Detroit Lions News

Lions 100-1 to win Super Bowl
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February 9
Detroit Free Press
 
"There's much more rebuilding to be done before the Lions win their first Lombardi Trophy. At least that's what the oddsmakers say. Internet sports books Bodog and BetUS.com each give the Lions 100-1 odds to win next year's Super Bowl. Among the Bodog odds, that's tied for last among NFL teams along with the Bills, Browns, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Raiders and Rams. (Bodog also had the Lions and Chiefs last at 100-1 on this date last year.) BetUS.com has the Rams worse at 150-1. Along with the Lions at 100-1 are the Bills, Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders. The Browns are 90-1."
Colts 7-1 favorites, Lions 100-1 to win next year's Super Bowl
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February 9
Detroit News
 
"The Saints and Colts, the teams in Sunday's Super Bowl, are among the favorites to make a return trip next year. The Colts are 7-1 favorites to win their second Super Bowl next season, followed by the Chargers at 8-1 and the Saints at 9-1, according to oddsmakers at BetUS.com. The Lions are among five teams at 100-1. Super Bowl XLV will be on Feb. 6 at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas."
LeBeau says Karras, Walker should be in Hall
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February 8
Detroit Free Press
 
"Twice in four years, the Lions have had one of their former stars selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tight end Charlie Sanders made it in 2007. Cornerback Dick LeBeau made it Saturday. When LeBeau is enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio, he will become the 13th member of the Hall of Fame who played at least four seasons for the Lions, the 18th who played at least one season for them. But the Lions have only one Hall of Famer who played for them after 1977, running back Barry Sanders, who starred in 1989-98 and was inducted into the Hall in 2004. And the Lions have no obvious candidates on the horizon. Asked who else he thought should be in the Hall of Fame, LeBeau brought up ..."
Lions can learn from Saints', Colts' rebuilding
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February 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"From a Detroit perspective, it's the same old story. How does Team X make the Super Bowl while the Lions keep losing? Can the Lions learn anything or draw inspiration? Last year, the Cardinals made it. This year, the Saints made it. Two former laughingstocks in a row. The Lions are the only team that has played throughout the Super Bowl era never to play in the game. But to Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in last year's NFL draft, the angle is fresh and new. And as he looks at today's Super Bowl between the Saints and Colts, he envisions the future. "There's hope from both of those teams that we'll be able to get here," Stafford said. The Saints were in worse shape than ..."
Former Lions defensive back Dick LeBeau voted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
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February 7
Michigan Live
 
"Dick LeBeau, fearing that his 33-year wait to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame might take even longer, refused to travel to Florida to wait for the final results. He should've made the trip. LeBeau, who played cornerback for 14 years for the Detroit Lions, was voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. "I just can't believe it, honestly,'' LeBeau said. "They say anything worth having is worth waiting for.'' LeBeau, along with former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little, was named as a finalist by the Senior Committee. LeBeau and Little both made the Hall by collecting more than 80 percent of the vote by the 44-member selection committee. LeBeau is the newest Lions member since ..."
Dick LeBeau makes Hall of Fame
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February 7
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The 33-year wait for Dick LeBeau to become a Hall of Famer ended on Saturday when the former Bengals head coach was elected as a senior nominee. He is the fourth player or coach with some type of ties to the Bengals to be elected to Canton. The others are Paul Brown, tackle Anthony Munoz and wide receiver Charlie Joiner. "They say anything worth happening is worth waiting for," LeBeau said after hearing that he was elected. "I can't express how happy I am that the moment is finally here. It can't be any more rewarding. To have my name besides the members of this class is truly humbling." Even though it was almost a certainty that he would be elected, LeBeau was not in South Florida and ..."
Dick LeBeau finally gets Hall of Fame nod
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February 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"Dick LeBeau said he tried not to think too much about what he called "a lifelong dream." So much time had passed, it might have seemed like he would never make it. But Saturday, 38 years since the end of his career as a Lions cornerback, LeBeau was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a senior candidate. LeBeau will be enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio, with guard Russ Grimm, linebacker Rickey Jackson, running back Floyd Little, defensive tackle John Randle, wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back Emmitt Smith. "There's something to say about longevity and sticking in there and holding onto your dreams," said LeBeau, 72. "But it's just unbelievable. I'm so thrilled, so ..."
Jets' Mark Sanchez: Lions QB Matthew Stafford is 'only going to be a bright spot for Detroit'
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February 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez won two playoff games as a rookie. Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford won only two games, period. But in many ways, they're still neck-and-neck. "I knew he was a competitor going into the season, all the stuff we did pre-draft," Sanchez said today while making the rounds at the Super Bowl XLIV media center. "We were competing like crazy against each other, trying to be the first quarterback taken and all that. "Just an unbelievable kid. I love seeing him do well, and he's only going to be a bright spot for Detroit. They've got a player there. They'll build around him and get things going." The quarterbacks had almost identical statistics during the regular ..."
Lions should not take Russell Okung over Gerald McCoy
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February 5
Detroit News
 
"ESPN's Mel Kiper, draft expert, answered questions from NFL fans on ESPN.com. Among them: "Why do you think the Lions should draft Gerald McCoy when they desperately need help on the O-line and need to keep Matt Stafford healthy? Don't you think Russell Okung makes sense as a big improvement?" McCoy is a defensive tackle from Oklahoma and generally regarded as the No. 2 pick in the draft. The Lions have the second selection behind the Rams. Russell Okung is an offensive tackle from Oklahoma State. Here is how Kiper responded: "When you pick at No. 2, you simply have to get the best guy there, particularly if he addresses a big need directly. And Detroit was terrible up front last season. ..."
Lions' Kevin Smith is reconsidering shoulder surgery
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February 5
Michigan Live
 
"According to a league source, Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith, who was expected to have offseason shoulder surgery, is continuing to seek more medical opinions and might not have the surgery after all. It was believed that Smith, who is recovering from knee surgery, was delaying the operation on his shoulder until after he got off crutches. However, Smith might opt to repair the shoulder through rehabilitation instead. Smith tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Baltimore Ravens and had the injury surgically repaired a short time later. He already had been playing with two sore shoulders, injuries he suffered earlier in the season."
Matthew Stafford chimes in on Lions' offseason needs
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February 5
Detroit News
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is feeling good about his health. And feeling good about improving his team's outlook this spring, too. Stafford, making the rounds in south Florida as a celebrity spokesperson at Super Bowl XLIV, said his right knee "feels good" five-plus weeks after arthroscopic surgery "I'm just rehabbing it now, getting some strength back in it," he said. He'll be in Detroit on Monday to meet with the Lions' medical staff, then head to Birmingham, Ala., for a checkup with Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery Dec. 29. He said he'll start throwing again in a couple weeks back home in Dallas, and says he'll be ready to go when the Lions begin offseason workouts ..."
NFL players preparing for 2011 lockout
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February 5
Boston Globe
 
"As collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NFL Players Association and the NFL owners continue to drag, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said he expects the owners to lock out the players before the 2011 season. Chad Ochocinco, representing OCNN, asked the first question of a press conference this afternoon in which the NFLPA laid out their message. He asked Smith how worried he is about a lockout next season. "On a scale of 1 to 10," Smith said, "it's a 14." Smith said he and NFLPA president Kevin Mawae have informed players to save 25 percent of their paychecks in order to prepare for a lockout. Mawae said negotiations for a CBA have been "frustrating" and moved ..."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford says rehab going well
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February 4
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is scheduled to participate in athlete performance testing Friday. But don't worry. It's just a promotional appearance for Gatorade. All he'll be doing is riding a stationary bike. The right knee he had scoped in December is just fine. "I feel good," Stafford said Wednesday, relaxing in the green room before an ESPN interview amid the hoopla of Super Bowl XLIV. "I've been lifting on my leg, working it out." Stafford has been rehabbing in his hometown of Dallas with the same doctor who scoped his left knee in high school. "It's still in the rehab phase, but I'm moving around, doing a lot of stuff with it," Stafford said. "It's more strength now than ..."
Lions QB Matthew Stafford is a super celeb
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February 4
Detroit Free Press
 
""Which color am I?" Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford asked Wednesday morning while relaxing in the green room before an ESPN interview. "You're yellow." The marketing man was sitting across from Stafford holding a schedule of his clients' appearances. It was so crazy, it was color-coded to keep it all straight. Yellow was for Stafford, purple was for Archie Manning and blue was for Manning's son Eli. Red? That was for Joe Montana. Super Bowl week is about celebrities and sales as well as sports, and Stafford is working the circuit with the NFL's "A" list. He's promoting Axe Hair, Gatorade and Visa, popping up all over town with elite players from the past and present. "It's fun," ..."
Frustrated Larry Foote will test free-agent market
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February 4
Detroit News
 
"Frustrated by what he perceives to be a lack of interest from the Lions, veteran linebacker Larry Foote said he's planning to test the free-agent market beginning March 5. "We're just going to free agency and see from there," said Foote, citing unproductive talks between his agent, Brian Levy, and Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. "I mean, obviously, I'm not a big priority for them. So that's just how I'm taking it." Foote, 29, returned to his hometown on a one-year contract last May after spending his first seven NFL seasons in Pittsburgh. He started 14 games in 2009, leading the Lions with 99 tackles, including nine for loss and two sacks. When asked about the possibility of ..."
Mariucci sees potential if Stafford gets support
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February 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"Quarterback was a major issue for Steve Mariucci from the time he was hired as Lions coach in 2003 to the time he was fired in '05. Now Mariucci is an analyst for NFL Network and says he likes Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick last year. Does he think the Lions finally have found their guy? "Well, it will depend," Mariucci said Tuesday at Super Bowl XLIV media day. "It will depend on how they surround him. He's got to have some continuity in his preparation, his scheme, his off-seasons, his training camps, his practice routine. It can't be changing coaches over there. ... It can't happen, or he's going to make progress and fall back, make progress and fall back.""
Barry Sanders: Matthew Stafford will rescue Lions
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February 2
Detroit News
 
"Barry Sanders qualifies as a football expert based on his Hall of Fame career with the Lions. But the superstar running back is as amazed as the common fan at the depths his former team sank to in the last decade. But Sanders can see the Lions climbing out of the NFL's basement -- with quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the way. Sanders, who is featured in a Miller Lite national charity campaign to raise money for the V Foundation's cancer-research program, evaluated the Lions' past and future in an interview Tuesday morning. The promotion is connected to Super Bowl XLIV Sunday between the Colts and Saints. The Lions completed their Lost Decade with a 2-14 record in 2009 under ..."
Idaho LG Mike Iupati makes good impression at Senior Bowl
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February 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions got a long look at Idaho left guard Mike Iupati at Saturday's Senior Bowl. The question is whether another team, such as Dallas, also liked Iupati enough to steal Iupati on draft day. The Lions have the No. 2 pick and the No. 34 pick in the April 22-24 NFL draft. They have a gaping need at left guard that Iupati could fill. The Cowboys pick 27th and have an aging offensive line that Iupati could rejuvenate. According to the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said he plans to stay put at the 27th spot, which has led to speculation that Iupati would be their likely pick. Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was complimentary of Iupati and noted his ..."
Lions GM Martin Mayhew: This is the best junior class we've had in years
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February 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"If only there was a Junior Bowl, too. Although the Lions got a good look at some prospects by coaching the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Ala., they have much more work to do before the NFL draft April 22-24. Not only did some top seniors such as Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh decline to participate in the Senior Bowl, more than 50 juniors have declared for the draft. That list includes Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, Tennessee safety Eric Berry, Michigan defensive back Donovan Warren and Central Michigan wide receiver Antonio Brown. "I think that with all the juniors coming out, there's definitely a better class of juniors than we've had in the past," general manager ..."
If Lions don't get DT Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy still a strong pick to help defense
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January 31
Detroit Free Press
 
"Yeah, it's that obvious. That was the general consensus among NFL folks at the Senior Bowl about the top of the NFL draft. Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who did not play in the game, is the best prospect on the board. If St. Louis doesn't take him No. 1, the Lions likely will at No. 2. Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a junior, is the second-best prospect on the board -- a little less stout against the run than Suh but maybe a little quicker. If the Rams take Suh first overall, the Lions likely will get a great consolation prize second overall. Either way, the Lions will be able to strengthen the middle of a defense that has ranked last in the league each of the past ..."
Just like Saints and Cards, Lions had to get a QB
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January 30
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Drew Sharp
"The most ambitious grocery bagger ever called it a career Friday. Kurt Warner walked away from the NFL, eternally appreciative of fate smiling down upon him. His roller coaster from obscurity to championship glory to the depths of competitive irrelevance to turning Arizona's joke of a professional team into an NFC champion might resemble an act of providence. But Warner's football trajectory proves again why the significance of the NFL quarterback is more design than destiny. The Arizona Cardinals won't be taken as seriously now in the aftermath of Warner's retirement, because despite all of the personnel moves made to amass strong offensive and defensive lines and playmaking cornerbacks, ..."
Just like Saints and Cards, Lions had to get a QB
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January 30
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Drew Sharp
"The most ambitious grocery bagger ever called it a career Friday. Kurt Warner walked away from the NFL, eternally appreciative of fate smiling down upon him. His roller coaster from obscurity to championship glory to the depths of competitive irrelevance to turning Arizona's joke of a professional team into an NFC champion might resemble an act of providence. But Warner's football trajectory proves again why the significance of the NFL quarterback is more design than destiny. The Arizona Cardinals won't be taken as seriously now in the aftermath of Warner's retirement, because despite all of the personnel moves made to amass strong offensive and defensive lines and playmaking cornerbacks, ..."
Lions aide all business with defensive line
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January 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"The defensive linemen had dominated a drill in practice Wednesday morning, and they were feeling pretty good about themselves. They came over to the sideline all smiles, hooting and hollering, laughing and joking. Then Kris Kocurek stepped in. He got in a few faces. "Do not be content!" he barked at them. "Get better!" The Lions' coaches are leading the North for Saturday's Senior Bowl, and Kocurek, their assistant defensive line coach, is leading his prospects as if they all will be Detroit draft picks. "I'm coaching them just like they're my own this week," Kocurek said. "That's the mentality. I told them the first night, 'We're going to be the hardest-working group on the field.' " The ..."
Lions' aide all business with defensive line
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January 28
Detroit Free Press
 
"The defensive linemen had dominated a drill in practice Wednesday morning, and they were feeling pretty good about themselves. They came over to the sideline all smiles, hooting and hollering, laughing and joking. Then Kris Kocurek stepped in. He got in a few faces. "Do not be content!" he barked at them. "Get better!" The Lions' coaches are leading the North for Saturday's Senior Bowl, and Kocurek, their assistant defensive line coach, is leading his prospects as if they all will be Detroit draft picks."
Boise State cornerback makes right impression on Lions at Senior Bowl
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January 28
Detroit Free Press
 
"Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson couldn't receive a bigger compliment than this through three practices at the Senior Bowl: "That's the guy that's been a pain in my ass so far." That quote came from Lions receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. The Lions' coaches are leading the North in preparation for Saturday's game. Jefferson challenged Wilson with a little trash talk when the coaches and prospects first met Sunday, only to watch Wilson blanket his receivers over the next three days. "I introduced myself, and he said, 'We're going to be cooking you up,' " Wilson said, smiling. "I've been wanting to get at him since we got here. I've got a lot of respect for him. I definitely think I earned ..."
Lions assistant line coach attracts notice at Senior Bowl
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January 28
Detroit News
 
"With hat backward, a lip full of tobacco, and with a voice that's audible down the street, Kris Kocurek is hard to miss. But Kocurek, 31 and the heir apparent as the Lions' defensive line coach with Bob Karmelowicz expected to retire, is aware he's under a little more scrutiny this week at the Senior Bowl. "I'm just now getting into the league, and I know that I have 31 other D-line coaches probably watching me practice every day," said Kocurek, who served as Karmelowicz's defensive line assistant last season in Detroit. "I kind of feel like I'm on a job interview out here, in some sense of the word. Because nobody really knows who I am. I've always been in college, and now I've got this ..."
Dexter McCluster creates buzz, but doesn't really fit Lions
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January 27
Michigan Live
 
"One of the players who has the NFL scouts and personnel people buzzing about his performance at the Senior Bowl is Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster - that's the 5-8, 165-pound Dexter McCluster. McCluster not only has blazing speed, but he also has great acceleration and explosion. While his size means he'll never be an every-down back, he has excellent versatility - he looks strong running routes, he can run inside on occasion and he can return punts and kickoffs. While the Lions could certainly use a player like that - especially in the return game - don't expect McCluster to end up in Detroit. McCluster is expected to go in the second or third round and the Lions simply have far ..."
Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour gets advice from Lions' Scott Linehan
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January 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"Dan LeFevour didn't win the Heisman Trophy or a national championship. He doesn't have his own cheering section at the Senior Bowl, complete with a woman holding a sign saying he is "God's gift to football fans." He is not mobbed by the media after every practice. He is not Tim Tebow. But Central Michigan's star quarterback has much in common with Florida's QB this week. After a stellar college career, LeFevour is trying to show executives, coaches and scouts that he can adjust to the NFL style and succeed at the next level. "He's coming from Central Michigan," said Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who is working with LeFevour because the Lions' staff is coaching the North in ..."
Idaho LG Mike Iupati catches Lions' Linehan's attention
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January 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"If you're Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, there's a lot to like about Idaho guard Mike Iupati. "Obviously, he's the best player in this game," Linehan said Tuesday, after the Lions' coaches led the North in its second practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl. Linehan laughed as he said that. He was just joking, because he played quarterback at Idaho and began his coaching career there. Got to support the alma mater. But he wasn't far off, either. Iupati might be the best guard prospect in this game. And he plays left guard, where the Lions happen to have a gaping hole."
Lions will look at U-M's Donovan Warren in 3rd round, Kiper predicts
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January 27
Detroit News
 
"ESPN's Mel Kiper, draft expert, says the Lions' biggest needs in the 2010 NFL draft are cornerback, defensive tackle, defensive end, offensive tackle, receiver and running back. Anything else? Kiper predicts the Lions will take Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with the second overall pick. After that, Kiper says the Lions' best options for the second round are Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox, Mississippi DE Greg Hardy, Illinois WR Arrelious Benn, California RB Jahvid Best and USC OT Charles Brown."
Lions' Jim Schwartz gets jump on 2010 draft
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January 26
Michigan Live
 
"Back in mid December, as the Detroit Lions were putting the final wraps on their 2-14 season, I had a conversation with head coach Jim Schwartz about the possibility of coaching in the Senior Bowl (which traditionally goes to the coaching staffs of the two worst teams in the league). "The last time I was there, I remember talking with the other coaches and saying 'This has been a great experience -- let's never do it again,''' Schwartz said. Schwartz, though, is currently on his third tour of duty at the Senior Bowl -- he was part of the Baltimore Ravens' coaching team in 1998 and was part of the Tennessee Titans' staff that coached in 2006. The Lions are coaching the North squad in this ..."
Lions' coaches picking up inside information on draft prospects
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January 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"It was about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, a half-hour before a team meeting. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew was talking to some scouts at the Mobile convention center, and he was watching the NFC title game on the televisions in the hall. But that's not all he was watching. There were some NFL prospects hanging out, too. "There was a group of them that came in, saw the televisions, immediately sat down and started watching the game," Mayhew said, sitting in the same area Monday. "Then there was a group that was kind of over there just talking and laughing and not even aware the game was on or watching or keeping track of the score or whatever."
Lions have new, intense special teams coordinator
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January 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"Not only did the Lions change special-teams coordinators, they decided to change how their special teams are coordinated. They will have a new system with new terminology. "Sometimes some things new and fresh excite guys, so we're going to change things," Danny Crossman said Monday, after the Lions' coaches led the North in its first practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl. "It'll look a lot different schematically. But then it all comes down to getting good players to play hard and to play tough and play fast." Crossman hasn't had much of a chance to evaluate personnel. He replaced the fired Stan Kwan last week. But the Lions' return and coverage units struggled in 2009, and even their ..."
Manning, Brees validate Lions' pick
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January 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"What stood out to you during Sunday's AFC and NFC championship games? It's the quarterback, stupid. You can say defense wins championships. You can say you have to run the ball to win this time of year. And you can throw out all the platitudes about special teams and turnovers. But ultimately, it comes down to the quarterback. Sure enough, there are some Trent Dilfers and Brad Johnsons who have won Super Bowls. There are exceptions to every rule. The roster of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks is largely made up of Hall of Famers – Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, John Elway, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning. And there were years where the winning QB might not have been a ..."
New coach says special teams will be detailed, exact
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January 26
Detroit News
 
"Not a lot will change in Jim Schwartz's staff from his first season to his second in Detroit. That was evident as the Lions' coaches -- including all but a few familiar faces -- took the field for the first day of Senior Bowl practices Monday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Missing were Stan Kwan, who was fired two weeks ago as special teams coordinator, quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton, who left to be the University of Minnesota's new offensive coordinator, and defensive line coach Bob Karmelowicz, who is contemplating retirement. But the lone newcomer at the moment, Danny Crossman, who was hired last week as Kwan's successor, is promising something different. The Lions' special teams units ..."
Lions' Schwartz happy with coaching staff
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January 26
Detroit News
 
"The Lions' coaching staff was busy preparing for the first day of practice Monday afternoon at the Senior Bowl. And except for a few new faces, the staff looks the same as it did in Jim Schwartz's first season as head coach in Detroit. Danny Crossman, the new special teams' coordinator, has replaced Stan Kwan, who was let go after the season. Quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton left to take the offensive coordinator position at the University of Minnesota. And Bob Karmelowicz, the defensive line coach, isn't with the team in Mobile, as he's contemplating retirement. "I think scheme-wise we'll have continuity, other than special teams -- that'll be a completely different system and ..."
Lions look to really know players
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January 26
Detroit News
 
"The scouting began even before the players realized it Sunday night in advance of this week's Senior Bowl practices. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew smiled as he recounted a scene from Sunday night at the Mobile Convention Center, which serves as a headquarters for the annual pre-draft event. As more than 80 of the top senior prospects gathered for team meetings, the NFC championship game was playing on TV sets in the lobby area. And it turns out Mayhew was watching more than just the game himself. "I didn't know who the guys were at that point, but there was a group of them that came in and saw the televisions and immediately sat down and started watching the game," Mayhew said. ..."
Jim Schwartz's stint at Senior Bowl could affect draft selections
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January 25
Detroit Free Press
 
"The NFL draft won't be held for another three months, but an important part of the selection process will begin today for the Lions. Coach Jim Schwartz and his staff will lead the North team in its first practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., where the Senior Bowl will be played at 4 p.m. Saturday. Schwartz will get to spend plenty of time getting to know potential draftees. "You're having breakfast with them. You're riding the bus over to practice with them. It's not just 15 minutes," Schwartz said on the Lions' Web site. "At the (NFL scouting) combine, you get 15 minutes to interview. When you bring guys (to team headquarters) before the draft for physicals, you're spending ..."
Lions' Pettigrew turned out to be a good catch
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January 24
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew had no idea what his statistics were after his rookie season. "I really don't," he said. "I don't even know how many catches I had." Too bad. He might have been impressed. Before he went on injured reserve with a torn ACL, Pettigrew had 30 catches for 346 yards in 11 games, which worked out to 31.5 receiving yards per game. Compared to other premier tight ends in their rookie seasons, no one had a better per-game average. Not Dallas Clark, Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates or Jason Witten."
Danny Crossman to coach Lions' special teams; Scott Linehan expected to coach QBs
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January 23
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Lions made a couple of changes to their coaching staff today. Former Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Danny Crossman (who also coached at Michigan State) has been hired to replace Stan Kwan, who was dismissed earlier this month. Crossman has coached in the NFL for seven seasons."
Lions gain special teams coach, lose QB coach
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January 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"On the same day the Lions hired a special-teams coach, they lost their quarterbacks coach. The team Friday announced the hiring of former Carolina Panthers special-teams coordinator Danny Crossman to replace Stan Kwan, who was fired Jan. 8. Terms of Crossman's contract were not disclosed. But the Lions still have a coaching vacancy to fill after QB coach Jeff Horton left to become offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota, the school announced. Crossman was with the Panthers since 2003 -- he served as special-teams coordinator in 2005-09 -- and was fired Jan. 14. Crossman coached in college before that, most recently when he was Michigan State's special-teams and linebackers ..."
Would the Lions trade for DT Shaun Rogers?
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January 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"As Cleveland continues to rebuild its front office, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers could be one of the key players tied to the personnel decisions the Browns make this off-season. And that could pave Rogers' way out of town - and possibly back to the Lions. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns president Mike Holmgren was expected to join general manager Tom Heckert and coaches in a thorough examination of the roster this week. That likely would stoke discussion of why the Browns' run defense was dramatically worse in the first 11 games (159 yards per game) with Rogers at nose tackle than it was the final five games (111 yards) after he was lost for the season with a leg injury ..."
Report: Lions losing QB coach
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January 23
Detroit News
 
"The Lions lost their quarterbacks coach, but added a new special teams coach Friday. Lions quarterback coach Jeff Horton is leaving the team to become offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota, a league source told The News on Friday. Later Friday, the Lions announced they hired Danny Crossman as their special teams coordinator. Crossman replaces Stan Kwan, who was fired earlier this month after 10 years with the organization. Crossman was fired by the Panthers last week. "We are pleased to add Danny to our coaching staff," Lions coach Jim Schwartz. "He brings a wealth of both college and NFL coaching experience that undoubtedly will have a positive impact on our special teams ..."
Lions' Gosder Cherilus to lead Haiti team
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January 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus, a native of Haiti, has put together a group of relief workers headed to assist earthquake victims. "I have a great friend of mine by the name of Pat Lynch -- he's actually from Birmingham, Mich. -- we went to school together," Cherilus said on the team's Web site. "He helped me put together a team of about 10 to 15 doctors and nurses, and we partnered up with Haiti Outreach Mission, which is another group that's based in Troy, Mich. "They also have 15 to 20 doctors and nurses, and everybody will be flying to Haiti this Saturday. They have a hospital waiting on them, and they'll be bringing their own antibiotics and everything else they would need to help ..."
ESPN's Mel Kiper predicts that Lions will take Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy
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January 21
Detroit Free Press
 
"It's official. The Lions willOklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with the No. 2 overall pick in April's NFL draft. At least that's the early consensus among ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. Kiper released the first of his mock drafts Wednesday and predicted the Lions will take McCoy, a 6-foot-4, 297-pounder, after St. Louis picks Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. McShay's first mock draft in December concurred with the first three of Kiper's picks: Suh (St. Louis), McCoy (Detroit) and safety Eric Berry (Tampa Bay). "Getting McCoy both fills a big need for the Lions and is an extraordinarily good consolation prize for any team unable to get Suh," Kiper wrote in his ..."
Financial woes overtake ex-Lion Elliss
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January 20
Detroit News
 
"Retired Detroit Lions defensive lineman Luther Elliss is preparing to abandon his million-dollar Oakland Township home, the latest in a financial collapse that has forced him to file bankruptcy amid a string of failed investments and debt. Elliss, 36, who was paid almost $11.6 million from 2000-04, is relying on area churches and friends to pay bills, his savings depleted. He lost one home in Utah to foreclosure and the married father of 11 plans on walking away from his Oakland Township home due to lack of income and high mortgage payments. "We can't afford it," Elliss said in an interview with The Detroit News. The financial problems hit one of the Lions' most popular players in recent ..."
Interesting scenarios upcoming with Lions linebackers
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January 20
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Lions have some interesting decisions to make at linebacker this off-season. Young players like DeAndre Levy, Ernie Sims and Zack Follett played well at the end of the season. But the question is whether they played well enough to supplant veterans such as Larry Foote and Julian Peterson. Foote played on a one-year contract and will be a free agent. Peterson is owed $7.5 million this season. As the Lions continue to rebuild, they find themselves in a position of hardly being able to discard proven veterans, even if they may be a bit pricey to keep."
New ownership might sweep our sports landscape
Comment
January 19
Detroit Free Press
 
"Maybe the Pistons will be for sale soon and maybe they won't. I'll keep looking for them on eBay. Meanwhile, this much is clear: Detroit needs a new generation of sports ownership for all four of its pro teams. New ownership might come from within. It might come from outside. But in the lousy Michigan economy inside a struggling U.S. economy -- a tornado wrapped in a hurricane -- it has to come from somewhere. For Bill Davidson, Mike Ilitch and William Clay Ford Sr., owning a Detroit-based team was or has been a fundamental part of their self-image. When they looked in the mirror, they saw their teams. (It would be nice if Ford also looked at the standings once in a while, but, hey, nobody ..."
After one season as head coach, Jim Schwartz says his temper control needs a little work
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January 18
Detroit Free Press
 
"It turns out everyone learns on the job -- or at least learns something about himself on the job. That includes Lions coach Jim Schwartz. After his first year as an NFL head coach, Schwartz did not hesitate when he was asked what he could do to improve as a coach. "Keep my blood pressure down maybe a little bit," he said. "I take pride in being even-keeled. I take pride in being the same way whether we win or lose. There have been some Mondays where obviously my temper was little bit shorter than others, and there are times that I've showed my displeasure with certain things that have happened on the field and things like that."
Family of Lions' Gosder Cherilus survives earthquake in Haiti
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January 16
Detroit News
 
"Lions offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus was in a Massachusetts gym working out when the devastating earthquake hit his home country of Haiti on Tuesday. Cherilus, who has numerous family members still living in Haiti -- including his grandmother and brother -- received a frantic phone call from his mother telling him something terrible had happened to his brother and he needed to get home, to Somerville, Mass., right away. At the time of the quake, Cherilus' mother was on the phone with his brother in Haiti when she heard him say, "Oh my god, oh my god," and the line went dead. She initially thought he'd been in a car accident, but when Cherilus got home from the gym and turned on the TV, ..."