Detroit Lions news and notes

2009 Detroit Lions RB Grades

The Detroit Lions as a team only gained 1,616 yards on the ground in 2009. That is a laughable amount, and it underscores the lack of talent on this team, and the serious problems he Lions have on their offensive line. In the end it was bad year to be a Lions running back, but the team must find a viable option here, they may want to be a pass first team but the threat of a running game will only make that endeavor easier.

Detroit Lions to have no QB Coach in 2010

 So what does a team that has only won 2 games in the last two seasons do to prepare their young QB for his sophomore NFL season? If you answered lose their QB coach to a college gig, and not hire another one, congratulations your just might be dumb enough to run the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford very well could be a great NFL QB, but the Lions are never going to give him the tools he needs to build a great career. For those of you who sit and wonder why, so many Detroiters hate the Lions, questionable decisions like this one is always the answer.

Will the Detroit Lions draft CJ Spiller?

The Detroit Lions' General Manger, Martin Mayhew, has come out and said that his team may use the second overall pick in April's draft on an offensive player. That has led too much local speculation that they will draft Clemson RB CJ Spiller. While Spiller is the number one rated RB in this draft, and the Lions could use another RB, using this pick on Spiller is a very bad idea for several reasons.

2009 NFL season in review: Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions fans want to believe that finally this team is on the right path. That the darkness of t he Matt Millen regime is gone, and this team will start to become a legitimate NFL tam once more. While it seems that this may actually be the case, it is not happening fast enough for the people. They fail to realize how devoid of talent this team actually is. Eight years of Matt Millen making jackass decisions has left the Lions roster looking like a team about to compete in the UFL. All that, and owner William Clay Ford is lurking in the darkness to mess it all up all over again.

Should the Detroit Lions trade for Joshua Cribbs?

It seems the Cleveland Browns new front office team view Joshua Cribbs as a special teams only player. So they offered him a contract on that belief worth around 1.4 million dollars a year. Cribbs said no, and then cleaned out his locker and told the press that he will not play another down for the tm without a new contract. He also added that he was insulted by their first offer, and is trying to force the team into trading him.

2009 Detroit Lions QB Grades

Now that the season is over, we can start it revue. We do this to try and understand what the Detroit Lions need either via free agency or in the coming NFL Draft.  In the coming weeks and days we shall look at each position on the Lions, assign each player a grade, and look at where this team needs to be upgraded. Today we start with the Quarterback's.

What should the Detroit Lions do with the 2nd overall pick?

It seems so typical of the Detroit Lions to lose NFL games, and lose chances to draft big time players. This year by winning two games the Lions cost themselves a chance to draft DT Ndamukong Suh, one of the best defensive players to come along in quite some time, and who plays a position that the Lions have a particular need for.

Thank God the 2009 Detroit Lions season is over

Even though I think the Detroit Lions are on the right road, even though they won two more games in 2009 then they did in 2008, and even though their 2009 draft picks look better and better every single day, I am thankful that the 2009 season is at an end. The problem here is the losing is hard to watch, it is hard to stomach, and for far too many years now there has been no light at the end of the tunnel. The Matt Millen years offered no hope, a bad season, followed by a bad draft, followed by another bad season. At least now their appears to be a regime in charge that knows how to build a NFL team.

Detroit Lions ineptitude has ruined an entire generation of Detroit football fans

Listen to Detroit Sports radio on the internet, read a few Detroit Lions fan blogs, and you will come to realize what I already know. Most Detroit Lions fans today have no idea what it takes to build a winning football team.

Detroit Lions still have an outside shot at first overall pick

For NFL fans in Denver, New York, Miami, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Houston week 17 is all about the drama of winning and getting enough help to get into the NFL playoffs. Week 17 holds different drama for NFL fans in St. Louis Detroit, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Kansas City.

Another ugly loss, but the Detroit Lions learned a few things

Ok the Detroit Lions lost their 20th consecutive road game yesterday, a pretty ugly loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Once again the Lions failed to score a touchdown. While nobody wants to see this team lose, the Lions learned several things in yesterday's game that will help the front office rebuild this team moving forward.

Drew Stanton to start in San Francisco

For many Detroit Lions fans, and MichiganState fans today feels like Christmas. Well maybe not so much but finally Detroit Lions fans are going to be able to see backup QB Drew Stanton practice the full week as the number one guy, and get the start against the San Francisco 49ers.  

Louis Delmas, my new favorite Detroit Lion

Louis Delmas has had an outstanding Rookie season. He has play hard, he has fought, and against the Arizona Cardinals had a 100 yard pick six. He was named September Defensive Rookie of the month, and is at least in the running for Defensive Rookie of the year honors, but beyond all of that Delmas is a winner. He cannot accept losing, and it is making him angry.

Detroit Lions lose to the Arizona Cardinals, but this one feels different

Yes, there are no moral victories in the NFL. Yes, the bar is not high, and by even writing this I am throwing the bar away, but Sunday's Detroit Lions loss to the Arizona Cardinals felt different somehow. It didn't feel as bad, in fact there were even a few signs of hope in the 12th loss of the season.

Is trading Calvin Johnson an option for the Detroit Lions?

When the Detroit Lions fired Matt Millen and handed control of this team over to Martin Mayhew, one of the first things Martin did was trade WR Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a first, third, and sixth round pick in the 2009 draft. Mayhew was largely applauded for making that trade to get more draft picks to begin his rebuilding effort of a NFL roster devoid of NFL talent. If that is the case, can we make a similar argument for the Lions to trade away WR Calvin Johnson?

Should the Detroit Lions draft a RB?

The Detroit Lions have been operating under a broken philosophy for a long time now. They think that high priced, flashy offensive draft picks are what sells tickets. They operate their organization like an NBA team where the star players are the main attraction. That isn’t true anymore, what sells an NFL ticket in 2009 is winning, and for more than a decade the Lions have not been able to do any kind of winning.  Predictable Detroit Lions attendance is way off in 2009 even though this team added two first round offensive players in the last NFL draft.

The Detroit Lions are bad, because they have the wrong formula

The Detroit Lions problems are a pitiful excuse for a NFL origination, and their problems go far deeper than their problems on draft day. In large regards the team’s ownership is working with a broken business model. The NFL is unlike the NBA where one star player can bring in large audiences despite the team’s overall record, but in the NFL a team must win to draw in fans, and it really doesn’t matter how the team wins, or with whom it wins.

For the Lions 2010 draft, it is Suh or bust

For the Detroit Lions to get any better, as a legitimate NFL franchise, they must draft a guy in 2010 for which they can build their defense around. As most Draft experts will predict that guy is one Ndamukong Suh. At present the Lions will have the fourth pick in the 2010 draft, and instead of settling for the second or third best DT, they must make a concentrated effort to draft Suh.

AP Photo/Nick Wass

The Detroit Lions need to trade WR Calvin Johnson

This might be considered blasphemy in and around Detroit, Michigan. However an effective argument can be made that the Detroit Lions need to trade away their best offensive weapon, WR Calvin Johnson, in order to secure additional draft picks in next April’s draft. The first part of this argument is Johnson is entering his prime, and after a 48-3 beat down by the Baltimore Ravens the Lions are no where near a place where they can effectively use a talent like this. Johnson’s value to the team is not what he can on the field now, but in the number of draft picks they could get for him to fill other needs.

Same old Detroit Lions, only worse

I have been a fan of the Detroit Lions since 1987. In that time I have seen plenty of bad football, plenty of teams quit, and plenty of this kind of typical Lions garbage. However the so called performance that these Lions turned in against the Baltimore Ravens was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen and these so called professional football players should feel very ashamed of themselves.  

Stafford to sit, Culpepper to start versus the Ravens

On one hand Detroit Lions fans will be happy that Rookie QB Matthew Stafford will sit, and not have to face the Baltimore Ravens defense. On the other hand it seems that many Lions fans are upset that Daunte Culpepper will get the start over QB Drew Stanton.

2010 Detroit Lions draft needs

Sometimes it really sucks top be a Detroit Lions fan, the NFL season in Detroit ends a little bit sooner then it does in other NFL seasons, but on the positive side it gives the Detroit lions and their fans an extra few months to think about the NFL draft.

AP Photo/Tony Tribble

Are the Lions ruining Matthew Stafford's career?

File this one under the ghost of Joey Harrington. I cannot believe that the Detroit Lions Coaching Staff or Front Office allowed their 41 million dollar QB to go out and face the Cincinnati Bengalsin the second half of Sunday's game. I cannot believe that they subjected their franchise QB, who by the way already has a separated shoulder, to be punished like that. The question seems to be, why was the point of that? What valuable NFL lesson did Stafford learn?

Detroit Lions still have many questions on their offensive line

One of the many stains left on the Detroit Lions organization by the mismanagement of former General Manager Matt Millen is an ineffective Offensive Line. While Jeff Backus has carried a lot of blame throughout his career, and earlier this season, he has gone five games without giving up a sack. However Backus will always remain the first ever Millen draft pick, and the consolation prize the Lions got for losing Backus’ former Michigan Teammate Steve Hutchinson.  While Backus is fairing better in the new Lions offense that relies on shorter QB drop backs, and is  designed around having their QB deliver the ball more quickly, Backus who has started in all 139 games since being drafted his LT position is one the Lions will have to upgrade before they can be considered a playoff team.

AP Photo/Bill Feig

Should the Detroit Lions pursue Reggie Bush?

It seems more and more likely that the New Orleans Saints will walk away from Reggie Bush and his 8 million dollar contract in 2010. The reason is why pay a guy that much money that is not a vital part of your team, the Saints offense doesn't need Reggie Bush, and the team could reinvest those 8 million dollars into a different position of need.

Lions coninue to blitz 40% of the time

The Lions are continuing to blitz 40 to 50% of the time because they cannot get a steady pass rush with just their front four. While the blitz scheme is a well designed one, and Lions players are frequently getting into the opponents backfield free, they are not registering very many sacks.

Lions lay an egg on Thanksgiving

What can we say about a one sided loss on national TV?

Should the Detroit Lions lose their Thanksgiving Day game?

After every bad Turkey Day blowout, there seems to be a sentiment nationally that the Detroit Lions do not deserve to have a Thanksgiving Day game televised on National TV. To be fair I must inform all of you that I lie in Detroit, have followed the Lions since I was a kid, and have attended several Thanksgiving Day games at the Pontiac Silverdome, and at Ford Field.

The Lions struggle to beat the Browns- the negatives

While a win is a win, struggling to beat the Cleveland Browns is hardly a victory a team can hang their hat on. To be brutally fair the Lions had no business winning this game. Many of us have been watching NFL football for years, and we have never seen a Defensive Pass Interference called on a last second Hail Mary pass to the end zone.  Better than that for 60 minutes the Detroit Lions could not beat the Cleveland Browns.

Lions struggle to beat the Browns-The positives

There is a lot of ways to look at two 1-8 teams squaring off against one another. For the Detroit Lions there is a positive way, and a negative way to look at a 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns. For today let us look at the positive side of things.

Pathetic Lions turn in another pathetic performance

Heading into the game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings no one expected the Lions to win. Heading into other game the Lions had lost 16 road games in a row, has only won one game in their last 25, and are on a steak of losing 31 of their last 33 NFL contests. However facing an unfocused Minnesota team, that in no way took their opponents serious, the Lions were able to hang around for awhile instead of getting totally blown out. In the end the Lions lost by 17, but they showed why they are without a doubt the worst team in the NFL.

The people who own our sports teams: Detroit Lions-William Clay Ford Sr.

 Ford will go down in history as one of the worst sports owners of any sport, and really one of the worst owners who ever but enough money together to buy a professional sports team. In Detroit he is hatred more than Cleveland hates Art Model, and the Lions will never be a winning team while he remains there as owner.

AP Photo

Lions rookie QB costs them a win at Seattle

NFL fans expect rookie QB's to struggle, as they get use to the speed of the NFL game. However most NFL fans also expect an overall number one draft pick to come in and produce for their teams. For the Detroit Lions who draft Matthew Stafford with the first pick in the 2009 draft, and paid him 41 million dollars guaranteed, that simply is not the case. In fact Stafford, who skipped his senior year in college, doesn't appear anywhere near ready to lead a NFL offense.

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Will the Lions make changes to their offensive line?

The Detroit Lions have a lot of money tied up in their offensive line. LT Jeff Backus is in the third year of a 60 million dollar contract, and RT Gosder Cherilus is in the second year of a five year 15 million dollar deal that will pay him a guaranteed 8.9 million. The problem with that is neither of these players is all that impressive, and if the Lions want to improve as a team, they must upgrade both of these positions.

Ernie Simms and DeAndre Levy to rotate at OLB

OLB Ernie Simms was the last time, the Detroit Lions drafted a defensive player in the first round, the problem with that is he was a Matt Millen draft pick and like most other Matt Millen draft picks he simply is not that good.

Detroit Lions win, end 19 game losing streak

For the first time since December 23rd, 2007 the Detroit Lions have won a NFL regular season game. They went on a streak of losing 19th straight regular season games which ties them for the second longest losing streak in the NFL. For the team, and its fans, finally the losing streak is over. The Lions showed, flashes of the team they want to become today taking it to the hapless Washington Redskins and wining 19-14. While they are still a bad football team, at the very least they are better then a year ago when they went winless.

Stafford doesn’t appear ready for starting job with pitiful Lions

Overall number one draft pick, and 42 million dollar man, Matthew Stafford has been less than impressive in his first two career NFL starts. While his team, the Detroit Lions, have no lost 19 NFL games in a row, Stafford has shown little flair, or reason to why this team took him with the first draft pick of the 2009 NFL draft. Granted the Lions are a bad team, almost the worst team ever, but the reason they are so bad is the apparent bad decision making process involved with virtually all decisions made by this organization.

2003 Draft pick by pick, #3 Charles Rogers

It is hard to say that Charles Rogers is going to go down as one of the better pick by one of the worst drafters in NFL history. In 2003 Detroit Lions former GM Matt Millen was looking for a weapon to pare with his young QB drafted the year before (Joey Harrington).

 Just how bad were the Matt Millen draft picks?

This week the Detroit Lions cut CB Kevin Smith from their roster. While that isn’t really big new Smith does become a significant part of Lions lore.

How did the Detroit Lions get so bad?

While it is an old bit here in Detroit to complain about former Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen, there are a few numbers that shows exactly how bad he truly was. He will of course go down in history as the architect of the first ever NFL team to go 0-16 and only the second NFL team to complete a season win less, but Millen’s worst flaw was his inability to find quality players via the draft.

 Who were the Matt Millen draft picks?

To truly understand how the Detroit Lions got into the condition that they now find themselves in, one must understand just how many high draft picks former General Manager Matt Millen wasted on players who either didn’t work out for the Lions or just were not worthy of the position in which they were drafted.

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

Detroit Lions name Stafford starter

The Detroit Lions made it official today naming first round draft pick and overall number one selection Matthew Stafford their starting QB. For many Lions fans this seems to be a repeat of the career of another high first round draft pick, Joey Harrington, and that has them a little bit worried.

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

2009 Detroit Lions Draft analysis

This week NFL training camps are opening all  over the country and teams are rushing to get the remainder of the draft picks signed. Some of these draft picks will prove to be better than NFL fans and media think, while some of them will be worse.

What are the Detroit Lions worth?

William Clay Ford became the sole owner of the Detroit Lions in 1964 buying out his partners in the team for 5 million dollars. Since then the Lions have not had much success on the field, and little success in the business world.

AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza

Detroit Lions get the most rookie salary cap space

The NFL has released its Rookie Pool allocation dollar figures and the Detroit Lions are leading the way with more then 8 million dollars of their 2009 cap space that can be allocated to signing their draft picks, and undrafted free agents.

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Detroit Lions contract to Stafford proves need for NFL Rookie salary cap

The NFL draft pick market has already been set, as the Detroit Lions coming off a 0-16 season gave Georgia QB Matthew Stafford the largest NFL rookie contract of all time. The deal is for six years and 78 million dollars. The Lions guaranteed him 41.7 million dollars of that deal and if he never plays a down he will walk away from the game and team a very rich man.