMahon, a crowd favorite -- as most backup quarterbacks are in the NFL -- completed 11 of 15 passes for 77 yards, scrambled twice for 18 yards and put a spark of excitement back into the anti-Harrington crowd at Ford Field.

Although it was statistically one of McMahon's best games in four NFL seasons -- a completion mark of 73 percent -- he was no more successful getting the Lions into the end zone than Harrington had been. Harrington completed 14 of 23 passes for 156 yards in the first 43 minutes of the game.

"Joey didn't play poorly," Mariucci said. "That was not your typical hook with a guy that's playing bad. He was playing OK. There were some throws that would have been nice for him to make, where he would have had a pretty darned good performance."

In particular, Mariucci was thinking of two passes midway in the first quarter on the Lions' first possession. On the first -- a second-and-goal at the Colts' 2 -- Harrington overthrew wide-open tight end Stephen Alexander in the corner of the end zone.

On the next play, he threw the ball slightly behind wide receiver Roy Williams to avoid a defensive player closing in ahead of Williams, and Williams was unable to hold onto the ball on his back shoulder.

"If you look at the film and the breakdowns, a sack here and a penalty there, there's reasons other than the quarterback that drives are not ending up in the end zone," Mariucci said.

It has become unreal that with such a good start, that we could loose 5 straight and go from a 4-2 of the division to tied for last in the division. Our team isn't even focused on the present which is killing us. It is as if the last 5 games have been looked at as scrimmages. I hope we can pull ourselves out of the slump. Get a win you guys!

Harrington just doesn't cut it..

2004-11-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

With our 3 game losing streak, it is becoming more and more apparent that Harrington isn't cutting it for us. Which is a shame because he was such a promising player in college but it just hasn't shown yet.
From Detroit Free Press:

Detroit goes through quarterbacks like tissues.

They're easily disposable, momentarily offering relief, clearing your head but quickly outliving their usefulness because it seems you always need a fresh one five minutes later.

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Five minutes is about the average shelf life for Lions quarterbacking competence in the past four decades.

The degree of patience is even less.

Branding Joey Harrington an irreversible failure remains overly premature, but concerns that his Lions career is leaning closer to getting crumpled and tossed into the trash are legitimate.

Harrington looks neither comfortable nor confident, an uneasiness shared inside the locker room and the coaches' offices.

Benching him isn't the answer because there's even less faith in backup Mike McMahon, leaving Steve Mariucci and Matt Millen with no choice but to tread water the remainder of this season and bring in a veteran capable of seriously challenging Harrington for the starting job next season.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the strategy when vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. circumvented Millen's authority and demanded that the Lions draft Harrington with the third pick in the 2002 draft.

The Lions blew it again, interested more in marketing a star than developing a quarterback.

The Fords needed a lure to their new downtown palace, and the most tantalizing bait for fans remains the hope that they've finally secured a quarterback who eventually would become the envy of the rest of the NFL.

But the Lions screwed up in not properly preparing Harrington. Where was the veteran presence when it could have made a difference?

Harrington's qualifications for becoming the starter three games into his rookie season were his fat contract and the public's ravenous curiosity. He has never had to win the job. He has never been pushed. And, as a result, it's impossible for him to be truly accountable for his mistakes.

Harrington obviously desires to play well, but he -- and everybody in that franchise -- knows he doesn't have to play well to keep his job because the Lions have surrounded him with little more than veteran advisors like Ty Detmer, not a true challenger.

Cincinnati awarded the starting quarterbacking job to Carson Palmer a year after taking him No. 1 overall. He hadn't earned the opportunity but harsh salary-cap ramifications for making the wrong decisions force teams to accelerate evaluations. But notice that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't jettison last year's rather successful starter, Jon Kitna.

That sent the proper message to Palmer. He would have to fight for his teammates' respect because repeated stumbles would place him back on the bench.

The New York Giants traded up to get Eli Manning, but they also brought in Kurt Warner to keep a steady fire burning under the rookie. Manning has impressed coaches enough to warrant his first start this weekend, but he'll still have a former two-time MVP looking over his shoulder.

Marty Mornhinweg and Mariucci bowed to their egos, foolishly believing they could transform the technically flawed McMahon into an effective challenger. But that's now an aborted ambition.

And now they're paying the price.

The Lions got the second and third overall draft picks in successive years, and their worst nightmare is that they will have nothing to show for it, stalling another rebuilding effort.

The dreams of a high-powered Joey Harrington-Charles Rogers tandem lasted ... about five minutes.

Rogers, the former Michigan State star, is basically damaged goods, and it can't help that Harrington's erratic arm leaves receivers too vulnerable for punishment when crossing the middle. Az-Zahir Hakim has taken so many shots to the body he can hardly walk. That's not exactly what somebody recovering from back-to-back broken collarbones wants weighing on his mind.

There's nothing wrong with competition. The Lions forgot that when they anointed Harrington. History paralyzed their common sense. They feared another quarterback quandary.

But that may be unavoidable now.

A Stellar Career Celebrated

2004-11-01T19:19:00.000-05:00

From NFL.com

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- After 13 seasons of serving as the Detroit Lions' defensive linchpin, linemen Robert Porcher was granted a release from the team Monday afternoon, with the intent on filing his official retirement papers soon.

Flanked by Lions President and CEO Matt Millen and head coach Steve Mariucci at the team's headquarters, an emotional Porcher met with the media, to reflect upon and celebrate his numerous professional and community achievements with the same franchise.

"We have the utmost respect for Robert, as a person, as a Lion...he's going to be a great alum," says Mariucci. "We thank him for everything he's ever done for this organization...we're proud of him, and he'll always be a Lion."

Mixing in some tears with his warm smile, Porcher expressed how blessed he felt to remain with the organization, city and hearty fan base throughout the years.

"Every player, we all think we can play forever; (but) sometimes there comes a point when you've got to let go," says Porcher, who ranks No. 3 for games played (187) with the Lions, trailing only Wayne Walker (200) and current kicker Jason Hanson (199). "To be able to say you played with the team that drafted you and still have a chance to say good-bye when your (career clock) expires...I can't say enough about that."

Porcher had been prepared for this scenario for a few months. And he had conducted regular discussions with Lions officials, as to how the final exit strategy would occur.

"Given the fact that he expressed his desire to be nothing but a Detroit Lion," says Millen, "(letting him retire) is probably the best way for us to go right now."

Asked if he ever considered playing for another team, Porcher shrugged off the notion before saying, "I wouldn't even look right in another uniform -- I'm a Detroit Lion. It's all about loyalty for me."

Selected as a first-rounder in the 1992 NFL Draft (South Carolina State), the 6-foot-3 pass rusher combined his athletic grace and raw power to become an immediate presence on the resurgent Lions. But he vividly recalls his nervousness for Detroit's regular-season opener at Chicago that season.

At first, he was awestruck by some of the Bears' legends, including Richard Dent and Steve McMichael. That is, until a friendly face, nose tackle Jerry Ball, put things into perspective.

"He said, 'Hey, this is for real...snap out of it!'" says Porcher, smiling at the memory.

The Lions' all-time career sack leader (95.5), Porcher led the team in this department eight different seasons (1993, 1996-01, 2003), making him the only Lion to accomplish this feat.

The 35-year old South Carolina native has appeared in three Pro Bowls, registered double-digit sack totals in four consecutive years (1996-99) and was the only active NFL defensive end to be in double-digits from 1996-99. And though he is proud of his individual records, he also knows the landmarks may someday be eclipsed by the current group of talented linemen -- most notably tackle Shaun Rogers and end James Hall.

"I just wish these guys the best of luck, because you know what? We have a chance to be really, really special," he says.

With his newfound "free" time, Porcher can devote more resources to his many business interests in Detroit: co-owner of "Seldom Blues," a jazz supper club located in the Renaissance Center; co-founder of the Detroit Football Classic, a fledgling event which captures the true essence of historically black college football; and a board member of the Super Bowl XL Host Committee, a Detroit-based organization that oversees the day-to-day activities for the city hosting the Super Bowl in February 2006.

Also, Porcher and his wife, Kimberly, are tireless fundraisers for cancer research, on behalf of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

And when he can catch his breath from all that, the father of three has plans on touring the world, especially a lengthy visit to Africa. "I'm just closing a chapter in a life. This is not the end for me," Porcher says. "And I'm OK with that."

On Dec. 26, the Lions will formally honor Porcher during the club's final home game versus Chicago.

Stats dont' mean much..

2004-10-22T17:45:00.000-04:00

Our stats right now are flat out bad. We rank pretty badly stats wise in the NFL but somehow we managed to pull of wins when they needed to be won. We may not have the best team in the NFL but we have so much push behind us that we can win any game. Although we lost to Green Bay, we are in no way out of it. We just need to push ourselves the extra mile to catch up with the Vikings. Lets pump it up Lions!

Eagles dominate

2004-09-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

We couldnt hold back Donovan McNabb yesterday and I am dissappointed. Roy Williams played spectacularly but he was the only one really making big plays. It also didn't make up for the 356 yards the Eagles threw for. We really need to pick up the pace if we want to have a chance this year. We are looking pretty good right now but we need to start stepping up against teams like the Eagles. I know we have the talent this year and we can do this. Lets sweep this one under the rug and get ready for the Falcons. Once we start relying less on Williams for our whole offense, we will really start getting those wins. Lets get the Falcons!

broken success

2004-09-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

During season opener against the Bears , everything was going well, until WR Charles Rodgers rebroke his collar bone and he is now out for the season. He was doing well after breaking it last year as well but he couldnt seem to get away from the dark monster of broken bones. He was one of the key roles in our offense but we will have to somehow make it out to conquer just another challenge. Lets get ourselves out of this whole Lions and win another one! GO LIONS!

Cuts

2004-09-06T22:00:00.000-04:00

The following palyers were cut for the 53 player limit:
Reggie Swinton, David Kircus, Stephen Trejo, Avon Cobourne, Andrew Battle, Michael Young.
Our preformance during the preseason was about the same as all the other teams in the NFL since all the teams were playing 2nd and 3rd team players to see who to cut and who not to cut. So lets see if we can't play better during the season and win us a new trophy this year. Go Lions!

Down 2

2004-08-29T16:49:00.000-04:00

After winning our first game against the Steelers, I havn't been seeing the same kind of flare we had in that game. Its slowly been dying out especially towards the ends of those games. Now lets get back on our feet, swipe the 2 losses aside and redeem ourselves against the Bills. I have also been sort of dissappointed about Roy Williams, he was such an asset to the Texas team but now he hasn't shown what he has got nor had much oppurtunity to. But I guess i have to be patient with rookies. Now lets win Lions!

Lets get the Browns!

2004-08-21T12:55:00.000-04:00

With the help of rookie Roy Williams, we will have to beat the browns today to really show everyone what we are made of. The Lions have been the underdogs for too long and now we are going to change that. Lets get out there and beat the Browns today! Goo Lions!

Outcome looks better..

2004-08-14T17:09:00.000-04:00

With terrible finishes the last couple of years, the Lions have alot to prove and alot to gain if they win thier first preseason game. And with the drafting of Roy Williams(Go UT!), we can only improve. To make matters worse, Boss Bailey can't play for the rest of the season. These few preseason games could tell us if we are going to have a winning or losing season, and believe me I dont want to have a repeat of the last couple of years. Go Lions! Lets Beat the Steelers!

2004 Schedule

2004-07-28T17:34:00.000-04:00

Here's the Detroit Lions' 2004 schedule from NFL.com:

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug. 14 Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 21 at Cleveland 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 at Baltimore 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 Buffalo 8:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 12 at Chicago 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 Houston 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 Philadelphia 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 3 Open Date
Oct. 10 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 at New York Giants 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Dallas 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 Washington 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Jacksonville 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Minnesota 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 25 Indianapolis 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 Arizona 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 19 Minnesota 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 26 Chicago 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Tennessee 1:00 p.m.

All times are Eastern

new blog

2004-07-22T15:32:00.000-04:00

still under construction, come back soon for regular posts!