Detroit Lions News: Pro Sports Daily

February 4

New York Post

"Are you ready for a lot more prime-time football? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell used his annual Super Bowl news conference yesterday to reveal the league is dramatically expanding the Thursday night package on its own network starting this fall. In what appeared to be a way to up the pressure in its long-running dispute with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision over New York-area carriage of the NFL Network, the league said that channel will now show Thursday games from Week 2 through Week 15. The NFL Network previously broadcast Thursday games the final eight weeks of the season, but Goodell said the expansion resulted from a desire to guarantee every team in the league at least one"

Lions' coach Jim Schwartz: 'Things are crazy in the NFL'

February 3

Detroit Free Press

"Lions coach Jim Schwartz bounced around radio row Thursday hawking an energy drink and re-enacting his October handshake with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was just down the street, representing a hotel chain and satellite TV. Defensive end Cliff Avril, receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel Leshoure made their way to Indy, too. The Lions, it seems, are everywhere at the Super Bowl this year -- except in the game."

Lions' Jim Schwartz won't discuss contract but defends Ndamukong Suh

February 3

Detroit News

"Lions coach Jim Schwartz didn't create quite the buzz on radio row Thursday that Tim Tebow did — no other celebrity did, either, not even Jay Mohr or Larry Fitzgerald — but he came close. Schwartz was scheduled to make about 15 stops, and just about every one started him off with the same joke — a takeoff on his handshake issues with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh this season. The host on the San Francisco station asked to shake his hand and then made a big deal about how Harbaugh was wrong, that Schwartz's grip wasn't too strong."

Goodell: If NFL expands, it'll add two more teams

February 3

CBSSports.com

"It's no secret the NFL wants to expand to Los Angeles. And while so much of the attention has been focused on which franchise would relocate to L.A. -- whether it's the Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars or Rams -- we haven't discussed much the possibility of the NFL expanding. Apparently, that's an option. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday on Costas Live on the NBC Sports Network that if the league places a team in L.A., the NFL probably would add two more franchises to make it an even 34. Goodell said the league "doesn't want to move any of our teams" and "we probably don't want to go to 33" if the NFL decides expansion is a good choice."

Cliff Avril doesn't want Lions to use franchise tag on him

February 1

Detroit Free Press

"Martin Mayhew didn't use the franchise tag in his first three off-seasons as Detroit Lions general manager, and defensive end Cliff Avril doesn't want him to start now. "I definitely don't want to be franchised," Avril said today, during a visit to the Super Bowl. "I mean, I've been in Detroit for four years, and I wouldn't mind being there for another couple more years or whatnot. The franchise tag kind of makes it a yearly thing, and you want security. You want to know you're going to be there for a couple years so your family can get comfortable." Avril will be an unrestricted free agent next month and one of the top pass rushers available if he and the Lions don't agree on a long-term"

Lions' Cliff Avril says he would love to stay

February 1

Detroit Free Press

"With the Super Bowl hoopla in full swing, is it crazy to dare to imagine the Lions being in the game next year? "Is it crazy to think that?" defensive end Cliff Avril said Tuesday on "The Huge Show," a radio show heard across Michigan. "No, not at all. Definitely possible. ... I definitely think we can make it happen, as long as we can go out there and work harder than we did last year and not make the same mistakes, I think everything will be all right. And we'll make it there.""

Lions' Ndamukong Suh says 'I would never hurt somebody'

January 31

Detroit Free Press

"ESPN is hyping its sit-down interview with Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on Tuesday night. Here is a preview clip of "Face-to-Face with Hannah Storm" that has been airing on the Worldwide Leader today: Asked about accusations that he tries to hurt people on the field, Suh said, "I see it as I would never hurt somebody, because why would I want somebody to hurt me? You're taking somebody's livelihood away, their opportunity to fend for their family and grow. For somebody to say that, it's kind of outrageous.""

Lions fan accused of threatening to blow up Superdome expresses regret

January 31

Detroit News

"A Detroit Lions fan threatened to blow up the Superdome during the team's Jan. 7 playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, according to federal court records. Jackson resident Shawn Payton called in bomb threats after the Lions fell behind in the playoff game, according to an FBI agent's affidavit filed in a Louisiana federal court. "Hi, I want you to relay a message to the sideline, if your stupid Southern team keeps winning, there will be reper… severe consequences, OK?" Payton, 34, told a Superdome employee, according to court records. During a second call, the caller threatened: "I will blow up your building." According to court records, investigators traced the calls to Payton. He"

Lions need to give Matthew Stafford tools for Super Bowl title

January 30

Detroit Free Press

columnist Drew SHarp

"The star voltage in Detroit sports right now is blinding. With Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera crowding the spotlight the past few days, it's easy forgetting that the Tigers are also home to that rarest of baseball double plays -- the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner, Justin Verlander. The Red Wings are ... well, once again, the Wings. Matthew Stafford is the best under-25 quarterback in the NFL. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson is wondering what model of Brinks truck he'll motor around in considering he and the Lions are in the process of negotiating a contract extension that should make Johnson the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL."

New era for NFL OTAs starts in April

January 29

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions are scheduled to begin their off-season program April 16, about a month later than organized team workouts would have resumed under the old collective bargaining agreement. It's only a month, but ... "That's a long time," guard Rob Sims said. "They can hurt you in a month." Under the new CBA, off-season programs have been scaled back five weeks, and organized team activities have been reduced from 14 to 10. Teams are now allowed to have nine consecutive weeks of off-season workouts, with the first two weeks limited to strength and conditioning and the final four weeks designated for OTAs and a three-day mandatory veteran minicamp."

Super tired of the Super Bowl already

January 29

Detroit News

"Shelby Strother, the late, great Detroit News columnist, once wrote about a leper colony while covering Super Bowl week in New Orleans in 1990. I wonder if there are any leper colonies in Indianapolis. Strother was a remarkable writer and one of the all-time characters our business has ever known. He was also a mentor to many of us veterans who are still around. He has been on my mind plenty as I try to muster some enthusiasm for the week ahead in Indy. Strother hated pack journalism back then; I can't imagine the depths of his loathing now, with what Super Bowl week has become. The game is still a week away and already every major angle has been dissected and inspected for a full week."

Detroit Lions interview Boise State running back Doug Martin at Senior Bowl

January 29

Michigan Live

"Boise State running back Doug Martin walked into a meeting with the Detroit Lions' coaching staff and had a rare feeling of nervousness. "They had everybody there," Martin said. "I came in with a little butterflies. It's kind of intimidating when you have all the guys around there looking at you and writing stuff down. I think it went really well. They are great people." Martin could potentially become a great running back in Detroit."

Lions reportedly unsure if Best will be able to play again

January 29

NFL.com

"The sad saga of Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best's attempt to return from a concussion that ended his 2011 doesn't appear to be over. Best missed most of the season following an Oct. 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and was bothered by post-concussion problems the rest of the season. But Best, who also suffered a concussion during the preseason and had a scary head injury while at the University of California, Berkeley, told the Detroit Free Press earlier this month that he's symptom free and "definitely" will be back next season. The feeling from within the Lions appears to be quite different. Multiple people within the organization are concerned the second-year running back"

Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach among free agents

January 28

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions have plenty of major free-agent decisions to make this off-season, and most center on Cliff Avril, Jeff Backus, Stephen Tulloch and Eric Wright. One that's under the radar is long snapper Don Muhlbach? After eight mostly anonymous seasons, Muhlbach will be an unrestricted free agent in March. He changed agents this past fall, leaving Jordan Solomon for David Dunn, and said he wants to re-sign with the only team he has known. "This is a great place, and I'd love to be here," Muhlbach said a day after the season ended. "But just let the guys that figure it out figure it out." Muhlbach would appear to be in the team's near-term plans. He's dependable, has a good rapport with kicker"

Bill Ford Jr. wouldn't trade Matthew Stafford for any QB, he tells website

January 27

Detroit News

"Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. told the team website that he wouldn't trade quarterback Matthew Stafford "for any quarterback in the league," and he also said it was important to get receiver Calvin Johnson signed long-term. He made those comments in a long, sweeping interview the website is running in three parts. In Stafford, Ford said the team did as coach Jim Schwartz vowed to do — they finally replaced Bobby Layne."

Calvin Johnson, Justin Verlander make list of most powerful athletes

January 27

Detroit Free Press

"So who's the king of Detroit sports? Bloomberg Businessweek, the Horrow Sports Ventures and CSE, a marketing agency, have combined to compile and interesting list. They've come up with the 100 most powerful athletes in sports. Now, what does powerful mean? The panel took into account not just the prowess on the field of play, but an athlete's ability appeal, influence and popularity. So, with that in mind, the highest-ranking local athlete is Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson at No. 10. He's just ahead of golfers Luke Donald (11) and some guy named Tiger Woods (12). A further down the list is Tigers first, er, third baseman Miguel Cabrera at 38th. Lions QB Matthew Stafford is at No. 43."

Lions' Johnny Culbreath pays fine for marijuana possession

January 26

Detroit News

"Offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath, the Lions' seventh-round draft pick in 2011, was charged with simple possession of marijuana in Orangeburg County, S.C., according to a report. The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg says Culbreath paid a $412 fine Monday to end the case."

Lions penalties, personal fouls don't trouble GM Martin Mayhew

January 24

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions finished third in the NFL in penalties and led the league in personal fouls this past season, but general manager Martin Mayhew said this month that doesn't think his team has a discipline problem. "Maybe I'm by myself on that," Mayhew said. "I think we had a problem in that particular game, in the Saints game. I think it was addressed appropriately by Jim (Schwartz) and by some of the leaders on our team, and after that we didn't really have a problem. I don't know if that's really an issue."

Lions WR Calvin Johnson expects to have extension talks 'soon'

January 24

Detroit News

"Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has a year left on his contract, but sounded Monday night in an ESPN interview that he's interested in signing an extension with the team this offseason. "Yeah, definitely, we're going to see here — soon," Johnson told ESPN's Jim Rome during an appearance on "Rome is Burning." "We're going to have some talks soon, and hopefully get things rolling." Johnson declined to say in the interview if he would prefer to resign with the Lions or go elsewhere. But Johnson didn't look or sound like he's eager to leave Detroit when Rome asked about his future."

Lions DT Ndamukong Suh tough enough to play in any NFL era

January 24

Detroit News

"ESPN kicked off its "NFL Any Era" project Monday, revealing the first four current players to make the cut. And Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh made it, coming it at No. 18. ESPN brought together 20 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who then were charged with coming up with 20 current NFL stars "who would have thrived in the years before television helped make football a secular religion and the nation's favorite pastime.""

Lions kicker Jason Hanson ready to fight for his job, again

January 23

Detroit Free Press

"Lions kicker Jason Hanson has been in the NFL too long to mince words. Hanson just completed his 20th season and tells it like it is when discussing the competition he expects for his job next season. "I think the days of not having competition are over, because I'm old and they're probably always wondering when's the day when he falls to the ground," Hanson said. "Not going to happen. And competition's good. Unless you're 30 of 31 (on field goals), then I don't think you get the freebie. But I feel like I can kick as well as anybody if I'm healthy. And I was, and I will be.""

Roar at Ford Field caused Lions' opponents to jump the count

January 22

Detroit Free Press

"If you're a Lions fan and attended a game at Ford Field this season, give yourself a pat on the back. Go ahead. You earned it. Simply put, you were the best. Ford Field fans helped the Lions lead the NFL in most false-start penalties by opponents in home games. According to STATS LLC, the Lions led the league in that category with 22. Arizona was second with 21. Kansas City holds the single-season record with 32 in 1999, according to STATS. Not only was the Lions' tally impressive, it also blew away their 2010 season total of 11, which tied for seventh most in the NFL."

With lots of RBs, Kevin Smith's future with Lions up in air

January 21

Detroit Free Press

"As the Lions headed into the off-season, free-agent running back Kevin Smith was not sure about where his path would lead. Smith made a valuable contribution this season. He had a career-high 4.9-yard rushing average and had three solid games, including a 140-yard day against Carolina, after signing off the street in the middle of the season. But Smith struggled with a high-ankle sprain and saw his production wane in the final few games. That, plus four running backs still under contract with the Lions -- Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Keiland Williams and Joique Bell -- makes his situation sticky in Detroit. "I'll let my agent handle that," Smith said. "I would love to be here. This is all"

Lions still high on Nick Fairley

January 20

Detroit Free Press

"Nick Fairley had a disappointing rookie season by any measure. He had one sack, missed six games and wasn't always a factor when he was on the field. But Fairley's lack of production, brought on by a training-camp foot injury, hasn't done anything to sour the Lions on his future. "I've had a lot of experience with guys who have had broken feet and screws put in and things like that, they've had the same experience," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said last week. "It probably won't be for a few months now in the off-season of rest before that thing will be in his rearview mirror. But I think we also saw enough when he was healthy to know that we have a really good player there and a guy that can"

Lions should have reacted to Suh's 'borderline plays,' Mayhew says

January 19

Detroit News

"Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says there were a couple warning signs early in the season that defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh might have trouble controlling his emotions during games. But Mayhew, appearing on 790 The Zone sports talk radio show in Atlanta, added that he is confident Suh has overcome his issues. "Early on he had a couple borderline plays, and looking back on it probably not enough people talked to him in those situations," Mayhew said during the interview."

Lions backup QBs might change with Matthew Stafford healthy

January 18

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions were one of 14 teams that carried three quarterbacks all season, and one of five -- the Colts, Jets, 49ers and Panthers were the others, according to Stats LLC -- who never dressed their third quarterback on game day. But general manager Martin Mayhew said he liked having three QBs on his roster and was still evaluating whether to carry that many next season. "You make those decisions probably in August, when we start putting our roster together trying to find the best 53," Mayhew said last week. "If that third quarterback is one of the best 53, then we'll probably keep three.""

Lions' odds to win next season's Super Bowl are 20-1

January 18

Detroit News

"The Lions took a big step toward the Super Bowl this season by winning 10 games and making the playoffs for the first time since 1999. How close are they to actually winning the whole thing? Their odds are 20-1 for next season, according to the Las Vegas Hilton, which has released Super Bowl odds for the 2012 season."

Playoffs showcase Browns' lack of big-play tight end

January 17

Akron Beacon Journal

columnist Marla Ridenour

"After sitting through the better part of four NFL divisional playoff games last weekend, I came away with a serious case of tight end envy. That's in the football sense, mind you, not in the heart's aflutter sense. Watching the game-changing abilities of San Francisco's Vernon Davis, New England's Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham and what happened to Green Bay when Jermichael Finley was no factor struck me on two fronts. One was the Browns' lack of a big-play threat in the same class of these players, even with depth at the position. The other was how tight ends have become a focal point of teams that pile up points."

Lions' recovery is a big hit with Eminem, too

January 17

Detroit Free Press

columnist Steve Schrader

"We knew Kid Rock liked Detroit sports -- and cigars -- but who knew Eminem was into the Lions, too? He gushes about them in a sports interview with GQ. "Oh, my God, it's incredible," Em said. "It's so (darn) exciting. We've got pieces, man. We just need a few more things. We need to spend a few of our draft picks getting better in the secondary. Delmas is ill. Our defensive line is awesome. We get Mikel LeShoure and Jahvid Best back next year, too. We've got bona fide stars. It feels good to finally root for a team that's headed in the right direction. "(Golly), man, if you look at Stafford -- this was his first full season. 5,000 yards! He did some incredible (stuff), and I can't grasp"

Lions' Matthew Stafford wins comeback-player-of-the-year award

January 17

Detroit Free Press

"Matthew Stafford finished his first two NFL seasons on injured reserve. In his third, he led the Detroit Lions to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards. Stafford was rewarded for his bounce-back year today by being named Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers Association comeback player of the year. He's also a favorite for the Associated Press award, the one officially recognized by the NFL and handed out on Super Bowl eve."

Lions' Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford earn Pro Football Weekly honors

January 17

Detroit News

"Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has been named to the All-NFL Team by Pro Football Weekly and the Professional Football Writers of America. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was named Comeback Player of the Year. Johnson was named to the Pro Bowl after catching 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 TDs. Stafford, limited to just 13 games during his first two seasons, started all 16 games in 2011. He completed 421 of 663 passes for 5,038 yards and 41 TDs. Johnson and Stafford led the Lions to 10 regular-season wins and their first playoff appearance since 1999."

Jason Hanson revels in Lions' rebound

January 16

Detroit Free Press

"Kicker Jason Hanson had to wait a little more than half of his career for the Lions to return to the playoffs. But his patience was rewarded with a dramatic season he thinks is the start of something big. "I kind of started saying during the season, 'We're good, and we're going to find out how good.' We're pretty good, but it's not good enough, and I think everybody feels that way. "So it was a good start after all we've been through, and you feel like there's a foundation there that we're going to be a team in the coming years that's going to stay like this. But, as we said this year, you have to prove it and so, here we go. Take a deep breath and another off-season of trying to get"

Lions' Ndamukong Suh chats with CBS

January 16

Detroit News

"Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was a special halftime guest Sunday on CBS for "The NFL Today." Among the topics Suh addressed was his Thanksgiving Day stomp on Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith, saying he had a "great conversation" with Dietrich-Smith."

Goodell: NFL to consider some full-time officials

January 16

Chicago Tribune

"Aiming to ensure NFL rules are enforced the same way from game to game, the league will consider making about 10 officials full-time employees next season. As of now, all game officials are part-time employees. Responding to a question about consistency in officiating while speaking to a group of about 75 fans before Sunday's playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the proposal would bring a group of officials to the league offices in New York to help review game films and evaluate the calls. They then would be spread out among the crews at games."

Fears of losing Calvin Johnson compelled Lions to stop losing

January 15

Detroit Free Press

"Maybe Calvin Johnson deserves more credit for the Lions' turnaround than anyone realizes. After all, it was the Lions' superstar receiver whose saber rattling 13 months ago apparently spurred the Lions to a nine-game winning streak and the playoffs this season. On Dec. 9, 2010, fresh off the Lions' fifth straight defeat of the '10 season, Johnson went on his weekly radio appearance on WXYT-FM (97.1) and said: "I've been used to winning. And if this thing can't get turned around, man, like I said -- I'm just going to leave it at I can't get used to it. I want to win." The Lions must have felt like Metropolis residents hearing Superman was packing his bags. Johnson downplayed his comments a"

Lions' report card: Season of progress raises expectations, respect

January 15

Detroit Free Press

"They were one of the surprise teams of the NFL this season, but the Lions didn't exceed everyone's expectations. In August, a week or so into training camp, general manager Martin Mayhew said the team was at the point in its rebuilding process "where we expect to challenge for our division." "That's what most good teams expect to do," Mayhew said. You can quibble over whether the Lions were ever really in the NFC North race. The Packers were the best team in the NFL all regular season. They won 15 games, beat the Lions twice and looked most of the season like they would go undefeated. But, for the first time in more than a decade, the Lions were a good team. They won 10 games, one of nine"

Lions defense made big plays - but more needed

January 15

Detroit News

"You don't overreact to a couple of games. That's what the "old" Lions would do. Give up 45 points in each of the last two games and start blowing things up — fire the coordinator, fire the position coach, overhaul the system and the roster. Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz are smarter than that. They have brought this defense too far to start over now. Their evaluation will be based on 17 games, not two. The good that was done in the first half of the season will be processed along with the ugliness of the final two games. As they deconstruct the 2011 season they will absolutely red-flag the final nine games where the defense gave up an average 31.6 points after the bye week."

Calvin Johnson is great; his salary shouldn't be as great

January 14

Detroit Free Press

columnist Drew Sharp

"It doesn't make fiscal sense paying a wide receiver $50 million guaranteed with an annual salary-cap hit in the neighborhood of $20 million. Show me a consistently winning team in which the wide receiver is the highest-paid -- or next-highest-paid -- player on the team. It doesn't happen, because wide receiver remains the most easily interchangeable position in football. But the Lions have no choice but caving to Calvin Johnson's demands on a contract extension this summer. And he will demand plenty. Johnson, with one year left on his contract, coyly demurred this week when asked about his profound negotiating leverage. He became the NFL's top receiver this season, becoming the weekly"

Matthew Stafford set to receive $1 million bonus for 2011 performance

January 14

Detroit News

"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford reportedly will receive a $1 million bonus for his record-setting efforts during the 2011 season. According to macsfootbalblog.com, Stafford is due a $1 million bonus because he met at least one of five incentives listed on his contract. Stafford had to finish among the NFL's top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns or passer rating, and ended up meeting all three marks."

Martin Mayhew sees Lions take 'a big step'

January 13

Detroit Free Press

"Lions general manager Martin Mayhew reflected on the season Thursday and discussed the challenges of trying to hold on to key players and continue his team's success. "It certainly didn't fall short," Mayhew said of the Lions' making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. "I was happy with our performance this year. I think we took a big step, obviously." In three full seasons at the helm, Mayhew has transformed the Lions from a hideous wretch to a playoff team full of good players who would attract suitors on the open market."

Lions' price of success about to go up

January 13

Detroit News

"You might think that a general manager's job gets easier as the team gets better and the roster starts to become more complete. You would be wrong. "This is probably our most challenging offseason so far, because of where we are as a team," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said on Thursday, during his annual postseason news conference. "In the past, we were just looking at acquiring good players," he said. "Now we have good players. Which ones can we keep? Which ones are we not going to be able to keep and can we replace those players with the same talent level — at a better price or at the same price? There are a lot of different challenges.""

Time to pay the price for Lions' success

January 13

Detroit News

columnist John Niyo

"Martin Mayhew, the Lions' general manager, is a pretty shrewd negotiator. Ask any of his peers in the NFL — might want to start in Dallas, as he did a few years ago — and they'll tell you that. But even Mayhew's smart enough to know now's not the time to play hardball with Calvin Johnson. "You guys think he's pretty good?" Mayhew joked Thursday, beginning his 40-minute postseason wrap-up with the local media by tossing out a couple rhetorical questions of his own. "Should we keep him around?" Yeah, they should. And they will, one way or another."

Lions don't need defensive overhaul, GM Martin Mayhew says

January 13

Detroit News

"General manager Martin Mayhew acknowledged that the defense crumbled a bit down the stretch but said Thursday that he didn't think an overhaul was in order. "I like our defense," he said. "We didn't finish the season the way we would have liked, but our defense did a lot of good things this year." He ticked off the accomplishments: * Seven defensive touchdowns, the most since 1937. * Forty-one sacks. * Twenty-one interceptions. * Thirteen fumble recoveries. "We made a ton of plays," he said. "We would like to shore some things up as far as stopping the run.""

Lions working on extensions for Calvin Johnson, Jim Schwartz

January 13

Detroit News

"General manager Martin Mayhew gave his annual post-season report to the media Thursday, and, as he typically does, he dropped a couple of news items. He said that all three coordinators, whose contracts were up after the season, have been re-signed. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman will be back at their posts for 2012. Mayhew said he was also working on an extension for head coach Jim Schwartz, whose contract would expire after next season."

Mayhew on re-signing Johnson: 'It's workable'

January 12

Foxsports.com

"General manager Martin Mayhew has eased the panic that Calvin Johnson's contract might be too rich for the Detroit Lions to keep their superstar receiver. Johnson will be in the last year of his contract during the 2012 season, with a base salary of $14 million and a salary-cap number of more than $20 million. There has been media speculation that the impact of Johnson's contract on the team's salary cap for 2012 might be so great that the Lions would consider parting ways with him unless they can renegotiate his contract. Mayhew joked about Johnson's status at the start of his annual post-season meeting with Lions beat writers Thursday morning at the team's headquarters. "You think he's"

Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew still awaits word on Jahvid Best's status, but 'I expect him back'

January 12

Michigan Live

"Jahvid Best says beyond a shadow of a doubt, he'll in the Detroit's backfield next season. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew is still waiting for the all-clear on the running back who saw his 2011 season cut short due to a concussion he suffered in Week 6 – his second within two months. "No, we haven't gotten any (word)," Mayhew said. "He's still being evaluated by people, but we're very optimistic with the preliminary reports we have.""

Lions' Martin Mayhew should be NFL executive of the year

January 12

Detroit Free Press

columnist Drew SHarp

"Did anyone ever envision the following declaration ... especially in this space? The Lions' general manager should be named the NFL's top executive for 2011. EDITOR'S NOTE: We briefly interrupt this column to give readers a chance to faint. Now that you've regained consciousness, think about it. Who's more deserving than Martin Mayhew? It's not even close. Jim Harbaugh is likely to be coach of the year, but the guy who put that team together in San Francisco got bounced from his gig before the season. Denver's director of football operations, somebody by the name of Elway, didn't draft Tim Tebow. And he probably still doesn't want him as his long-term quarterback, despite his early"

Lions' NFL draft philosophy unlikely to change

January 12

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions have far fewer holes in their roster than they did three years ago, when Martin Mayhew took over as general manager and made "best player available" part of the draft lexicon. But don't expect the organization to stray too far from that principle when it reconfigures its roster this off-season. "I think it's a lot easier to see the needs that we have, but I don't think it changes your philosophy," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. "I think it's a little bit like we talked about before -- you can fall into a trap there. 'Hey, we're 10-6. All we need is this and keep everything else the same.' Well, that doesn't work in this league."

Lions have hefty free-agent shopping list

January 12

Detroit News

"Expect a free agent frenzy this spring in the NFL that could lead to an unprecedented buyer's market for the Lions front office. Charley Casserly, a former Redskins and Texans general manager, estimated last month that "more than 25 percent" of the NFL will be unrestricted free agents this spring — expected to be the most in league history. "What's that mean?" Casserly said last month on CBS' "The NFL Today." "Carnage for the players: less money for free-agent players than last year. Not a good sign if you're a free agent this year.""