Lions News

Lions' Big 3 to play on Sunday
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November 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"For the first time in more than a month, the Lions will trot out their starters on offense Sunday. Over the past five weeks, the team has missed -- at various times -- its starting quarterback, its most dominant receiver and its starting running back. Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith played in only the first three games of the season together before injuries slowed them down. At Seattle on Sunday, that triumvirate should be ready to go. "Really, the last time they were all healthy together on the field was the first half of the Washington game (in Week 3)," said coach Jim Schwartz. Since then, Schwartz said, "Somebody's been limited or somebody's been missing. They are a ..."
Short-yardage offense, porous defense put team near NFL's bottom
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November 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"On offense, the Lions rank 29th in the NFL in yards per play (4.4). On defense, the Lions are last (6.2). That drives home the point that they aren't making enough big plays on offense and are allowing too many big plays on defense. "That's one thing we need to become is a team that can get chunks on offense," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "Our two longest runs this year have come from your quarterbacks. That's going to affect yards per play." The Lions' longest run by a running back is 20 yards. The passing game has struggled to make big plays, too, while quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson each have missed two games with right knee injuries. "Whoever ..."
Aaron Curry gets his shot against Lions
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November 7
Detroit News
 
"A week after getting heckled by a small group of fans late in a loss to St. Louis, Matthew Stafford might find himself in another awkward spot Sunday at Seattle: getting harassed by Seahawks rookie Aaron Curry, the linebacker Lions fans were clamoring for as the top pick before the draft in April. Stafford was the Lions' choice with the No. 1 overall choice, but at the team's new logo unveiling the week of the draft, fans chanted, "Cur-ry! Cur-ry!" and "Don't draft Staf-ford!" while team president Tom Lewand laughed, perhaps a bit uncomfortably. Curry might have been the Lions' fallback choice at the top of the draft, but he ended up going fourth to Seattle after the Lions hammered out a ..."
Honeymoon over for Stafford
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November 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"It took Matthew Stafford all of five starts to get heckled by Detroit Lions "fans." And people wonder why they've been dying for a franchise quarterback in Detroit since Bobby Layne was chucking it around in the 1950s. In case you missed it, Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, was booed heavily as he completed 14 of 33 passes for 168 yards and threw one interception in the Lions' 17-10 loss to the previously winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday at Ford Field. Never mind that Stafford had missed the previous two games with a knee injury and fought like heck to get back into the lineup. Never mind that in his two starts before the injury, Stafford posted respectable passer ..."
Aaron Curry on WDFN: No hard feelings toward Detroit Lions for passing him up in draft
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November 6
Michigan Live
 
"Many times, players will use off-the-field incidents to motivate them against certain teams. Aaron Curry isn't one of those players. The rookie linebacker was selected by the Seattle Seahawks after being passed up by the Detroit Lions, who selected quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick."
Lions RB Kevin Smith wants to quiet the critics
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November 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions running back Kevin Smith returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a shoulder injury. He was listed as limited, and coach Jim Schwartz left some doubt about his status for Sunday's game at Seattle. "He's got a long way to go till Sunday, but I'm encouraged," Schwartz said. "Kevin's a tough guy. Kevin's a hardworking guy. I know if he can go on Sunday, he'll go." But Smith not only sounded as if he would go, he sounded like his ambitious, chip-on-the-shoulder self. "We're all looking to kind of quiet the critics that Detroit doesn't have a running game," Smith said. "Because I get the ball first, I want to be that tempo-setter and that lead dog. I think enough's ..."
Lions' coach 'optimistic' Johnson, Smith will play
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November 6
Detroit News
 
"Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Friday he's "optimistic" that both receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Kevin Smith will play Sunday at Seattle. "As long as everything keeps going the way it is the next few days, I'll be all right," Johnson said after practicing again Friday. Johnson has missed the last two games with a right knee injury, while Smith suffered a shoulder injury last week against St. Louis. Smith said Thursday he expected to be ready to play against the Seahawks, as will quarterback Matthew Stafford, who returned from a three-week absence to play against the Rams last week."
Lions RB Kevin Smith, WR Calvin Johnson practice today
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November 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Wide receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Kevin Smith continued to practice today. Both seem likely to play Sunday at Seattle, though Lions coach Jim Schwartz likely will not tip his hand. Johnson has missed two games with a injured right knee. Smith left the Lions' last game with a shoulder problem."
In a down economy, NFL viewership is up
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November 6
Washington Post
 
"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."
Smith returns; Calvin Johnson looks good
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November 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith returned to practice today, while wide receiver Calvin Johnson continued to show progress. Smith left Sunday's 17-10 loss to St. Louis with a shoulder injury and didn't practice Wednesday. He seems likely to play Sunday at Seattle, though coach Jim Schwartz isn't saying so. "He's got a long way to go till Sunday, but I'm encouraged," Schwartz said today. "Kevin's a tough guy. Kevin's a hardworking guy. I know if he can go on Sunday, he'll go." Johnson has missed two games with a right knee injury and was listed as limited Wednesday. He continued to look good in the portion of practice open to reporters, but Schwartz continued to say he would be a ..."
Ex-Lion Cory Redding content in Seattle
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November 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Cory Redding said he felt no "hate." He said there "ain't no bad blood." He said he wouldn't try to "stick it" to the Lions on Sunday when they visit his new home in Seattle. "I didn't circle no game on my calendar," he said. And for good reason: The Lions gave him what he wanted. At the end of the NFL's first 0-16 season -- something Redding said he had to carry for the rest of his life -- Redding asked for a trade. In March, the Lions sent the defensive lineman to the Seahawks with a fifth-round pick for linebacker Julian Peterson. "I felt like I gave Detroit six years of all that Cory can give, the best that I could," Redding told Detroit reporters in a conference call this week. "I ..."
Kevin Smith wants to quiet the critics
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November 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions running back Kevin Smith returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a shoulder injury. He was listed as limited, and coach Jim Schwartz left some doubt about his status for Sunday's game at Seattle. "He's got a long way to go till Sunday, but I'm encouraged," Schwartz said. "Kevin's a tough guy. Kevin's a hardworking guy. I know if he can go on Sunday, he'll go." But Smith not only sounded as if he would go, he sounded like his ambitious, chip-on-the-shoulder self. "We're all looking to kind of quiet the critics that Detroit doesn't have a running game," Smith said. "Because I get the ball first, I want to be that tempo-setter and that lead dog. I think enough's ..."
Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson look ready
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November 6
Detroit News
 
"Lions running back Kevin Smith was back at practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's workout because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to St. Louis. Both Smith and Maurice Morris took reps with the first-team offense in the portion of practice open to the media. Calvin Johnson continued to show no ill effects from the right knee injury that has sidelined him for the last two games. He worked with the first-team offense and certainly looked like he'll be ready for Sunday's game in Seattle. "We are just going to keep on taking it like we are," Johnson said. "We are going to be careful, do what I can do, and as long as I don't have any setbacks, things ..."
Lions running back Kevin Smith returns to practice
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November 5
Detroit News
 
"Lions running back Kevin Smith was back at practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's workout because of a shoulder injury he suffered in the third quarter of last week's loss to St. Louis. Both Smith and Maurice Morris took reps with the first-team offense in the portion of practice open to the media. Calvin Johnson continued to show no ill effects from that right knee injury that has sidelined him for the last two games. Johnson continued to work with the first-team offense and certainly looks like he'll be ready for Sunday's game in Seattle."
Lions' Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith both practice
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November 5
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) practiced for the second straight day and running back Kevin Smith, who missed Wednesday's workout with a left shoulder injury, also took part in practice today. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz will likely declare both players as game-time decisions but it appears both will be in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks."
Calvin Johnson back on practice field
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November 5
Detroit News
 
"Receiver Calvin Johnson practiced Wednesday and took snaps with the first-team offense during the portion of practice open to the media, something he hasn't done in weeks. He has missed the last two games because of a right knee injury suffered in the second quarter of a 28-20 loss to the Steelers on Oct. 11. "He's made progress from the bye week and then getting ready last week. Everyday he's done a little bit more," coach Jim Schwartz said. "We'll probably give him a little bit more (today) than we gave him (Wednesday) and maybe a little bit more Friday, but it's probably still going to be a game-time decision." Johnson went through a pregame workout on the field before last Sunday's ..."
Matt Millen: Time with Lions was job that 'never ends'
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November 5
Detroit News
 
"Former Lions president Matt Millen, now a broadcast analyst with ESPN and the NFL Network, was asked to compare his current and former jobs in a media conference call Thursday. His answer no doubt will illicit groans in Detroit. "When you're in the big seat, that job never ends, ever," said Millen, oft-criticized for not spending enough time on the job in Allen Park. "There's no off time. There are always problems -- there's always something that has to get taken care of. From the analyst side, when the game's over, the game's over. Certainly all the preparation stuff goes into the front end of it, but when it's over, it's done. You go home and you can sleep. The other one, you don't ..."
Lions' Calvin Johnson shows no effects of injury in practice
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November 4
Detroit News
 
"Receiver Calvin Johnson said Monday he was "ready to get going" after missing the Lions' last two games with a right knee injury. And he appeared to be going at full speed Wednesday as the Lions began preparations for this week's game at Seattle. Johnson didn't appear limited during position-group drills in the initial 30-minute portion of practice that is open to the media. But running back Kevin Smith, who left Sunday's loss to St. Louis with a shoulder injury, was sitting out Wednesday. He appeared to be the only player not participating at least on a limited basis."
Lions' Calvin Johnson practices, Kevin Smith sits out
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November 4
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson practiced today and also took reps with the No. 1 offense -- something he didn't do last week when he practiced. Johnson took part in all of the individual drills and was running smoothly. Johnson, who suffered a right knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers, has not played in Detroit's previous two games."
Lions coach says Kevin Smith still primary ballcarrier
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November 4
Detroit Free Press
 
"Even though the Lions ran the ball well by giving Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris nearly equal carries Sunday against St. Louis, coach Jim Schwartz said the workload split was the result of a shoulder injury to Smith during the game, and Smith remains the feature back. "I don't think that anything has changed from the fact of Kevin is our lead running back and Maurice is the complementary running back," Schwartz said. Smith started against the Rams and had 16 carries for 45 yards -- a 2.8-yard average. Morris, who has fought injuries all year, had 14 carries for 63 yards, a 4.5-yard average. "That was always our thought when we signed Maurice Morris," Schwartz said. "It was always the ..."
Jim Schwartz laments lack of big offensive plays
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November 4
Detroit News
 
"The intention is clear. The results are not. Coach Jim Schwartz lamented his team's reliance on "small ball" offensively after their 17-10 loss to the Rams on Sunday. But Schwartz wasn't pinning the blame solely on the Lions' running game. The absence of top receiving threat Calvin Johnson, who is expected back for this week's game at Seattle, along with some errant throws by Matthew Stafford and a half-dozen drops by his receivers, all contributed to another "toothless" day for the offense. "Particularly early in that game, we came out and really wanted to establish run, run, run, run," said Schwartz, whose team ran on five consecutive plays to start the game -- the sixth was negated by ..."
Rams coach praised for first NFL win
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November 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"A week ago, after his team had fallen to 0-7 with a 42-6 loss to Indianapolis, Steve Spagnuolo was asked if he received words of encouragement from friends or coaching counterparts. "When you're winning, you get a lot of phone calls," Spagnuolo joked. "When you're not, everybody's afraid to (call). But really, that's when you want 'em. That's when you need 'em." Spagnuolo was a winner Sunday for the first time as an NFL head coach, when his Rams edged Detroit 17-10 at Ford Field. But there's no champagne or parade planned for the bye week, and Kiener Plaza hasn't been booked for a celebratory rally. Mayor Francis G. Slay won't present Spagnuolo with a key to the city. The coach said he ..."
Lions' Dominic Raiola can't win fight with fans
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November 3
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"Let me say this up front: I really like Dominic Raiola. I think, in many ways, the Lions' center epitomizes everything that reasonable fans want from a professional athlete. He plays hard every game, plays hurt and plays to win. After games, he is available for interviews but doesn't play to the cameras and is candid without ripping his teammates. He never makes excuses -- in fact, once or twice a season he goes on a rant about how he is tired of excuses. Mostly, though, there is this: Raiola has given his whole career to the worst franchise in sports, yet he cares as much as he did when he was a rookie, maybe more. Trust me: That is hard. I know these guys make a lot of money to play a ..."
Schwartz: All losses created equally
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November 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"So, how are the Lions coping the day after a particularly deflating loss to the Rams? A bit strangely, if at all. For the first time this season, coach Jim Schwartz chose not to give an introductory statement and headed straight to questions at his afternoon news conference. In the locker room, tumbleweeds outnumbered players. Does anyone really want to rehash Sunday's 3-hour, 3-minute march of agony, otherwise known as the 17-10 loss to St. Louis? The funny thing is that Schwartz, like every other NFL coach, would not concede that this loss -- at home to a team riding a 17-game losing streak - was any different than losing to any other team. "A loss is a loss," he said. "Our issues don't ..."
What's the quest? To find Lions' broadcast ... but why?
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November 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"Now that was a chore. But no way the NFL blackout was going to shut us out. It took almost the whole first half, but justin.tv finally coughed up a link to Fox's Lions-Rams telecast, and it got dodgy late in the third quarter when we started getting hassled by the man. One link would be shut down and you had to jump to another -- we missed Matthew Stafford's fourth-quarter TD, for example -- before it finally settled down again. And the password for the final link apparently was intended to describe the matchup and can't be repeated here. Now the question is, which was the bigger waste of a Sunday afternoon: spending the first half looking for links to watch a Lions game or spending the ..."
Stafford: Hecklers won't 'run me out of town'
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November 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford shrugged off the hecklers that center Dominic Raiola told off late in Sunday's 17-10 loss to St. Louis. Here's the key quote Stafford made today during his weekly sponsored segment with Free Press columnist Mitch Albom on WJR-AM (760): "They're not going to run me out of town. I'm not too worried about it." Stafford said he was near the watercooler Sunday when he started getting it from fans, after throwing the ball out of bounds on fourth-and-20 on the Lions' final offensive play. "They want to win probably as bad as we do, and it's understandable," Stafford said. "They're going to get after guys when the team's not playing well. I like to ..."
Raiola: Show Stafford more patience than Joey
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November 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"After the Lions stalled on their final drive of Sunday's 17-10 loss to St. Louis, center Dominic Raiola voiced his displeasure with three or four fans at Ford Field who were heckling quarterback Matthew Stafford. "He's the guy here," Raiola said. "I was very disappointed when I came to the sideline and fans were telling him, 'Throw it to me' and 'I'm open' -- this, that and the other. I popped off and said something to the fans." Raiola, who was fined $7,500 last season for flipping off hecklers at Ford Field, did not specify his word choice. After Stafford threw four incomplete passes on the last drive, Raiola heard the taunts. "You want to pick on him, all right," Raiola said. "He's not ..."
Matthew Stafford appreciates Dominic Raiola's support
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November 3
Detroit News
 
"The catcalls from disgruntled fans are part of the initiation for Detroit quarterbacks. And rookie Matthew Stafford got his first taste of it Sunday in a 17-10 loss to St. Louis at Ford Field. Center Dominic Raiola got into it with fans behind the Lions' bench who were razzing Stafford late in the fourth quarter. And he reacted angrily in the postgame locker room, saying, "That just hit home with me. Because I've been through it with Joey (Harrington). They sent him packing, quick. They're not gonna do it to this guy. I'm gonna be right here next to him." Stafford was asked about Raiola's outburst Monday during his weekly WJR radio appearance. "He didn't say anything terrible," Stafford ..."
Rams' trick earns a treat
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November 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The last time Rams kicker Josh Brown launched a pass, he was playing eight-man football at tiny Foyil (Okla.) High. As of Sunday afternoon, Brown is one for one - with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 - as a pro. His short toss to tight end Daniel Fells on a fake field goal late in the first half resulted in a 36-yard touchdown and gave the Rams a 10-2 lead on their way to a 17-10 victory over the Detroit Lions. "I hadn't run a fake in seven years, in my time in the league," Brown said. "It worked to perfection." At first, the Rams lined up to go for a first down on fourth and 8 with 1 minute, 7 seconds left in the half. Quarterback Marc Bulger aborted the attempt by calling a timeout. ..."
Rams find daylight
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November 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"As with many things in the game of football, timing is everything when it comes to the celebratory Gatorade shower. "It's got to be perfect," defensive tackle Leger Douzable said. "It can't be too early, 'cause he'll see you. If it's too late, he might be already on the field." But like so many things this season for the woebegone Rams, it didn't come easy. When Douzable and safety James Butler - both former Giants who were with coach Steve Spagnuolo in New York - found the orange Gatorade bucket, it was ... empty. "So we had to put water in, get the ice," Butler said. "We had to do all that." But they did it, and so did the Rams. After 17 consecutive losses, over 378 days, St. Louis' ..."
Rams rise to challenge
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November 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Bryan Burwell
"Our local nightmare was at long last about to come to an end, only we didn't know it yet, and quite frankly, neither did Steven Jackson. He'd already endured 378 agonizing, disgusting, frustrating days and nights of winless football. And with less than 2 minutes to go Sunday afternoon in half-empty Ford Field, the rambunctious audience of 40,857 raw-lunged Lions fans were cranking up the noise and sensing that somehow, some way Jackson's woebegone Rams would figure out another excruciating way to extend a 17-game losing streak to one more luckless game. These Lions fans - connoisseurs of the unflattering art of NFL futility - thought they knew what a truly bad team looks like when it is on ..."
Jackson, Brown are stars for Rams
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November 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Steven Jackson's rushing heroics and kicker Josh Brown's touchdown pass were the attention grabbers in the Rams' 17-10 victory Sunday over Detroit, and rightfully so. Jackson's 25-yard touchdown run snapped a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter, and Brown's 36-yard TD pass to Daniel Fells on a fake field goal in the second quarter accounted for the Rams' only other touchdown. But the Rams' defense did its part, limiting the Lions and play-caller Scott Linehan to 10 points and 289 yards offense. Both were the second-lowest totals yielded in those categories by the Rams this season. Linehan, the Lions' offensive coordinator and former Rams head coach, kept the visiting team off-balance early ..."
Steven Jackson carries Rams to a 'W'
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November 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"After driving the defensive lineman in front of him to the ground, Rams center Jason Brown sneaked a peek downfield. And then he let out a whoop. "You look up and you see No. 39 getting smaller and smaller," Brown said, "and you say, 'Thank you ... thank you so much.'" The sight of running back Steven Jackson steaming toward the end zone in the final moments Sunday was a welcome - and long overdue - sight for the Rams. The last time they had walked off a field celebrating a win, Barack Obama was still the junior senator from Illinois. Jackson shed at least three would-be tacklers on his 25-yard burst off right tackle with 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining that gave him his first touchdown of ..."
Sorry Seven didn't get parity invitations
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November 2
Buffalo News
 columnist Mark Gaughan
"The bottom is falling out of the NFL this season. Every year there is a handful of really bad teams at the bottom. This year, however, there aren't just two, three or four dregs in the NFL. There are seven. For the first time since 1970, there are two 0-7 teams and one 0-6 team. Only once in the last 40 years — in 1985 — had there been three 0-6 teams. The Sorry Seven right now comprises: St. Louis (0-7), Tampa Bay (0-7), Tennessee (0-6), Cleveland (1-6), Kansas City (1-6), Detroit (1-5) and Oakland (2-5). We'll have to see if any other teams spiral downward and join this group. The increasing number of blowouts is another sign of the bad getting worse. Last week six of 13 games were ..."
With Megatron still sidelined, other WRsball
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November 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"Quarterback Matthew Stafford returned from his right knee injury Sunday against St. Louis and said he felt fine. But wide receiver Calvin Johnson did not return from his, and the Lions' passing game struggled in a 17-10 loss. Stafford, who missed the past two games, went 14-for-33 for 168 yards. He was often off-target. When he was on target or close to it, his teammates often dropped passes. The Lions dropped six passes in the first half. One resulted in an interception (and, strangely, a safety). Stafford threw eight passes intended for wide receivers through the first three quarters, according to the official statistics, but didn't complete one to a wide receiver until the fourth. "I ..."
How low can the Lions go?
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November 2
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika
"By at least a couple of measures, this was the worst matchup in NFL history. And the Lions lost. So where does that leave them? Rock bottom? They can only hope. Whenever you think the Lions have reached rock bottom, they find a way to sink lower. The latest debacle was Sunday's surreal 17-10 loss to St. Louis, in which the Lions scored a safety on the same play they threw an interception, allowed a touchdown pass by a kicker and collapsed at the end -- all before their smallest crowd in almost 20 years. "This is a game that we've got to find a way to win," coach Jim Schwartz said. "Way too many missed opportunities in this game. Way too many critical errors in this game at key positions." ..."
Show Stafford more patience than Harrington
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November 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"After the Lions stalled on their final drive of Sunday's 17-10 loss to St. Louis, center Dominic Raiola voiced his displeasure with three or four fans at Ford Field who were heckling quarterback Matthew Stafford. "He's the guy here," Raiola said. "I was very disappointed when I came to the sideline and fans were telling him, 'Throw it to me' and 'I'm open' -- this, that and the other. I popped off and said something to the fans." Raiola, who was fined $7,500 last season for flipping off hecklers at Ford Field, did not specify his word choice. After Stafford threw four incomplete passes on the last drive, Raiola heard the taunts. "You want to pick on him, all right," Raiola said. "He's not ..."
Lions told Stafford to chuck ball out of bounds at end of half
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November 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"There were four seconds left in the first half Sunday. The Lions faced fourth-and-2 at the Detroit 43, trailing, 10-2. Quarterback Matthew Stafford dropped back to pass as the Rams sat back in a prevent defense. But instead of throwing a Hail Mary pass into the end zone -- or even something shorter -- Stafford airmailed the ball out of bounds. "There were a couple incidents where we threw the ball away on purpose," coach Jim Schwartz said after the Lions' 17-10 loss to the Rams, raising the issue unprompted. "That last play of the first half, there's four seconds left. We don't want to punt. We're going to take a shot at the end zone, but they've got five across in the back end."
Comical loss to Rams was another classic Lions folly
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November 2
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"This was billed as the worst matchup in NFL history, and it lived up to the hype. A kicker threw a touchdown pass but the quarterbacks did not. The Lions scored on a classic play when both teams messed up: Lions receiver Aaron Brown tried to catch a pass, but instead he tipped it to the Rams' James Butler, who ran out of the end zone, then back into the end zone, where he was tackled for a safety. The play cut the Rams lead to 3-2 pending the extra pointlessness. The crowd of 40,857 had to wait another three quarters for this to end. For them, the key stat was 3 hours and 3 minutes. That was their Time of Incarceration. The game was strikingly awful, but in the end it felt awfully ..."
Dominic Raiola confronts fans, defends Stafford
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November 2
Detroit News
 
"Matthew Stafford was quick to shoulder his share of the blame -- and probably more -- after the Lions' 17-10 loss to the Rams on Sunday. But his veteran teammate, center Dominic Raiola, the team's offensive captain, took issue with the criticism Stafford was getting from what was left of the home crowd following the Lions' final, futile possession. "He had three or four guys yelling at him, 'Hey, Matt, throw it to me! I'm open, I'm open!' " Raiola said, his emotions starting to spill over in the postgame locker room. "Did they see what happened on the last drive? I don't think so. So if you want to call a guy out, know what you're talking about. Back him up. It's his first year here. You ..."
Lions' Maurice Morris makes case for two-back run game
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November 2
Detroit News
 
"Many successful teams in the NFL use a two-back system. The Lions might consider it, if only to help prevent injuries to Kevin Smith. The New York Giants have Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, each of whom had rushed for more than 450 yards entering Sunday. In Sunday's loss to the St. Louis Rams, Maurice Morris rushed 14 times for 63 yards, a 4.5-yard average per carry. Smith, who aggravated a shoulder injury and also had a foot problem, ran 16 times for 45 yards, a 2.8-yard average. "Did a good job, and that's why we signed Maurice in the offseason," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He's a running back that's proven in this league. And he's gonna need to carry a load for us. He had some ..."
Drops sink Lions chances against Rams
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November 2
Detroit News
 
"It's becoming apparent that no Calvin Johnson equals no offense for the Lions. Without the superstar receiver in the lineup, the Lions have managed just 17 points over their last 10 quarters -- and the lone receiving touchdown was by Dennis Northcutt against the Steelers. With Johnson sidelined for a second straight game because of a right-knee injury, the Lions needed someone -- anyone -- to step up from Sunday against the Rams. And what they got was practically nothing in a 17-10 loss. Only two of quarterback Matthew Stafford's 14 completions came from the receiver position. Northcutt dropped three passes and Bryant Johnson two. The Lions dropped six in the game. "Obviously a big ..."
Lions unable to best NFL-worst Rams
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November 2
Detroit News
 
"Somebody had to win Sunday's game between the Lions and St. Louis Rams, two teams that entered a half-empty Ford Field with a combined two wins in 45 games since the start of the 2008 season. But did it have to be the Lions? Well, yes, quite frankly. The way they played in a 17-10 loss to the Rams, who snapped a 17-game skid with their first win since Oct. 19, 2008, this was no fluke. And while it wasn't the sheer volume of dropped passes, missed tackles and bad penalties that dropped the home team's record to 1-6 -- same as the visitors' -- the Lions proved once again that their timing is impeccably bad. Asked what it felt like to celebrate a victory -- rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo got ..."
Lions' Stafford starts, injury sidelines Calvin Johnson
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November 2
Detroit News
 
"Matthew Stafford started at quarterback for the Lions as they hosted the St. Louis Rams Sunday at Ford Field. But top receiver Calvin Johnson missed his second consecutive game because of a right knee injury, despite returning to practice on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. Two other starters -- fullback Jerome Felton (shoulder) and defensive end Jason Hunter (ankle) -- also missed Sunday's game against the Rams. The other inactives for Jim Schwartz's team: cornerback Anthony Henry, guard Manny Ramirez, tackle Daniel Loper and safety Marvin White. Drew Stanton will be the emergency third quarterback."
Johnson out, Stafford in for Lions against Rams
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November 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will not play today against St. Louis, but quarterback Matthew Stafford will start. Both have had injured right knees. This will be the second game Johnson has missed. Stafford missed two games. Losing Johnson is a blow. He is the Lions' best player -- a deep threat -- and the Rams have been giving up a lot of deep passes. They have allowed 24 passes of 20 yards or more, tied for fourth-worst in the NFL. "The one thing that's going to happen, they'll play when they're ready, not to get out there before they're ready," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "That will be the evaluation. It won't be because of whatever. The evaluation's going to be are they ..."
It's scary, but Rams have a chance
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November 1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Bryan Burwell
"Halloween weekend is a particularly troubling time of the year in this rugged and depressed industrial city. For more than 20 years, the good civic-minded citizens of the Motor City have hit the streets on foot and on roller skates, on bicycles and small organized car patrols in hopes of averting the rather disturbing local holiday tradition. Halloween arson fires. Under the cover of night, packs of scoundrels annually roam the city streets setting fire to abandoned buildings and cars. No one has ever been able to figure out any rhyme or reason as to why this twisted Halloween ritual (they call it "Devil's Night") was started, but it has become a major civic embarrassment for this ..."
Lions' Stafford moves closer to start vs. Rams
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November 1
Detroit News
 
"All signs point to Matthew Stafford returning to the lineup as the Lions' starting quarterback Sunday at Ford Field against the St. Louis Rams, while receiver Calvin Johnson's status seems a bit more uncertain. "Both are progressing, and both will be game-time decisions," said coach Jim Schwartz, who likely will have a handful of starters back from injuries coming off a bye week. "But both of them made a lot of progress the last couple weeks. Like I said before, the bye has come at a good time for us. I don't think any of them are 100 percent yet, but they're getting closer." Stafford was on the field taking first-team snaps Friday -- as he has all week -- during the early portion of ..."
Lions rookie Pettigrew has growing pains
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October 31
Detroit Free Press
 
"When it comes to Lions rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew, everyone agrees on one thing. "I'm progressing slowly," Pettigrew said. "I'm expecting a lot more out of myself. I'm sure everybody else is, too. I definitely need to step my game up." "We expect more from him, too," coach Jim Schwartz said. "I think he expects more from himself. We need a lot out of him the last 10 games." The Lions drafted Pettigrew 20th overall this year because of his old-school, all-around ability to block, catch and break tackles. They think he can develop into a special player. One poor performance doesn't change that. Pettigrew struggled in the Lions' last game, a 26-0 loss Oct. 18 at Green Bay. Not only ..."
Stafford, Johnson will be game-time decisions
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October 31
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Friday quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be game-time decisions Sunday against St. Louis. Both are recovering from right knee injuries. Stafford has missed two games, Johnson one. Stafford has practiced all week. Johnson was limited Thursday and Friday. Both players were listed as questionable for Sunday's game on the injury report. "Both of them have made a lot of progress over the last couple weeks," Schwartz said. "I've said before: The bye came at a good time for us. I don't think any of them are 100% yet, but they're getting closer." Johnson seemed to do less Friday than he did Thursday in the portion of practice open to ..."
Phillip Buchanon's benching not 'wake-up call'
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October 31
Detroit Free Press
 
"Cornerback Phillip Buchanon was one of the Lions' big off-season acquisitions. He signed a reported $8.5-million, two-year deal in March and was expected to beef up a depleted secondary. He missed the opener at New Orleans with a neck injury. The severity caught coaches off guard. He started the second game against Minnesota and failed to contain Adrian Peterson on a long run. By the third game, Will James replaced Buchanon in the starting lineup. After three games on the bench, Buchanon started in place of Anthony Henry at Green Bay. Buchanon has declined repeated interview requests but Friday he finally spoke about his benching and other topics. "As far as I know, I was hurt," Buchanon ..."