Detroit Lions News

Safety Ko Simpson might start Lions camp on PUP
Comment
July 29
Michigan Live
 
"Veteran Ko Simpson, who would be one of the leading candidates to win a starting job at safety, could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Lions originally expected Simpson, who had microfracture surgery on his knee, to be ready for the start of camp. "It has lingered longer, yes,'' Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. The Lions are scheduled to report to camp by 6 p.m. Friday and go through a conditioning test Saturday morning. Schwartz said it will be after that process that a decision will be made on which players will begin camp on the PUP list."
Matthew Stafford should make a dramatic leap in his second season
Comment
July 29
Michigan Live
 
"For all the positives he possesses – arm strength, intelligence, savvy and leadership – Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford still has much to prove. Even with 10 NFL starts and his heroic made-for-TV performance in a come-from-behind, last-second 38-37 victory against Cleveland, Stafford has to show that he can perform – and win – on a consistent basis. There are a couple of big factors that would suggest he'll take a dramatic step forward in his second season: • Stafford is the unquestioned starter and will be taking almost all the snaps with the No. 1 offense throughout camp. Remember, Stafford and Daunte Culpepper split reps in camp last year and continued that into the final"
Lions Ndamukong Suh, Jahvid Best remain unsigned
Comment
July 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions are still working to sign first-round draft picks Ndamukong Suh (No. 2 overall) and Jahvid Best (No. 30) in time for the opening of training camp this week, but Suh runs a greater risk of falling behind if he misses time in camp. Best is a running back, and the Lions have used him in many roles from receiver to punt returner. But Best's position is not considered as technically difficult as Suh's defensive tackle position. "I think the running back can afford to miss more time than the defensive lineman can because the running back position is probably -- from a technical standpoint -- one of the easiest to come in and play," said Gil Brandt, Dallas' vice president of player"
After two years, linebacker Caleb Campbell finally gets to show the Lions what he is made of when players kick off training camp practice Saturday in Allen Park.
Comment
July 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"Campbell has been in limbo since the Lions drafted him in 2008 as a safety out of Army. Because of a military policy, Campbell had to give up his chance to play in the NFL until the Lions were able to sign him as a free agent in April following the completion of his two-year active duty service. Campbell, 6-feet-2 and 237 pounds, now gets to show the Lions how hard he can hit when he puts on the pads and tries to make an impact on the linebacker corps and special teams. "He does a really nice job in coverage," coach Jim Schwartz said during last month's minicamp. "He understands all the concepts. It's hard to say how he's doing yet because linebackers, you need to evaluate them coming"
Vikings again team to beat in North
Comment
July 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 columnist Wayne Larrivee
"Training camp opens this week around the NFL. The NFC North Division looks to be much improved from the bottom up this season and this should make for a much tighter race than we have seen in recent years. We've spent a good portion of the off-season focusing on the Packers, so let's take this opportunity to take a look at their division rivals. Minnesota VikingsThe Vikings are two-time defending division champions and obviously the team to beat, especially if Brett Favre returns at quarterback. They were the best team I saw last season. In the NFC Championship Game at New Orleans, the Minnesota defense was hammering the Saints offense into submission, but the Viking offense turned the"
Lions' tackle Jeff Backus continues to deliver solid performances
Comment
July 28
Michigan Live
 
"Whether it's because he's the poster boy for the Matt Millen era or because he committed the unpardonable sin of not being Orlando Pace or Jonathan Ogden, Detroit Lions tackle Jeff Backus continues to be a favorite whipping boy for Lions' cynics. It makes little sense. While it's true that Backus isn't the shut-down left tackle that was needed for the Mike Martz offense - and where his sack-allowed numbers ballooned - he has been exactly what the Lions wanted him to be when they took him with the 18th overall pick in 2001. Nobody thought he'd be a dominating 10-time Pro Bowl player, but they hoped that he'd be a solid 10-year starter at the valuable left tackle position. And that's exactly"
Lions Ndamukong Suh, Jahvid Best remain unsigned
Comment
July 28
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions are still working to sign first-round draft picks Ndamukong Suh (No. 2 overall) and Jahvid Best (No. 30) in time for the opening of training camp this week, but Suh runs a greater risk of falling behind if he misses time in camp. Best is a running back, and the Lions have used him in many roles from receiver to punt returner. But Best's position is not considered as technically difficult as Suh's defensive tackle position. "I think the running back can afford to miss more time than the defensive lineman can because the running back position is probably -- from a technical standpoint -- one of the easiest to come in and play," said Gil Brandt, Dallas' vice president of player"
Lions, Tigers fighting the odds of bringing title to Detroit
Comment
July 28
Detroit News
 columnist Bob Wojnowski
"As a sports fan, all you can reasonably demand is a shot. That's it. A shot, a chance. And right there is the wild appeal of the NFL, which will remain America's most popular league, right up until it enters a colossally stupid labor lockout in 2011. As training camps open this week, most teams think they have a shot to reach the playoffs. Some are completely delusional, but many are correct. At least one national expert whose identity I will dutifully protect -- suffice to say, he's one of the Kings of the business -- even considers the Lions in the mix, sort of. Of 32 NFL teams, he removes only four (St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Cleveland) from playoff consideration. Myself, I'd"
Jared DeVries has gained the 'trust' of Lions coaching staff
Comment
July 27
Michigan Live
 
"Here's a word that coaches rarely use when talking about players, but it was recently used to describe Detroit Lions veteran defensive end Jared DeVries: trust. It might sound like a little thing when it comes to playing football but the reason 90 percent of football coaches - or any coaches, for that matter - prefer veterans over young players is because of the trust factor. Coaches don't like surprises. They want a player who they can count on and a performance that won't fluctuate from down to down. Going into his 11th NFL season, DeVries isn't the most talented defensive end on the roster, but he is one of the most dependable. The Lions know what they're going to get out of DeVries on"
Ndamukong Suh says he's heading to Detroit, but a signing is not imminent
Comment
July 27
Michigan Live
 
"In a recent tweet, Detroit Lions first-round pick Ndamukong Suh says he's packing his bags and heading to Detroit. While that's certainly a good sign for Lions' fans, no signing is imminent. There are two conflicting signals about this situation. On the positive side, the Lions have been very encouraged by Suh's attitude that he wants to be in camp on time. So far, talks have gone very well between Lions president Tom Lewand and Suh's agent, Eugene Parker. However, Suh is the only player taken in the top five who is not represented by agent Tom Condon's firm. It would seem to make sense for Parker to wait for the contracts to come in for No. 1 pick Sam Bradford and No. 3 pick Gerald McCoy"
Lions' Jonathan Wade starting with clean slate
Comment
July 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"One of the biggest mysteries for the Lions as they begin training camp this week is the secondary. Other than second-year safety Louis Delmas, the defensive backs are all vying for the three remaining starting jobs. Jonathan Wade, whom coach Jim Schwartz called the team's most consistent cornerback in the off-season, could have an inside track. But Wade will have to fend off Chris Houston and Dre' Bly. Wade, 26, was known for his speed when St. Louis picked him in the third round out of Tennessee in 2007, the year he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at the NFL combine. His first two years, Wade started only two games. Last year, Wade started the first four games, but then he was"
The four Lions (and one coach) crucial to success
Comment
July 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"At the beginning of each NFL season, hope springs eternal in 32 cities. It's no different this year, even in Detroit, which has seen the Lions win a total of two games in two years. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew always has seen the commitment from owner William Clay Ford to put a better product on the field. Of course, it hasn't worked out recently: The Lions have two victories over two seasons. But the effort, Mayhew said, is still there from Ford, and that's what drives him, coach Jim Schwartz and president Tom Lewand to deliver a winner. "He deserves it," Mayhew said last month. "His commitment to the city putting the stadium downtown, his commitment to this organization with our"
ESPN finds stadium vendor violations in Metro Detroit, U.S.
Comment
July 27
Detroit News
 
"Most of the food vendors at Metro Detroit's four major sports stadiums have been cited for critical safety violations -- including reports of roaches, employees not washing hands and food left at unsafe temperatures -- over the past year, according to a report by national sports cable network ESPN. Reporters at ESPN looked at food service inspections at 107 stadiums and arenas nationwide. They found that at least half the vendors had a critical violation at more than one-quarter of those facilities, including Ford Field, Joe Louis Arena and Comerica Park. "(That) tells consumers that they should be very concerned about some of the food that they are eating and purchasing in a lot of these"
Lions, top picks in waiting game
Comment
July 27
Detroit News
 
"It's not your money. It's just your patience. But if you've waited this long for the Lions to land a defensive star with this much promise, what's a few more days, if that's what it takes? No news isn't necessarily good news at this point when it comes to contract negotiations with rookie Ndamukong Suh. Ditto fellow first-round pick Jahvid Best. Still, it's hardly bad news with most NFL players not scheduled to report for training camp until later this week. For the Lions, the reporting date is Friday, though the players won't get on the field until Saturday for their first practice, so even that's a soft deadline. Just don't expect Lions president Tom Lewand to keep everyone apprised of"
After getting derailed, Sammie Hill's progress with Lions is back on track
Comment
July 26
Michigan Live
 
"With all of the additions the Detroit Lions have made to their defensive line, the perception is that second-year player Sammie Hill has been pushed to the brink of obscurity. Not true. While the trade for veteran Corey Williams and the drafting of second overall pick Ndamukong Suh mean that Hill has no chance to start, he's still going to get a significant amount of playing time. With the swift rotation that NFL teams use on the defensive line these days, Hill is being counted on to make plays, especially in the running game. Hill is still a work in progress - a progress that was interrupted a couple of times last season. Hill, a fourth-round pick from small Stillman College in Alabama,"
Lions QB Matthew Stafford has more options on third down
Comment
July 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions struggled to convert third downs last season and this year it has become an area of emphasis for the offense. The Lions converted 35.9% of their third-down attempts last season, when they went 0-for-10 in a game at Green Bay, and ranked 24th out of 32 teams in that category. Third-down conversions are important because they keep drives alive and keep the defense off the field. "I think just emphasizing it coming into this off-season, being good on third down and especially third-and-short to medium we've got to be really good," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "We've got the personnel to do it, and we've got to be able to convert, and we've put a lot of emphasis on it, and it's"
It's too soon to saddle Lions coach Jim Schwartz with heavy expectations
Comment
July 25
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Drew Sharp
"When you have been as historically horrid as the Lions, you are better off worrying less about meeting outrageous projections like winning five games in the same season, but rather concentrating first on solving the little problems. Like calling plays during the game that you actually practiced during the week. The opposite occurred during the stumble toward 0-16 two years ago. Players couldn't believe that a coaching staff -- whose No. 1 priority is organization -- attempted to execute various schemes during games without developing the necessary consistency through practice repetition. Nobody fears that happening again under Jim Schwartz. You want a positive? There's a positive. You've"
NFL players, owners gearing up for nasty bargaining battle
Comment
July 25
Detroit News
 columnist Tim Twentyman
"The NFL is heading headlong to a nasty debate between the owners and the players association over a new collective bargaining agreement. For a deal to get done, both sides are going to have to meet in the middle. If it becomes a game a chicken, fans could be looking at no football in 2011. For that not to happen, it appears the players are going to have to give up some of their piece of the $8 billion annual pie the NFL brings in. The last time the NFL and players agreed to a CBA deal was in 2006, and that deal rewarded the players essentially 60 percent of revenues. The salary cap jumped from $80 million per team to $102 million under the new deal, and the cap has grown every year since."
Lions itching to show they're better than, say, 5-11
Comment
July 25
Detroit News
 columnist Bob Wojnowski
"It's Detroit's last Unscratched Itch, and I swear, fans will scratch until it bleeds. The Lions open training camp in less than a week, that annual cherished moment when the record is unblemished, when positive things actually seem possible. People cringe and gnash and hope, but they rarely look away. Yes, apathy set in during Matt Millen's reign of terror, but that's gone, replaced by something noticeably more urgent. All around the NFL, pundits are damning the Lions with faint praise, basically summed up like this: "They're still not good, but they won't be embarrassing anymore!" I'll tell you exactly what the Lions' record will be, even before I see the first practice Saturday, even"
Pressure up front is the key to Lions' defensive success
Comment
July 24
Detroit News
 
"Defensive success in the NFL is predicated on having a strong line. A strong line creates pressure in the passing game, can disrupt running games and helps cover weaknesses in the back seven. While the Lions' defensive line in 2009 was slightly improved over 2008, it still didn't make the grade. The run defense surrendered 127 rushing yards per game, ranking 25th in the NFL, and recorded 26 sacks (29th). In 2008, the Lions allowed 172 rushing yards (last) and had 30 sacks (16th). What can be expected in 2010? Well, the additions of end Kyle Vanden Bosch and tackles Corey Williams and Ndamukong Suh certainly make the outlook promising. Along with Vanden Bosch, Williams and Suh, the Lions"
Lions realized value of guard Stephen Peterman last season
Comment
July 23
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Lions thought enough of guard Stephen Peterman last season to give him a long-term contract but that doesn't mean they didn't eventually take him for granted. Peterman is a solid veteran, who shows up every day, works hard and does his job. The Lions didn't realize how well he did that job until he missed the final seven games of the season with a foot injury. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said he really wasn't aware of how good Peterman was until he tried to replace him. A third-round pick by the Cowboys in 2004 draft, Peterman fell out of favor in Dallas because of a couple of injuries early in his career. The Lions picked him up in the middle of the 2006 season but really"
Lions' Brandon Pettigrew looking good in off-season
Comment
July 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions suffered plenty of injuries to key players last season, but tight end Brandon Pettigrew's left knee injury was among the worst. Pettigrew was beginning to hit his stride when he suffered his torn anterior cruciate ligament against Green Bay on Thanksgiving Day. Since then, it's been a slow road back as he works carefully to return for his second season. "That's a long, long rehab to come back from an ACL, and you better be a tough guy to be able to go through it," coach Jim Schwartz said last month as Pettigrew took part in minicamp. "And it's not a one-day thing. You can't go fast and then take a week off and then go fast. It's a slow, steady. You have to show up every single"
Lions' Ndamukong Suh, Jahvid Best have yet to sign, but are expected to by camp
Comment
July 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions' two first-round draft picks, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and running back Jahvid Best, remain unsigned as training camp approaches next week. But if history is any indication, they will miss little or no time at all in camp. Over the 10 previous years, the Lions drafted 12 players in the first round. Only three, all receivers, were holdouts. Roy Williams and Mike Williams each missed two days of camp practice and Calvin Johnson missed eight days in 2007. The Lions haven't had a lengthy holdout by a first-round pick since cornerback Bryant Westbrook missed 27 days in 1997. All because of a simple philosophy."
Lions' Ndamukong Suh, other top picks wait to see what Rams will pay Bradford
Comment
July 23
Detroit News
 
"The Lions have signed all of their draft picks except first-rounders Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best. But the Lions aren't the only one waiting to get first-round picks under contract. With some training camps set to open today, there is only one first-round pick under contract -- wide receiver Dez Bryant, the No. 24 pick, and the Cowboys reached an agreement Thursday. There are a number of potential reasons for that -- 2010 being an uncapped year or the likely implementation of a rookie salary scale after this season -- but the main reason, according to some agents, is that No. 1 pick Sam Bradford has yet to sign his deal. "The first pick hasn't signed yet and sometimes this is the way it"
Lions' signing of cornerback Jonathan Wade a win-win situation
Comment
July 22
Michigan Live
 
"The signing of cornerback Jonathan Wade was a win-win situation for both the Detroit Lions and the four-year veteran - even if neither side gets exactly what they want. For the Lions, Wade is an upgrade in depth at cornerback, the weakest position on the team. Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan drafted him in the third round (84th overall) when Linehan was the head coach with the St. Louis Rams and knows what a quality person he is and that he'll bring some speed and toughness to the Detroit secondary. The Lions would like to see Wade, who started four games in St. Louis last year, progress in his development and earn a full-time starting job. Even if he doesn't, the Lions still"
Lions offensive line must be more consistent
Comment
July 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"One might consider the offensive line the engine of a team. In that regard, the Lions hope the unit doesn't stall out like last season. Poor play and injuries led to several personnel changes and kept the offensive line from attaining consistency. Manny Ramirez and Daniel Loper couldn't nail down the job at left guard, creating a revolving door there. Stephen Peterman was injured and left a big hole at right guard, and Gosder Cherilus struggled at right tackle, even getting benched at one point. Center Dominic Raiola and left tackle Jeff Backus were the only consistent performers. Coach Jim Schwartz spoke last month about the unit achieving continuity. "That'll develop from training camp,""
Lions: Not good, but getting better
Comment
July 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"So how are the pundits viewing the Lions with training camp looming? The comments trickling in are cautiously optimistic: ESPN's Adam Schefter said: "If Matthew Stafford can continue to grow, and if the Lions' defense can get a little bit better and their running game comes around some, then the Lions actually could be competitive in the NFC North, which is something Detroit hasn't seen in recent seasons." "No, I think they're waiting for Bobby Layne to return," anchor John Anderson said."
Lions' Matthew Stafford 11th in earnings among U.S. athletes
Comment
July 22
Detroit News
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is No. 11 among the highest-earning American athletes, according to a report. Stafford will earn $27.6 million in salary and endorsements in 2010, according to Sports Illustrated's annual list of the "Fortunate 50" -- the top 50 American money makers in sports. Of Stafford's total, $750,000 is from endorsements. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, who is No. 1 on the list, took in $70 million in endorsements and more than $20 million in prize money for a grand total of $90,508,163."
Emmitt Smith's rushing record won't be threatened anytime soon
Comment
July 22
Detroit News
 
"Emmitt Smith's final rushing attempt in the NFL was Jan. 2, 2005. That ended a 15-year career that produced 18,355 yards -- the highest career rushing total in NFL history, bettering the 16,726 amassed by Walter Payton. It's a record some believe may never be surpassed. "I do believe it will be approached," Smith told reporters. "I would be naive to think that it could be not approached because hey, no one actually thought Walter Payton's record could be approached. "(But) it's going to take an awful lot to get there because I know what it took for me to get there. It's not easy." If Smith's record is eclipsed, it won't be soon. LaDainian Tomlinson is the active leader (12,490), but he's"
Aaron Brown needs more than speed to escape Lions' doghouse
Comment
July 21
Michigan Live
 
"After a year of thinking of all the possibilities for Detroit Lions running back Aaron Brown - running back, slot receiver, wingback, etc. - it boils down to one thing: kick returner. If Brown is going to make the Lions' roster this season, he'll have to do it as a return man - and also have value on other special teams as well. Word is that offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is nowhere near the point where he feels he can trust Brown in the offense. Brown simply makes too many mental mistakes. Who can forget quarterback Matthew Stafford turning around to fake a handoff to Brown - who went in the wrong direction - sending Stafford running for his life? Brown's brilliant speed is"
Lions' kickoff luncheon set for Sept. 1
Comment
July 21
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions will host their annual kickoff luncheon to introduce players and coaches Sept. 1 at Ford Field. Players and coaches will sit at the tables with fans who attend the luncheon. Each person who attends the event will receive a copy of the team's yearbook. Coach Jim Schwartz will be one of the speakers, and Lions radio announcers Dan Miller and Jim Brandstatter will serve as masters of ceremonies. Tickets are $70 per person and $700 for tables of 10. According to the team, the first 500 tickets sold are assured of having a player or coach as the 11th person at the table."
Lions, unsigned Ndamukong Suh talking big money
Comment
July 21
Detroit News
 
"With the start of NFL training camps rapidly approaching and no first-round draft picks signed, the agent for Lions rookie Ndamukong Suh is using only one reference point in negotiations for his client. Suh's value to the Lions is all that counts, agent Roosevelt Barnes insists. That rules out using previous rookie contracts as a negotiating standard -- including the six-year deal signed last year by quarterback Matthew Stafford, drafted first overall by the Lions. Stafford's contract had $41.7 in guaranteed money, a rookie record. Suh, a dominating defensive tackle from Nebraska and one of the most celebrated collegiate linemen in recent years, was drafted second overall by the Lions."
Matthew Stafford among Lions who need to shine brightest
Comment
July 20
Detroit News
 
"The Lions have had one -- one-- winning record the past 10 seasons. And Lions fans have been mostly supportive, waiting for the franchise to break out and give them a chance to cheer. After an offseason in which the team improved the roster through a number of free-agent acquisitions and the draft, it seems the fans' dreams may be coming true. But to improve on a 2-14 record from 2009, some things still must happen."
Lions' Cliff Avril turns left after Kyle Vanden Bosch's claim on right
Comment
July 19
Detroit Free Press
 
"One of the big position battles shaping up on defense is the starting job at left end. Cliff Avril thinks he's up to the challenge. Avril started 11 of 13 games at right end last season. He had a team-high 5 1/2 sacks and led the defensive line with 41 tackles. "I'm definitely excited to go there and do what I know I can do, which is get to the quarterback and play fast," Avril said. "Especially the way we're playing now, I definitely feel like I can be that left end. Now it's just going out there and proving it." Since Kyle Vanden Bosch joined the Lions as a free agent in March, there's been a no-vacancy sign hanging over the right end position. That leaves Avril, Jason Hunter and Jared"
C.C. Brown starting his career over with Lions
Comment
July 19
Detroit News
 
"The way C.C. Brown sees it, he and the Lions make "perfect" sense. "They're in a rebuilding stage," said Brown, a veteran safety who signed with Detroit as a free agent in early May. "And you could say pretty much I'm in a rebuilding stage, trying to rebuild my career and get back to how it was in Houston. So it was a perfect fit for me." Now it's his job to go about proving it. Brown, 27, was a four-year starter for the Texans from 2005-08, and the 6-foot, 208-pound safety started seven games last season for the New York Giants after Kenny Phillips went down with a knee injury. But Brown was benched in early November after getting beat deep more than once during a three-game losing"
Drew Stanton's career with Detroit Lions apparently winding down
Comment
July 18
Michigan Live
 
"For all intents and purposes, Shaun Hill's contract extension has started the clock ticking on Drew Stanton's career with the Detroit Lions. Hill, a backup quarterback acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, recently extended his contract through the 2011 season. That means that Stanton, currently Detroit's No. 3 quarterback, will likely be playing elsewhere after this season. The Lions view Hill as a solid No. 2 because of his experience, accuracy knowledge, savvy and leadership and Stanton has almost no chance of unseating him - not this year, not next year. Stanton is going into his fourth NFL season and this might be his last shot to prove that he can be a No. 2 quarterback"
Martin Mayhew: QB Matthew Stafford 'becoming a veteran and a pro'
Comment
July 18
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was praised often as a rookie last season for a big arm and football intelligence. But Stafford's second year will be his first full season with the team, with a full complement of off-season preparation. General manager Martin Mayhew said he already has been able to see the difference in Stafford this year. "I think he lost some of that newness and that rookie (aspect) and that sort of everything was new to him," Mayhew said during last month's minicamp. "I think he's becoming a veteran and a pro. I think he's communicating with the receivers more. I think that's big. And he's developing a good rapport with Calvin (Johnson), which is important." Besides"
Rookie Jason Fox is prepared to be a patient pro with Lions
Comment
July 18
Detroit News
 
"Jason Fox is trying to get used to the fact that he's at the bottom of the offensive line totem pole. Fox, Detroit's fourth-round pick out of Miami, was working with the third and fourth units this spring and during minicamp. And that's an unusual position for the tackle to be facing. Fox started as a freshman in college and eventually totaled 47 career starts. Among Miami offensive linemen, only Mike Sullivan (1987-90) and Richard Mercier (1995-96, 1998-99) totaled more, with 48. The only other Miami players with more starts at any position are safety Ed Reed (48, 1998-2001) and defensive tackle William Joseph (50, 1999-2002). "They've told me that throughout training camp I'll get reps"
Signs point to QB Drew Stanton leaving Lions after 2010
Comment
July 18
Detroit News
 
"It seems the writing is on the wall for Lions quarterback Drew Stanton. Obviously, Stanton has no shot at supplanting Matthew Stafford as the starting quarterback. And with the team signing backup Shaun Hill to a one-year extension earlier this week, it's unlikely he'll ever climb above No. 3 without Stafford or Hill becoming injured. Stanton is heading into the final year of a four-year rookie contract that will pay him a little more than $1 million this season. Stanton is fairly cheap for an experienced NFL quarterback -- in NFL terms -- and he knows the offense, which means he won't need a lot of reps. But when it comes to re-signing Stanton, I get the sense the Lions are ready to admit"
Dennis Northcutt has to win duel with young guns to make Lions' roster
Comment
July 17
Michigan Live
 
"Under normal circumstances, when you can do a lot of things very well -- including get open, catch the ball and return kicks - that's a huge benefit in your favor. However, that might not be the case for Detroit Lions receiver Dennis Northcutt. The problem is that Northcutt is 32 years old and going into his 11th NFL season and, while he did a solid job in several areas for the Lions last year, the team will be looking to get a little younger at some of those positions. The receiver spot is especially troublesome because the Lions already have their top three locked down - Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and Bryant Johnson. That leaves two spots for Northcutt to battle with several younger"
Lions' Nate Burleson wants to prove he's worth the money
Comment
July 17
Detroit Free Press
 
"Money talks, and the five-year, $25-million contract receiver Nate Burleson signed with the Lions in March spoke volumes. But Burleson figured he should add a few words of his own when he met with the veteran receivers on his new team. "When I first met with them, I talked," Burleson said. "I said: 'Hey, look. I just signed here. The politics of football is that I'm going to play, just because I got paid.' But my job is to come in and prove that I'm worth the money and give you guys everything that I've got. I'm going to go out every day and try to be the best receiver on the field and have the most catches, try to make the most plays and stand out the most. And I think they respected"
Lions' Jonathan Wade sees playoffs, Pro Bowl in his future
Comment
July 16
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions haven't even started training camp, but cornerback Jonathan Wade already is talking about the playoffs and making a Pro Bowl. The fourth-year player wants to make amends for the struggles he and his new team have experienced. The Lions signed Wade in March after St. Louis failed to tender him as a restricted free agent. In three seasons with the Rams, Wade started six games and was benched last year. The Lions have won two games over two seasons, but Wade's confidence and his expectations are soaring. "I have some high, high, high goals," Wade said during last month's minicamp. "I'm very, very upset about the way my career has been thus far and I blame it all on me. I'm going to"
Lions didn't draft Jason Fox with the intent of seeing him on field this season
Comment
July 15
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Lions didn't draft Miami offensive tackle Jason Fox in the fourth round this year with the intention of seeing him much on the field this season. Fox was drafted because the Lions for, oh, about the last 10 years, have done a poor job of replenishing the offensive line with young players. Jeff Backus remains solid at left tackle and Gosder Cherilus (with some possible help from Jon Jansen) should take care of the right tackle spot. The Lions hope Fox can develop into a solid player who might either eventually take over for Backus (who is going into 10th season) or, if Cherilus continues to struggle, pressure for a starting spot on the right side. How soon that might happen is"
Finally, there's no Lions QB controversy
Comment
July 15
Detroit Free Press
 
"Matthew Stafford, the Lions' kid QB, still has his looks. He's only in his second season, but he won't always look so young. He plays a position that ages you like the presidency. What has accelerated the aging of Lions quarterbacks over the years hasn't just been Deacon Jones, Dick Butkus, Reggie White or the Minnesota Vikings. It's been the enemy within. Milt Plum spent more time battling Earl Morrall and Karl Sweetan than he did the Lions' opponents. Same with Greg Landry, who was so busy fending off Bill Munson, then Gary Danielson, he hardly had any energy left for the Packers, Bears, et al. On and on it went. Danielson and Eric Hipple. Hipple and Chuck Long. Rodney Peete and Erik"
Oddsmakers betting on 5 wins for the Lions this season
Comment
July 14
Detroit Free Press
 
"The sportsbook Betus.com has set the Detroit Lions' projected win total at five for this season. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com are slightly more generous with a projection of 5 1/2 wins. The Lions have won more than five games once in the past five seasons, going 7-9 in 2007. Here's some analysis in a story posted on Betus.com about the win projection: "Last season the Lions went just 2-14, however, so the total makes sense in that respect. They only managed to beat the Redskins and the Browns, and they lost all their road games. But in an odd way, the season seemed like a bit of a step forward for the battered Detroit franchise.""
Lions backup QB Shaun Hill gets one-year extension
Comment
July 13
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions agreed to terms Monday with backup quarterback Shaun Hill on a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2011. Hill was acquired in March from the San Francisco 49ers in a trade for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick. Hill, 30, is an eight-year veteran with a connection to Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Hill started in the NFL with Minnesota in 2002 and played three seasons under Linehan while Linehan was the Vikings' offensive coordinator. He spent the past four seasons with the 49ers, going 10-6 as a starter."
Lions' president Tom Lewand should face 1-game suspension
Comment
July 13
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"What Tom Lewand needs more than anything is empathy and help. The Lions' president pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while visibly impaired last week after his much-publicized arrest June 25, and he has said, very candidly, that he has a drinking problem and needs to deal with it. The question is: how? Lewand is fighting a battle on three fronts: personal, legal, professional. He is entitled to confront the personal part privately; Lewand has described himself as a person in recovery, and there is no reason for that recovery to play itself out publicly, unless he chooses to make it public. He addressed the legal case swiftly, and that is an indication that he is taking responsibility."
Julian Peterson should be in better situation to make plays for Lions
Comment
July 13
Detroit News
 
"Lions veteran linebacker Julian Peterson took one for the team last season. Because of a dreadful pass-rushing defensive line, the Lions asked Peterson to leave his comfort zone and play defensive end in certain situations. It was a role Peterson accepted, but rushing left tackles from a three-point stance isn't how he got to five Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors three times. With the upgrades the Lions made on the defensive line this offseason, Peterson gets a chance to do what he does best -- blitz standing up from all over the field."
Lions sign quarterback Shaun Hill for two years
Comment
July 13
Detroit News
 
"The Lions have signed veteran quarterback Shaun Hill to a one-year contract extension through the 2011 season. The Lions acquired Hill, an eight-year veteran, from the 49ers for a seventh-round pick in the 2011 draft this offseason. The upcoming season was to have been the last year on his contract."
Refocused Jason Hanson ready to prove doubters wrong
Comment
July 12
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew raised some eyebrows a few months ago when, speaking about kicker Jason Hanson, he said the team needed to take a look at Hanson in the off-season to see where he was at. It was an indication the Lions weren't totally happy with Hanson's performance and were considering making a change. It's been said before and bears repeating - if the Lions are interested in getting rid of Hanson, there will be at least 12 teams eager to sign him immediately. Kickers with excellent field goal accuracy aren't easy to find, especially those with Hanson's range. At this point, there doesn't appear to be any chance the Lions are thinking of removing Hanson, who"