[Detroit] Lions news is bad news

realfootball365.com ^ | December 12, 2006 | Os Davis

[SunkenCiv]

...With a record of 2-11, the silver-and-Honolulu blue are firmly entrenched at No. 32 on any power poll in this spiral arm of the galaxy. Entrenched, that is, until another loss drops them behind Ohio State, Florida and the Hamburg Sea Devils. Think it can't get worse? Hey, this is the Lions. NFL schedule makers saw fit to arrange the endgame Kitty Cats' so, so long season likewise: at the Green Bay Packers where the Lions haven't won since a guy named Brett Favre took over there (that's right, 1992); against the Chicago Bears in a game which figures to see Motor City backers immortalize the chant "Fire *&#!!%&ing Millen!"; and at the Dallas Cowboys , who on New Year's Eve will probably looking to bag the No. 2 seed in the NFC... Kevin Jones, who was knocked out of the loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, figures to be out for the remainder of the season... Pro Bowl nominee Shaun Rogers... was slapped by the commissioner after testing positive for steroids. The judgment had Rogers forcibly sitting out four games and giving up $250,000. Naturally, "Big Baby" was innocent, protesting that the positive test represented a product that the 354-pound Rogers used to help him control his weight. Or he has asthma. Or he thought they were Shawne Merriman's Pez. Or something... Team officials announced yesterday that WR Mike Williams - you remember him: the former first-round draft pick cum The Most Useless Player in the NFL Today - flunked a weigh-in. At 240 pounds, Williams only missed the target set by Rod Marinelli and Co. by 20. Though no punitive measures have been mentioned, any punishment would seem pointless other then some quality time on the bench... Fire &#!!%&ing Millen.

[SunkenCiv]

[snip] The Detroit Lions will end the 2013 season 7 and 9, and finish the 2014 season at 9 and 7, but that won’t be good enough to make the playoffs. [/snip]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3105181/posts?page=67#67

[SunkenCiv]

I’m 4 and oh, Lions beat the Jets today.

BTW, the Thursday night game was pretty ugly (not the Lions).

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve got the right overall record, but they’ve switched the results on the games with Buffalo and New Orleans. I just realized it’s an early game in London UK, and turned it on at the 2 minute mark to go in the 1st. 21 to nothing? Stafford appears to be misjudging his throws due to the different heights of lines in the background (the stadiums differ), which is a problem ROOKIES have, even Favre had it, and GB brought in (of all people) Jim McMahon to straighten this out.

They’re ailing on both sides of the ball, as well.

Lucky for them they have a bye week after today. Hey, wouldn’t it make more sense to have the bye week after a Thursday night game? Just sayin’.

Assuming they come back against Atlanta today, or even if not, I think they’ve got a good matchup against Miami, which has been slowing down a little every game, approaching a stop. Arizona will be tough, as will New England on the road. Chicago’s showing depends on how Jay Cutler does, if the Lions have their D back, Cutler won’t have a good day.

Tampa Bay has in the past surprised the Lions, even when TB sucked, but I don’t think Detroit will lose that one, barring some more injury problems. Minnesota won’t have it together, then it will be Chicago followed by Green Bay, both on the road, meaning the other three teams in their division in the last three weeks of the season. It’s safe to say that Detroit has to either be a game or more ahead, or beat Chicago (twice) and GB (once more), and not worry too much about what happens with the Vikings.

No one from Black and Blue will be in the Wild Card hunt unless things go very well for Detroit with GB keeping pace all the way (Detroit owns a tiebreaker right now).

[SunkenCiv]

> Detroit’s past three victories have been by a combined six points, all with fourth-quarter comebacks.

Next two weeks, I’ve got them losing to AZ and NE, which isn’t that difficult to imagine, but they’ve got the prime players back, and the bench has been doing very well. The defense has kept them in games, and Stafford’s been much better at comebacks then, say, P. Manning.

All Detroit needs is a Bears victory over the Packers (at Lambeau, oh well) this evening and I’ll feel a lot better about the Lions’ chances for the playoffs. Detroit beat NO, but NO beat the Packers by 21 points. Weird they both had a bye week at the same time.

[SunkenCiv]

They lost to AZ, as I’d figured, and they are looking pretty preseason against New England.

Hint: when there’s one side of the field where the receiver will have the sun in his eyes, DON’T THROW TO THAT SIDE.

Hint: receivers elsewhere on the field need to CATCH THE BALL.

I did and do expect them to lose today, but they need to play better, at least keep me in suspense. Plan now is to avoid watching the second half and the seemingly inevitable runup by NE, final score 49-6?

[SunkenCiv]

They beat Chicago on T-giving, next weekend they’ll edge Tampa Bay (TB has shown some life this year), they’ll struggle against the Vikings but pull out another victory, and then face the Packers at Lambeau. The best they can wind up with is 10:7, and currently they trail the Packers by one half game.

BTW, it is rare that I say this, but GO PATRIOTS.

[SunkenCiv]

The Lions won, kinda destroyed Tampa Bay, keeping pace with the Packers, a mere half game behind, and leading the NFC wild card hunt. GB catches up for games played with a Monday night home game against the Falcons. They follow that with two road games where few expect any surprises in the outcome, and wrap up hosting the Lions.

Lions thus far, wlwwlwwwwllww, 9:4
‘Civ thus far, wlwwwwlwlllww, 8:5

[SunkenCiv]

Well, Buffalo is handing Aaron’s own ass to him today. Nice job, Schwartz! Too bad you couldn’t figure that out but once at Detroit! Of course, most of the 4th is left, 9 point lead is two possessions, assuming Buffalo doesn’t score again.

Assuming Detroit beats the Vikes, the Lions will have a statistical tie with Green Bay, with an edge since they beat the Cheezits once this season.

Lions would be fools to let Ndamukong Suh get away
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2014/12/13/detroit-lions-ndamukong-suh/20385533/

Detroit Lions QB coach Jim Bob Cooter works Matthew Stafford relentlessly
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/12/detroit_lions_qb_coach_jim_bob.html

[SunkenCiv]

2015 Lions Schedule
1	Sep 13	4:05 PM ET	FOX	at	Chargers
2	Sep 20	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Vikings
3	Sep 27	8:30 PM ET	NBC	vs	Broncos
4	Oct 05	8:30 PM ET	ESPN	at	Seahawks (Monday Night)
5	Oct 11	4:05 PM ET	FOX	vs	Cardinals
6	Oct 18	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	Bears
7	Oct 25	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	Vikings
8	Nov 01	9:30 AM ET	FOX	at	Chiefs (Wembley UK)
9	Bye Week
10	Nov 15	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Packers
11	Nov 22	1:00 PM ET	CBS	vs	Raiders
12	Nov 26	12:30 PM ET	FOX	vs	Eagles (Thanksgiving)
13	Dec 03	8:25 PM ET	CBS	vs	Packers
14	Dec 13	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Rams
15	Dec 21	8:30 PM ET	ESPN	at	Saints (Monday Night)
16	Dec 27	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	49ers
17	Jan 03	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Bears

[SunkenCiv]

The Lions beat the Jets in the preseason opener. Now this:

Geno Smith gets his jaw broken in locker room over $600 debt
By Brian Costello, Howie Kussoy and Bruce Golding
August 11, 2015
http://nypost.com/2015/08/11/jets-qb-geno-smith-breaks-jaw-on-sucker-punch-by-teammate/

The hapless Jets lost starting quarterback Geno Smith to a locker-room “sucker-punch” Tuesday by teammate IK Enemkpali...

Smith’s jaw was fractured in two places... and he’ll be out for six to 10 weeks.

Head coach Todd Bowles said Smith will need surgery after getting “cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it” by reserve linebacker Enemkpali, who was cut from the team immediately after the punch-out...

Enemkpali gave Smith the silent treatment when the Jets reported to training camp on July 29, and Smith agreed to pay him back when he found out why, sources said...

Smith, who was knocked to the floor, got up and told Enemkpali, “I’m not doing this here,” then walked away, sources said...

Smith is in the third year of a four-year, $5 million contract. Enemkpali, meanwhile, lost $510,000 in salary he was set to earn...

The satirical website Sports Pickle also wrote that Smith’s broken jaw would leave him “sidelined for 18 to 30 interceptions.”

...It was unclear if Enemkpali would face prosecution over the attack. A law enforcement source said New Jersey allows authorities to prosecute assault cases without a victim’s cooperation, but Capt. Robert Treiber of the Florham Park Police Department told NJ.com: “The victim would have to reach out to us.”

[’Civ: btw, that makes no ——ing sense]

The Jets have three other quarterbacks on the roster: Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookies Bryce Petty and Jake Heaps... Multiple reports later Tuesday cited the Jets’ interest in journeyman Rex Grossman.

In a statement released through his agent, who is ironically also a personal-injury lawyer, Enemkpali said: “I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans.”

[SunkenCiv]

Ex-Affleck nanny took private jet to Vegas with Ben and Tom Brady
By Bob Fredericks
http://pagesix.com/2015/08/11/ex-affleck-nanny-took-private-jet-to-vegas-with-ben-and-tom-brady/

> Affleck, an avid gambler, had initially asked Ouzounian to join him on a flight back to LA from the Bahamas — while his clueless spouse stayed behind with their three kids, a source said... “But along the way, he convinced her to go to Las Vegas with him for [a] poker tournament. They even stopped and picked up Tom Brady for the trip. While in Vegas, Ben hid Christine the entire time”... Three days after the photo was snapped, Affleck and Garner announced that they were splitting up.

Christine Ouzounian playfully poses with four of Tom Brady’s Super Bowl rings.
https://nyppagesix.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ouzounianfull.jpg

Affleck and Brady at a White House Correspondents Dinner after-party in 2004.Photo: PatrickMcMullan.com
https://nyppagesix.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/brady-1.jpg

Former NFLers slam Tom Brady over ex-Affleck nanny photos
By Richard Johnson
http://pagesix.com/2015/08/12/nflers-slam-tom-brady-over-affleck-nanny-photos/

> Though there’s no word of what Brady’s wife Gisele Bundchen thinks, “I know my wife would not want the nanny wearing my Super Bowl rings,” said Damien Woody, who played for the New England Patriots and has two Super Bowl rings. “I have my rings locked up.”

[SunkenCiv]

The bogus turnover call was, of course, upheld by the useless talking heads on Fox. That was clearly a TD, Tate was clearly across the goal line as a runner before the ball got knocked out, and that's called a TD. It's easy to believe that there is active fixing going on to ensure big gambling windfalls by the bent-nose types running much of sports gambling. IOW, that should benefit the Lions today, eh?

I think they can get to an 8:8 record, but that's about it. As we saw in the Seahawks game, they can bring it down to the last play, and hang with anyone. They are so inconsistent that any of these L's or W's could flip either way.

If Stafford has one more game like he did against Arizona, the Lions will be in the market for two QBs, one from the past and one for the future. Stafford's no kid, he's got maybe two seasons left and zero championships in him. His lack of championships isn't all on him -- the Lions historically lack an O-line -- but unless they run the table the rest of the season (and they were looking at a probable 1:4 or 2:3 start at the beginning of the season) and finish 11:5 (I don't think anyone thinks they can do that) which will be the minimum to reach a Wild Card (I don't think anyone would be surprised to see the Packers finish 16:0), they aren't going to the playoffs this year, period.

2015 Lions Schedule
1	Sep 13	4:05 PM ET	FOX	at	Chargers	L 28 33
2	Sep 20	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Vikings	L 16 26
3	Sep 27	8:30 PM ET	NBC	vs	Broncos	L 24 12
4	Oct 05	8:30 PM ET	ESPN	at	Seahawks (Monday Night)	L 10 13
5	Oct 11	4:05 PM ET	FOX	vs	Cardinals	L 42 17
6	Oct 18	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	Bears	W
7	Oct 25	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	Vikings	W
8	Nov 01	9:30 AM ET	FOX	at	Chiefs (Wembley UK)	W
9	Bye Week
10	Nov 15	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Packers	L
11	Nov 22	1:00 PM ET	CBS	vs	Raiders	L
12	Nov 26	12:30 PM ET	FOX	vs	Eagles (Thanksgiving)	W
13	Dec 03	8:25 PM ET	CBS	vs	Packers	W
14	Dec 13	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Rams	W
15	Dec 21	8:30 PM ET	ESPN	at	Saints (Monday Night)	L
16	Dec 27	1:00 PM ET	FOX	vs	49ers	W
17	Jan 03	1:00 PM ET	FOX	at	Bears	W

[SunkenCiv]

I don’t see many changes in the current divisional leaders:

AFC East champs: New England Patriots
AFC North champs: Cincinnati Bengals
AFC South champs: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West champs: Denver Broncos
NFC East champs: New York Giants
NFC North champs: Green Bay Packers
NFC South champs: Carolina Panthers
NFC West champs: Arizona Cardinals

AFC wild card contenders: New York Jets; Pittsburgh Steelers; Dallas Cowboys; Washington Redskins; Philadelphia Eagles

NFC wild card contenders: Minnesota Vikings; Atlanta Falcons; New Orleans Saints*; St. Louis Rams*; Seattle Seahawks*; San Francisco 49ers*.

*not reflected in their current standings

[dfwgator]

[Hot Tabasco]

I think they can get to an 8:8 record,

Only if there were eight games left and those teams forfeit.....They'll be lucky if they get 5 wins. 5 or 8, there's really no difference..........

In the past 30 years they've only had 9 seasons where they were above .500.......that's disgraceful!

It's time the NFL forces the Ford's to sell the Lions to a responsible party.......

[Hot Tabasco]

That's funny!...........

Odd, now a days when I hear the Detroit lions mentioned, I think of poor Cecil.......

[SunkenCiv]

The Lions go to the Superbowl every year! They sell concessions to make some extra bucks in their off-season.

[SunkenCiv]

It’s just a game.

[Hot Tabasco]

It’s just a game.

Yea, who cares......Poor Cecil, I knew him well

[SunkenCiv]

;’)