[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.

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[SunkenCiv]

Looks like I rate! :’) If there has ever been a vanity topic, this one is it! ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

from message 165, with the ones where I was wrong underlined:

I'm pained to announce that the Lions have been will be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs for the eleventh straight year.

1. at Chicago Bears, loss
2. at home vs Philadelphia Eagles, loss
3. at Minnesota Vikings, loss
4. at Green Bay Packers, loss
5. at home vs St. Louis Rams, win
6. at New York Giants, loss
7. Bye
8. at home vs Washington Redskins, win
9. at home vs New York Jets, loss
10. at Buffalo Bills, win
11. at Dallas Cowboys, loss
12. at home vs New England Patriots, loss
13. at home vs Chicago Bears, win
14. at home vs Green Bay Packers, win
15. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, loss
16. at Miami Dolphins, loss
17. at home vs Minnesota Vikings, loss

5-11 for the season. Hey, call me an optimist.

They have three wins on the season, they now have a shot at a fourth win vs Miami (six wins on the season, losses to GB and Bears, beat MN, blown out by some quality teams) and a fifth vs the Vikings (with Favre off his game or altogether out). It would be just like the b@$+@rds to win all three remaining games and screw up their draft picks.

[joe fonebone]

I have to disagree with you here...the lions have had some decent quarterbacks, some of which have super bowl rings.....the problem has been the same for 35 years...how can a quarterback perform when he spends most of his time lying on his back or running from people????the weak side offensive lineman has been there for 12 years, and is personally responsible for the assassination of 5 professional quarterbacks....wanna win? then protect your 75 million dollar investment....draft nothing but offensive lineman, and trade for nothing but the best. Then, and only then, will you be able to compete

[SunkenCiv]

well said.

[SunkenCiv]

1. Shaun Hill should keep his finger taped even after it heals.

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2. Dominic Raiola contributes bad PR and stupid penalties; may be time to get someone younger, and trade his ass while he's still worth something in trade.

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3. I don't give two hoots for the Lions' position in the draft picks. Like any team, then need a stronger supporting cast, not supposed star players.

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4. The sad thing is, Schwartz will rebuild the Lions, take them to the playoffs twice, and then get the boot because he can't quite close the deal (particularly after he's been fired).

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Historically, Mariucci took the team to 5-11 in his first season (the previous season under Mornhinweg they were 3-13; Mornhinweg was 5-27 in his two seasons), 6-10 in his second season, and was fired four days after coaching a Thanksgiving Day loss; his partial third season record was 4-7, and interim replacement Dick Jauron finished off that season 1-4.

Marinelli was hired by the cipher Matt Millen and led the team further into the maelstrom (3-13, 7-9, 0-16) -- but at least that provided the impetus to the apparently catatonic owner of the team to sack the whole pack of rats and start semi-fresh (Millen's replacement was found somewhere in the offices).

[SunkenCiv]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Fontes

[snip] In his autobiography, “Now you see him”, Barry says of Wayne Fontes: “I thought he deserved another chance.” ...

As of 2009, Fontes is the only Lions coach to lead the team to a NFC championship game (vs the Washington Redskins following the 1991 season), as well as a division title (1993 season). He led them to the playoffs in four out of eight seasons while he was head coach, including three consecutive playoff berths in the 1993, 1994, and 1995 seasons. He left the Lions compiling the most wins in franchise history (67), most playoff appearances (5), most losses (71), and is 9th (out of 23 coaches) in total win percentage. Fontes also earned the Associated Press 1991 Coach of the Year Award.

Some rumors indicate that Fontes drafted Barry Sanders in 1989 against the wishes of other members of the Lions staff, and accounts from some contemporaries do indicate that Fontes was definitely focused on acquiring Sanders. Barry Sanders made a point to thank Fontes for his guidance in his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech. [unsnip]

[SunkenCiv]

How Did the Rest of the Black and Blue Division Do in the Draft? · Maggie Hendricks · Tuesday, May 3, 2011 -- Even if the Lions had stopped after the first round, they would have had the best draft of the Black and Blue division. They picked up Nick Fairley, the playmaking defensive tackle from Auburn. Last year, the Lions drafted Ndamukong Suh, the DT who won the Rookie of the Year despite getting double and triple-teamed. Now, the Lions will have Fairley to take advantage of those double and triple teams. Expect many flattened quarterbacks in Detroit's future. Beyond Fairley, Detroit picked up Titus Young, a wide receiver who had two 1,000-yard seasons for Boise State, and Mikel LeShoure, Illinois' running back. Both players will need development but can add a spark to Detroit's offense. Both Young and LeShoure were second-round picks. In the fifth and sixth round, they took Doug Hogue, a linebacker from Syracuse and Johnny Culbreath from South Caroline State, a tackle with size and an awesome name.

[SunkenCiv]

• 2011 Detroit Lions Schedule: The NFL Is Making a Statement to the Detroit Lions -- Andrew Kulha

PRESEASON

DATE	OPPONENT	NETWORK	TIME (ET)
Friday, August 12	CINCINNATI BENGALS	WXYZ-TV ABC 7	TBD
Friday, August 19	at Cleveland Browns	WXYZ-TV ABC 7	7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 27	NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS	CBS #	8:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 1	at Buffalo Bills	WXYZ-TV ABC 7	6:30 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON

DATE	OPPONENT	NETWORK	TIME (ET)
Sunday, September 11	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 18	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS	CBS	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 25	at Minnesota Vikings	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 2	at Dallas Cowboys	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Monday, October 10	CHICAGO BEARS	FOX #	8:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 16	SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 23	ATLANTA FALCONS	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 30	at Denver Broncos	FOX	4:05 p.m.
Sunday, November 6	*** BYE WEEK ***
Sunday, November 13	at Chicago Bears	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 20	CAROLINA PANTHERS	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 24	GREEN BAY PACKERS	FOX #	12:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 4	at New Orleans Saints	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 11	MINNESOTA VIKINGS	FOX	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18	at Oakland Raiders	FOX	4:05 p.m.
Saturday, December 24	SAN DIEGO CHARGERS	CBS	4:05 p.m.
Sunday, January 1	at Green Bay Packers	FOX	1:00 p.m.

All times Eastern Time; Home Games in BOLD CAPS

• # Nationally Televised
• FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: NFL Sunday games during flexible Weeks 10-15 and 17 are subject to change 12 days in advance. For Week 17 the schedule is subject to change six days in advance. Games are subject to move to different time slots but dates will remain as announced.

[dfwgator]

I predict 10-6 and a playoff spot....Go Lions!

[KYGrandma]

Shaun Rogers used to be a neighbor of mine. He was huge. Not surprising.

[SunkenCiv]

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Miami Dolphins
• Minnesota Vikings
• New England Patriots
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Giants
• New York Jets
• Oakland Raiders
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Diego Chargers
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• St Louis Rams
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tennessee Titans
• Washington Redskins

by division:

AFC-East

• Buffalo Bills
• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots
• New York Jets

AFC-North

• Baltimore Ravens
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC-South

• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tennessee Titans

AFC-West

• Denver Broncos
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Oakland Raiders
• San Diego Chargers

NFC-East

• Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Washington Redskins

NFC-North

• Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Minnesota Vikings

NFC-Souch

• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC-West

• Arizona Cardinals
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• St Louis Rams

[SunkenCiv]

That’s about what it will take, I think. AFC wildcards went in with 9, NFC with 10.

[SunkenCiv]

And that’s not bad — six regular season losses, three playoff wins in a row, world champions. Dare to dream. :’) This is the best top-to-bottom organization the Lions have had in memory, the starters are all good to great, and the bench isn’t a shambles as it has generally been in the past.

[rintense]

I have them at 10-6 too. But Leshore is out for the season (and possibly career) with a ruptured Achilles tendon. And with Nick Farely and Titus Young both injured, none of their 3 top draft picks has seen any valuable time. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’ll be ok. They rolled 4 straight last year without these guys. But, when you’re used to dealing with Lions luck, a loss like Leshore today makes you fall right back into ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ mode.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) It’s amusing to me to see how some players look tiny next to some of their teammates and opponents, and then how huge the same small guys look next to sportscasters and whatnot.

[SunkenCiv]

I recall a story about D’s top draft pick, many years ago, who suffered his career-ending injury as he got off the bus at training camp the first (and last) time. :’) Somehow it’s hard to avoid thinking about the voodoo woman bit from the late Richard Pryor when mulling over the Lions’ luck.

[SunkenCiv]

Schwartz’s gesture at press conference shows the effect Kowalski had on Lions
By Doug Farrar
Mon Aug 29 10:40pm EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Schwartz-s-gesture-at-press-conference-shows-the?urn=nfl-wp6114

[SunkenCiv]

Week: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17

[SunkenCiv]

Some Lions down to their last chance to make team
[Derrick Williams, Nick Harris, Ryan Donahue]
Aug 31
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lionslastshot

Lions cut P Harris, DB Vasher and WR Williams
Sep 3, 9:21 pm EDT
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-cuts

...have released punter Nick Harris... puts undrafted rookie Ryan Donahue on the roster... also released defensive back Nathan Vasher and receiver Derrick Williams... activated cornerback Alphonso Smith off the non-football injury list and put tackle Johnny Culbreath on the injured list... other cuts included: linebacker Caleb Campbell... fullback Matt Clapp... running back Ian Johnson... quarterback Zac Robinson... defensive back Ricardo Silva... receiver Tim Toone...

Lions cut Brown and Morris, claim Williams
13 hours, 56 minutes ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-moves

...released running back Aaron Brown and center Chris Morris... and claimed running back Keiland Williams... Williams rushed for 261 yards on 65 carries with the Washington Redskins last season.