In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that Sunday’s regular season finale vs. the Minnesota Vikings has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo), including WJBK-TV FOX 2.
Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings will mark the seventh home sellout by the club this season, and it is the most sellouts by the team since the 2007 season when all eight games were sold out.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
Lions WR Calvin Johnson reeled in a career-high tying 10 catches for 152 yards at Tampa Bay (12/19). His 152 receiving yards is the third highest single-game tally of his career. He also surpassed 4,000 career receiving yards, reaching the mark in 59 games to become the fastest player in team history to reach 4,000 receiving yards (previous best was WR Gail Cogdill in 62 games from 1960-64).
Johnson’s 152-yard outing was the 13th 100-yard game of his career, moving him into a tied with WR Roy Williams (2004-08) for fifth place on the team’s all-time list for 100-yard receiving outings. He also joined E Cloyce Box (3), WR Gail Cogdill (3), WR Leonard Thompson (3), WR Herman Moore (5) and WR Jonnie Morton (3) as the only players in team history with 3 150-yard receiving games.
Lions K Dave Rayner was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts against the Buccaneers (12/19), hitting clutch kicks of 41, 28 and 34 yards. He became the first kicker in team history to make a field goal on the final play of regulation and then make the game-winning field goal in overtime. All three of Rayner’s kicks came in the final minute of a half or in overtime. His overtime field goal (34 yards) was his first career field goal in overtime.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Miami this week to take on the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium Sunday, December 26 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET. The Lions are looking to win three in a row after a 23-20 overtime victory in Tampa while the Dolphins will try to get on the winning track after a 17-14 loss to Buffalo.
TODAY’S NEWS
Lions WR Calvin Johnson reeled in a career-high tying 10 catches for 152 yards at Tampa Bay (12/19). His 152 receiving yards is the third highest single-game tally of his career. He also surpassed 4,000 career receiving yards, reaching the mark in 59 games to become the fastest player in team history to reach 4,000 receiving yards (previous best was WR Gail Cogdill in 62 games from 1960-64).
Johnson’s 152-yard outing was the 13th 100-yard game of his career, moving him into a tied with WR Roy Williams (2004-08) for fifth place on the team’s all-time list for 100-yard receiving outings. He also joined E Cloyce Box (3), WR Gail Cogdill (3), WR Leonard Thompson (3), WR Herman Moore (5) and WR Jonnie Morton (3) as the only players in team history with 3 150-yard receiving games.
Lions K Dave Rayner was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts against the Buccaneers (12/19), hitting clutch kicks of 41, 28 and 34 yards. He became the first kicker in team history to make a field goal on the final play of regulation and then make the game-winning field goal in overtime. All three of Rayner’s kicks came in the final minute of a half or in overtime. His overtime field goal (34 yards) was his first career field goal in overtime.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Miami this week to take on the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium Sunday, December 26 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET. The Lions are looking to win three in a row after a 23-20 overtime victory in Tampa while the Dolphins will try to get on the winning track after a 17-14 loss to Buffalo.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
DREW STANTON NAMED LIONS’ ROBERT PORCHER MAN OF THE YEAR
In Play Magazine
ALLEN PARK, MICH. – For the second consecutive year, quarterback Drew Stanton has been selected as the Detroit Lions’ Robert Porcher Man of the Year, an award that recognizes off-the-field community service. Stanton is one of 32 finalists, one from each NFL team, who receives $1,000 for his foundation and is a finalist for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year honor.
In his fourth year season in the NFL, Stanton has established his own foundation and is a leader in charity work in his home state of Michigan.
The High 5ive Foundation is a 501c3 organization that Stanton established in 2008. The main focus of his foundation is to support programs at Special Olympics and Children’s Miracle Network. Stanton has been heavily involved with both organizations since his collegiate career at Michigan State University. In the past year, he has expanded his reach to many other organizations including Cystic Fibrosis and Orchard Children’s Services.
Special Olympics is an organization Stanton worked with during his playing days at Michigan State and he continues his relationship with them. He has assisted with the Michigan summer and winter games, speaking and handing out medals at the summer games in Mt. Pleasant and being the emcee for the past three winter games in Traverse City.
Stanton donates 36 tickets for every Lions’ home game through the Lions’ CATS (Caring Athletes Ticket Service) for Kids program. Organizations that receive tickets to each game are Children’s Miracle Network, Special Olympics and Orchard Children’s Services. The children receive tickets to the game, a meal during the game, and a welcome message on the video board.
This season Stanton started hosting “Movie Night” at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak through Children’s Miracle Network. The kids are treated to Monday night movies with Stanton and popcorn and treats from the Detroit Popcorn Company. In addition, he makes special visits to the kids in the hospital on Tuesdays.
Each summer, Stanton hosts the High 5ive Foundation Celebrity Golf Outing in East Lansing to help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. He and his foundation run the tournament and several current and former Lions and Spartans attend the event.
Stanton is also very involved in assisting and supporting the Dearborn Animal Shelter. He has participated in the Detroit Lions’ Pet Calendar since his first year with the Lions, for which all proceeds from the sale of the calendars benefit the Dearborn Animal Shelter. He also has helped the shelter with PSA’s for various events, participated in their annual Mutt Strut and he and his wife Kristin were honorary chairs for their annual Black Tie Gala in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
This year Stanton added a new event to his already busy calendar. His foundation raised $10,000 to take 100 children from Orchard Children’s Services on a holiday shopping spree. He and his wife Kristin, along with several Lions’ players will have a holiday dinner and then take the children shopping at Target. Each child will receive $100 gift card at Target to spend on their shopping spree.
Stanton, his wife and family annually serve dinner at the Detroit Rescue Mission on Thanksgiving Day following the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving Day game. Stanton also reads to students at schools, attends charity golf outings, makes hospital visits, speaks at athletic banquets and school assemblies, hosts football camps and serves meals at homeless shelters. Stanton participates in all of the Lions’ team community activities. He has helped with Play 60 events, participated in Jump Rope for Heart with the American Heart Association and other fitness activities for youth.
The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced live on FOX before Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The prestigious award was renamed in 1999 for the legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award has been given annually since 1970.
ALLEN PARK, MICH. – For the second consecutive year, quarterback Drew Stanton has been selected as the Detroit Lions’ Robert Porcher Man of the Year, an award that recognizes off-the-field community service. Stanton is one of 32 finalists, one from each NFL team, who receives $1,000 for his foundation and is a finalist for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year honor.
In his fourth year season in the NFL, Stanton has established his own foundation and is a leader in charity work in his home state of Michigan.
The High 5ive Foundation is a 501c3 organization that Stanton established in 2008. The main focus of his foundation is to support programs at Special Olympics and Children’s Miracle Network. Stanton has been heavily involved with both organizations since his collegiate career at Michigan State University. In the past year, he has expanded his reach to many other organizations including Cystic Fibrosis and Orchard Children’s Services.
Special Olympics is an organization Stanton worked with during his playing days at Michigan State and he continues his relationship with them. He has assisted with the Michigan summer and winter games, speaking and handing out medals at the summer games in Mt. Pleasant and being the emcee for the past three winter games in Traverse City.
Stanton donates 36 tickets for every Lions’ home game through the Lions’ CATS (Caring Athletes Ticket Service) for Kids program. Organizations that receive tickets to each game are Children’s Miracle Network, Special Olympics and Orchard Children’s Services. The children receive tickets to the game, a meal during the game, and a welcome message on the video board.
This season Stanton started hosting “Movie Night” at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak through Children’s Miracle Network. The kids are treated to Monday night movies with Stanton and popcorn and treats from the Detroit Popcorn Company. In addition, he makes special visits to the kids in the hospital on Tuesdays.
Each summer, Stanton hosts the High 5ive Foundation Celebrity Golf Outing in East Lansing to help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. He and his foundation run the tournament and several current and former Lions and Spartans attend the event.
Stanton is also very involved in assisting and supporting the Dearborn Animal Shelter. He has participated in the Detroit Lions’ Pet Calendar since his first year with the Lions, for which all proceeds from the sale of the calendars benefit the Dearborn Animal Shelter. He also has helped the shelter with PSA’s for various events, participated in their annual Mutt Strut and he and his wife Kristin were honorary chairs for their annual Black Tie Gala in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
This year Stanton added a new event to his already busy calendar. His foundation raised $10,000 to take 100 children from Orchard Children’s Services on a holiday shopping spree. He and his wife Kristin, along with several Lions’ players will have a holiday dinner and then take the children shopping at Target. Each child will receive $100 gift card at Target to spend on their shopping spree.
Stanton, his wife and family annually serve dinner at the Detroit Rescue Mission on Thanksgiving Day following the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving Day game. Stanton also reads to students at schools, attends charity golf outings, makes hospital visits, speaks at athletic banquets and school assemblies, hosts football camps and serves meals at homeless shelters. Stanton participates in all of the Lions’ team community activities. He has helped with Play 60 events, participated in Jump Rope for Heart with the American Heart Association and other fitness activities for youth.
The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced live on FOX before Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The prestigious award was renamed in 1999 for the legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award has been given annually since 1970.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Still a possibility Favre plays
Frazier: Still a possibility Favre plays: "The Vikings aren’t ruling out Brett Favre for Monday night’s game in Detroit, despite reports that Favre doubts he’ll play."
UPDATE REGARDING TICKET DISTRIBUTION TO TONIGHT'S VIKINGS-GIANTS GAME
In Play Magazine
*** URGENT ***
The Detroit Lions have announced that due to the overwhelming response this morning for tickets to tonight’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants at Ford Field, tickets will no longer be distributed at the Ford Field Box Office.
Anyone already holding a ticket to the Vikings-Giants game that was scheduled to be played in Minneapolis on Sunday will be admitted and given preferred seating in Detroit Monday night.
Fans with tickets to Sunday’s Packers-Lions game in Detroit can also use their ticket from yesterday’s game and will be admitted free tonight with no reserved seating.
This is a first-come, first-serve event. Capacity of Ford Field is 64,500, and fans with Lions-Packers ticket stubs and general admission tickets distributed this morning are not guaranteed if stadium capacity is reached.
Stadium gates will open at 5:30 pm.
*** URGENT ***
The Detroit Lions have announced that due to the overwhelming response this morning for tickets to tonight’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants at Ford Field, tickets will no longer be distributed at the Ford Field Box Office.
Anyone already holding a ticket to the Vikings-Giants game that was scheduled to be played in Minneapolis on Sunday will be admitted and given preferred seating in Detroit Monday night.
Fans with tickets to Sunday’s Packers-Lions game in Detroit can also use their ticket from yesterday’s game and will be admitted free tonight with no reserved seating.
This is a first-come, first-serve event. Capacity of Ford Field is 64,500, and fans with Lions-Packers ticket stubs and general admission tickets distributed this morning are not guaranteed if stadium capacity is reached.
Stadium gates will open at 5:30 pm.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
UPDATE REGARDING VIKINGS/GIANTS GAME AT FORD FIELD
In Play Magazine
Update from NFL:
"Monday night's Giant-Vikings game at Ford Field in Detroit will kick off at 7:20 pm ET.
"Anyone already holding a ticket to this game that was scheduled to be played in Minneapolis today will be admitted and given preferred seating in Detroit Monday night. The Vikings will announce shortly details on ticket refunds and credits for those that hold tickets to today's re-scheduled game.
"Fans with tickets to today's Packers-Lions game in Detroit can use their ticket from today's game and be admitted free tomorrow night with no reserved seating.
"Free general admission tickets for other fans will be available at the Lions' ticket office at Ford Field beginning at 9 am tomorrow. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Stadium gates will open at 5:30 pm.
"The game will be televised by FOX in selected markets and available to Sunday Ticket subscribers on DirecTV. Additional television details will follow."
LIONS PRESIDENT TOM LEWAND – REGARDING VIKINGS/GIANTS GAME
Opening Statement: “We’ve just completed a conference call with the Commissioner and others – the Giants and Vikings game will be played here tomorrow night, 7:20 kickoff. The event will be free for any Detroit sports fan. We’ll have preferred seating for anybody with a ticket to the Minnesota/New York Giants game today – they’ll have preferred seating. Anybody who has a ticket to today’s game (Lions/Packers), their ticket stub will be good for general admission seating tomorrow. There will be no reserve seats outside of those ticket holders from the Minnesota/New York Giant game today. Anybody with a ticket to today’s game (Lions/Packers) can get in free. We’ll also have tickets available at the Ford Field Box Office starting at 9:00 AM tomorrow morning. Again, free of charge, but you do need a ticket to get in.
"If you have a Giants/Vikings ticket, you will have preferred seating. If you have a ticket stub to the Lions/Packers game, that will be good for free admission tomorrow night as well.”
On what the general public needs to do: “Tickets will be available at the Ford Field Box Office starting at 9:00 AM, free of charge.”
On parking: “That will normal. There will be no preferred parking, per se. Credentials will be good for today’s game. We’re working on some of the other logistics as you might imagine.”
On when conversations began: “We reached out this morning at about 9:00 AM.”
On what is the biggest logistical challenge: “Well we have a great staff. We have a phenomenal group of people that work here and the confidence level that we have in them is what enabled us to do this without a lot of consternation. Obviously there is a lot of hard work that is going to have to happen – not only over the next three or four hours, but over the next 28-30 hours. But because we have such a great staff, I have the confidence that they’ll be able to do that.”
On field preparations: “We’re going to work to make this as accommodating of a game for both teams, but particularly the Vikings, since it is their home game that is being lost.”
On television specifics: “The NFL announced that, but it is going to be televised on FOX, in the New York and the Minnesota markets. They are working on other – it’s also available on DirecTV for any DirecTV subscribers and I understand they are working on other issues related to the broadcast, but that’s something that’s being handled by the league.”
On if he has an idea on fan turnout: “We hope it’s a great event. It’s free. Obviously that was something that was important to us. This is an opportunity for Detroit fans to come out and enjoy another NFL game and we think that we’ll have a good crowd and that’s why we tried to make it as accessible as possible.”
On if there are any concerns about Detroit weather: “Both teams were satisfied that they can travel in later today. One of the teams may be coming in tomorrow morning, but I think they were satisfied that logistically it will not be an issue.”
Update from NFL:
"Monday night's Giant-Vikings game at Ford Field in Detroit will kick off at 7:20 pm ET.
"Anyone already holding a ticket to this game that was scheduled to be played in Minneapolis today will be admitted and given preferred seating in Detroit Monday night. The Vikings will announce shortly details on ticket refunds and credits for those that hold tickets to today's re-scheduled game.
"Fans with tickets to today's Packers-Lions game in Detroit can use their ticket from today's game and be admitted free tomorrow night with no reserved seating.
"Free general admission tickets for other fans will be available at the Lions' ticket office at Ford Field beginning at 9 am tomorrow. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Stadium gates will open at 5:30 pm.
"The game will be televised by FOX in selected markets and available to Sunday Ticket subscribers on DirecTV. Additional television details will follow."
LIONS PRESIDENT TOM LEWAND – REGARDING VIKINGS/GIANTS GAME
Opening Statement: “We’ve just completed a conference call with the Commissioner and others – the Giants and Vikings game will be played here tomorrow night, 7:20 kickoff. The event will be free for any Detroit sports fan. We’ll have preferred seating for anybody with a ticket to the Minnesota/New York Giants game today – they’ll have preferred seating. Anybody who has a ticket to today’s game (Lions/Packers), their ticket stub will be good for general admission seating tomorrow. There will be no reserve seats outside of those ticket holders from the Minnesota/New York Giant game today. Anybody with a ticket to today’s game (Lions/Packers) can get in free. We’ll also have tickets available at the Ford Field Box Office starting at 9:00 AM tomorrow morning. Again, free of charge, but you do need a ticket to get in.
"If you have a Giants/Vikings ticket, you will have preferred seating. If you have a ticket stub to the Lions/Packers game, that will be good for free admission tomorrow night as well.”
On what the general public needs to do: “Tickets will be available at the Ford Field Box Office starting at 9:00 AM, free of charge.”
On parking: “That will normal. There will be no preferred parking, per se. Credentials will be good for today’s game. We’re working on some of the other logistics as you might imagine.”
On when conversations began: “We reached out this morning at about 9:00 AM.”
On what is the biggest logistical challenge: “Well we have a great staff. We have a phenomenal group of people that work here and the confidence level that we have in them is what enabled us to do this without a lot of consternation. Obviously there is a lot of hard work that is going to have to happen – not only over the next three or four hours, but over the next 28-30 hours. But because we have such a great staff, I have the confidence that they’ll be able to do that.”
On field preparations: “We’re going to work to make this as accommodating of a game for both teams, but particularly the Vikings, since it is their home game that is being lost.”
On television specifics: “The NFL announced that, but it is going to be televised on FOX, in the New York and the Minnesota markets. They are working on other – it’s also available on DirecTV for any DirecTV subscribers and I understand they are working on other issues related to the broadcast, but that’s something that’s being handled by the league.”
On if he has an idea on fan turnout: “We hope it’s a great event. It’s free. Obviously that was something that was important to us. This is an opportunity for Detroit fans to come out and enjoy another NFL game and we think that we’ll have a good crowd and that’s why we tried to make it as accessible as possible.”
On if there are any concerns about Detroit weather: “Both teams were satisfied that they can travel in later today. One of the teams may be coming in tomorrow morning, but I think they were satisfied that logistically it will not be an issue.”
Thursday, December 9, 2010
DETROIT LIONS 16th ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE THIS SUNDAY
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lions 16th annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive will be held at the Lions-Packers game this Sunday, December 12th at Ford Field. Fans attending are asked to help the United States Marine Corps and its annual holiday toy drive --- Toys for Tots.
The Lions have joined forces with the United States Marines Corps in Detroit, WWJ-TV, 97.1 The Ticket and Central Michigan Movers in this year’s effort. Uniformed Marines will be located at the stadium gates on game day to collect new, unwrapped toys.
Kickoff for the Sunday’s game is 1:00 pm. Marines will begin collecting toys at 10:30 am. The toys will go to needy children in Metro Detroit in time for the holiday season. Last year’s drive collected more than 1,200 toys and $8,000 for Toys for Tots.
For more information, please contact theDetroit Lions Community Affairs Office at 313-216-4170.
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lions 16th annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive will be held at the Lions-Packers game this Sunday, December 12th at Ford Field. Fans attending are asked to help the United States Marine Corps and its annual holiday toy drive --- Toys for Tots.
The Lions have joined forces with the United States Marines Corps in Detroit, WWJ-TV, 97.1 The Ticket and Central Michigan Movers in this year’s effort. Uniformed Marines will be located at the stadium gates on game day to collect new, unwrapped toys.
Kickoff for the Sunday’s game is 1:00 pm. Marines will begin collecting toys at 10:30 am. The toys will go to needy children in Metro Detroit in time for the holiday season. Last year’s drive collected more than 1,200 toys and $8,000 for Toys for Tots.
For more information, please contact theDetroit Lions Community Affairs Office at 313-216-4170.
LIONS REACH SELLOUT FOR SUNDAY’S GAME VS. GREEN BAY
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that Sunday’s game vs. the Green Bay Packers has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets.
Sunday’s game vs. the Packers will mark the sixth home sellout by the club in its first seven home games this season, and it is the most sellouts by the team since the 2007 season when all eight games were sold out.
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that Sunday’s game vs. the Green Bay Packers has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets.
Sunday’s game vs. the Packers will mark the sixth home sellout by the club in its first seven home games this season, and it is the most sellouts by the team since the 2007 season when all eight games were sold out.
Monday, December 6, 2010
LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ ON TODAY'S GAME
In Play Magazine
JIM SCHWARTZ
Opening statement from today's post game wrap up.
“When you’re in a close game like we were today, there are a lot of plays that you can look at and say, ‘That was the play of the game.’ It might have been the first quarter of the game, it might have been the last. But what we have to do as a team is we have to find a way to make one more play on offense and special teams and we have to find a way to prevent one more play on defense. That’s the bottom line with us. The opponent’s going to make some plays in the game. This is an outstanding defense we played against and we weren’t going to score every single time we had the ball.
On offense, they put some good numbers on the board after the middle of the season where they were struggling. We had to find a way to make one more play. That’s where we are. We didn’t get that done in this game. We made some plays. You can’t overlook that. Two plays with playmakers at the end of the first half: Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson. We’ve had a lot of other situations like that but there were a lot of points in this game, and I don’t think any one more important than the other.
But there were a couple things. We can’t finish the game with the opponent taking a knee. We got stalled out on offense. We punted the ball. We didn’t do a very good job of punting because rather than pinning them back and making it dangerous for them to come out, we gave them the ball on the 20, and then defense never got the ball back for the offense in a one-score game. (It was) very similar to the Green Bay game, where we have to find a way to get the ball back for our offense. That was a poor job.
Offensively we had a couple shots right around midfield. We had a fourth-down play and we had a third-down play that were short yardage plays and we didn’t make those plays. That was the difference in this game. But to say one was more important than the other… there’s a lot that you could go back and look at a million different plays, but when you play close games, that’s what happens.”
JIM SCHWARTZ
Opening statement from today's post game wrap up.
“When you’re in a close game like we were today, there are a lot of plays that you can look at and say, ‘That was the play of the game.’ It might have been the first quarter of the game, it might have been the last. But what we have to do as a team is we have to find a way to make one more play on offense and special teams and we have to find a way to prevent one more play on defense. That’s the bottom line with us. The opponent’s going to make some plays in the game. This is an outstanding defense we played against and we weren’t going to score every single time we had the ball.
On offense, they put some good numbers on the board after the middle of the season where they were struggling. We had to find a way to make one more play. That’s where we are. We didn’t get that done in this game. We made some plays. You can’t overlook that. Two plays with playmakers at the end of the first half: Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson. We’ve had a lot of other situations like that but there were a lot of points in this game, and I don’t think any one more important than the other.
But there were a couple things. We can’t finish the game with the opponent taking a knee. We got stalled out on offense. We punted the ball. We didn’t do a very good job of punting because rather than pinning them back and making it dangerous for them to come out, we gave them the ball on the 20, and then defense never got the ball back for the offense in a one-score game. (It was) very similar to the Green Bay game, where we have to find a way to get the ball back for our offense. That was a poor job.
Offensively we had a couple shots right around midfield. We had a fourth-down play and we had a third-down play that were short yardage plays and we didn’t make those plays. That was the difference in this game. But to say one was more important than the other… there’s a lot that you could go back and look at a million different plays, but when you play close games, that’s what happens.”
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Lions place K Jason Hanson on Reserve/Injured list and sign CB Tye Hill.
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team placed K Jason Hanson on the Reserve/Injured list today and signed CB Tye Hill.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: K Jason Hanson (right knee) is out and T Gosder Cherilus (knee), QB Shaun Hill (right finger), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (neck) did not practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (hamstring), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and TE Tony Scheffler (rib) were limited in practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee) and DT Corey Williams (shoulder) had full participation in practice. Hanson was downgraded to out after being placed on the Reserve/Injured list and Cherilus was downgraded to no practice after full participation yesterday.
The following player(s) were listed on the Chicago Bears’ Injury Report today: LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) was limited in practice. The Bears upgraded Tinoisamoa from no practiced to limited and removed WR Rashied Davis (shoulder) from the injury list after limiting his participation Wednesday.
The Detroit Lions welcome the Chicago Bears to Ford Field this Sunday, December 5 at 1 p.m. ET.
The Lions are looking to get on track after their 45-24 loss to the Patriots while the Bears aim to extend their winning streak to five after a 31-26 victory over the Eagles.
The game will be televised live in Metro Detroit.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team placed K Jason Hanson on the Reserve/Injured list today and signed CB Tye Hill.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: K Jason Hanson (right knee) is out and T Gosder Cherilus (knee), QB Shaun Hill (right finger), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (neck) did not practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (hamstring), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and TE Tony Scheffler (rib) were limited in practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee) and DT Corey Williams (shoulder) had full participation in practice. Hanson was downgraded to out after being placed on the Reserve/Injured list and Cherilus was downgraded to no practice after full participation yesterday.
The following player(s) were listed on the Chicago Bears’ Injury Report today: LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) was limited in practice. The Bears upgraded Tinoisamoa from no practiced to limited and removed WR Rashied Davis (shoulder) from the injury list after limiting his participation Wednesday.
The Detroit Lions welcome the Chicago Bears to Ford Field this Sunday, December 5 at 1 p.m. ET.
The Lions are looking to get on track after their 45-24 loss to the Patriots while the Bears aim to extend their winning streak to five after a 31-26 victory over the Eagles.
The game will be televised live in Metro Detroit.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
LIONS REACH SELLOUT FOR SUNDAY’S GAME VS. CHICAGO
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that Sunday’s game vs. the Chicago Bears has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets.
Sunday’s game vs. the Bears will mark the fifth home sellout by the club in its first six home games this season, and it is the most sellouts by the team since the 2007 season when all eight games were sold out.
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that Sunday’s game vs. the Chicago Bears has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets.
Sunday’s game vs. the Bears will mark the fifth home sellout by the club in its first six home games this season, and it is the most sellouts by the team since the 2007 season when all eight games were sold out.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2010
In Play Magazine
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (quadriceps), K Jason Hanson (right knee), RB Kevin Smith (thumb) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice.
RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (thigh), LB Bobby Carpenter (toe), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee), G Dylan Gandy (calf), LB DeAndre Levy, TE Tony Scheffler (shoulder) and DT Corey Williams (shoulder/groin) were limited in practice.
CB Chris Houston (shoulder), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and CB Alphonso Smith (shoulder) had full participation in practice today.
Burleson, Gandy and Levy were added to the injury list today while T Jason Fox (illness) was removed.
Best was upgraded from no practice to limited and Calvin Johnson was upgraded from limited to full practice.
Avril, Hanson, Smith and Stafford are out.
Ekejiuba and Scheffler are questionable.
Best, Burleson, Carpenter, Gandy, Houston, Calvin Johnson, Levy, McBride, Smith and Williams are probable.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Dallas this week to take on the Cowboys at the new Cowboys Stadium Sunday, November 21 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (quadriceps), K Jason Hanson (right knee), RB Kevin Smith (thumb) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice.
RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (thigh), LB Bobby Carpenter (toe), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee), G Dylan Gandy (calf), LB DeAndre Levy, TE Tony Scheffler (shoulder) and DT Corey Williams (shoulder/groin) were limited in practice.
CB Chris Houston (shoulder), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and CB Alphonso Smith (shoulder) had full participation in practice today.
Burleson, Gandy and Levy were added to the injury list today while T Jason Fox (illness) was removed.
Best was upgraded from no practice to limited and Calvin Johnson was upgraded from limited to full practice.
Avril, Hanson, Smith and Stafford are out.
Ekejiuba and Scheffler are questionable.
Best, Burleson, Carpenter, Gandy, Houston, Calvin Johnson, Levy, McBride, Smith and Williams are probable.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Dallas this week to take on the Cowboys at the new Cowboys Stadium Sunday, November 21 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
LIONS REACH SELLOUT FOR 71st THANKSGIVING DAY GAME
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that the team’s 71st Thanksgiving Day Game vs. the New England Patriots has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo), including WWJ-TV CBS 62.
By reaching a sellout seven days prior to the game, it is the earliest the Lions have announced a sellout prior to a home game since the clubs’ Thanksgiving Day Game vs. Green Bay in 2007.
“Our fan support has been incredible this year, “said Lions President Tom Lewand. “They have created a true home-field advantage this season at Ford Field, making it a very difficult place to play for our opponents. This (the early sellout) shows the excitement and support our fans have for both our team and for our Thanksgiving Day tradition that means so much to this community.”
The Lions Thanksgiving Day Game (November 25) will mark the fourth home sellout by the club in its first five home games this season.
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that the team’s 71st Thanksgiving Day Game vs. the New England Patriots has reached a sellout and will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo), including WWJ-TV CBS 62.
By reaching a sellout seven days prior to the game, it is the earliest the Lions have announced a sellout prior to a home game since the clubs’ Thanksgiving Day Game vs. Green Bay in 2007.
“Our fan support has been incredible this year, “said Lions President Tom Lewand. “They have created a true home-field advantage this season at Ford Field, making it a very difficult place to play for our opponents. This (the early sellout) shows the excitement and support our fans have for both our team and for our Thanksgiving Day tradition that means so much to this community.”
The Lions Thanksgiving Day Game (November 25) will mark the fourth home sellout by the club in its first five home games this season.
Friday, November 12, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (quadriceps), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee), K Jason Hanson (right knee) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice.
RB Jahvid Best (toes), S C.C. Brown (knee), CB Chris Houston (shoulder), G Stephen Peterman (foot), CB Alphonso Smith (shoulder), RB Kevin Smith (knee) and DT Corey Williams (groin) were limited in practice.
QB Shaun Hill (left forearm), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (knee) had full participation in practice today.
Vanden Bosch upgraded from limited to full practice while Avril was downgraded from limited to no practice. Hanson and Stafford are out and Ekejiuba is doubtful. Avril, C.C. Brown, Houson and Alphonso Smith are questionable. Best, Hill, McBride, Peterman, Kevin Smith, Vanden Bosch and Williams are probable.
The following players were listed on the Buffalo Bills’ Injury Report today: LB Andra Davis (shoulder), G Cord Howard (knee), LB Shawne Merriman (calf) and WR Roscoe Parrish (wrist) and did not practice. T Demetrius Bell (knee), CB Reggie Corner (ankle), WR Lee Evans (ankle), LB Chris Kelsay (knee) and G Eric Wood (knee) had full participation in practice today. Davis, Merriman and Parrish are out. Howard is doubtful and Bell, Corner, Evans, Kelsay and Wood are probable.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Buffalo this weekend to take on the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday, November 14 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The Lions are looking to get back on track after their heartbreaking overtime loss to the New York Jets and the Bills will be looking to get a win after a tough 22-19 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto.
The game will be televised in the metro area.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (quadriceps), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee), K Jason Hanson (right knee) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice.
RB Jahvid Best (toes), S C.C. Brown (knee), CB Chris Houston (shoulder), G Stephen Peterman (foot), CB Alphonso Smith (shoulder), RB Kevin Smith (knee) and DT Corey Williams (groin) were limited in practice.
QB Shaun Hill (left forearm), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (knee) had full participation in practice today.
Vanden Bosch upgraded from limited to full practice while Avril was downgraded from limited to no practice. Hanson and Stafford are out and Ekejiuba is doubtful. Avril, C.C. Brown, Houson and Alphonso Smith are questionable. Best, Hill, McBride, Peterman, Kevin Smith, Vanden Bosch and Williams are probable.
The following players were listed on the Buffalo Bills’ Injury Report today: LB Andra Davis (shoulder), G Cord Howard (knee), LB Shawne Merriman (calf) and WR Roscoe Parrish (wrist) and did not practice. T Demetrius Bell (knee), CB Reggie Corner (ankle), WR Lee Evans (ankle), LB Chris Kelsay (knee) and G Eric Wood (knee) had full participation in practice today. Davis, Merriman and Parrish are out. Howard is doubtful and Bell, Corner, Evans, Kelsay and Wood are probable.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Buffalo this weekend to take on the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday, November 14 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The Lions are looking to get back on track after their heartbreaking overtime loss to the New York Jets and the Bills will be looking to get a win after a tough 22-19 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto.
The game will be televised in the metro area.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
DETROIT LIONS VS. NEW YORK JETS: POSTGAME NOTES AND QUOTES
In Play Magazine
For Starters
K Jason Hanson has now played in 295 career games, the most in franchise history. Hanson has now tied Hall of Fame CB Darrell Green (Washington Redskins, 1983-2002) for the second-most games played by a player with one team and is now one game behind C Bruce Matthews (Houston Oilers/Tennessee Texans, 1983-2001) for the most games played on by a player on one team.
Hanson’s career 295 career games is second among active players and 11th all-time.
T Jeff Backus made his 152nd consecutive start today at left tackle.He has started every game since he was drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Backus currently holds the mark for the most consecutive starts among active interior (offense and defense) linemen and is currently tied for fifth among all active players with 152 straight starts.
He is second in Lions history for most consecutive games started behind Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau (171).
LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ
Opening statement:
“Obviously a very difficult loss to take, particularly when we had a 10-point lead as the game rolled down the fourth quarter. The end of the game, we failed to execute the way that we needed to and that’s the head coach’s fault. That’s my fault. I didn’t do a good job enough with the players in those situations, not only on defense, but on offense and on special teams. The game came down to one point. We had a missed extra point and there’s no question that Ndamukong is our backup field goal kicker. He’s done it in practice. We have a lot of confidence that he could kick it. It put him in a difficult situation because he went out without any warm-ups, where a kicker that’s not playing a position generally has time to take his time. Probably should have called a timeout, given him time to get ready. At the time, when Jason got roughed on the play, it looked like it was a big advantage for us, because it put us at first and goal at the 1. We were able to get a touchdown rather than a field goal. But in the long haul, that actually hurt us worse than it helped us, with the missed extra point, then also our kickoffs and the way the field goal team was at the end of the game.”
On QB Matthew Stafford’s condition:
“He’s very sore. He hurt his shoulder and wasn’t able to finish the game. You guys know how tough he is. If he could have he would’ve. We’re going to take a pretty serious look at it.”
On if he re-injured the same separation he had before:
“It’s his right shoulder. I don’t know if it’s even related. We took enough time with it that we thought that any re-injury would be a new injury. We’ll see where he is with that. That was a tough situation because he had green grass in front of him and had his chance to break out of there and run. But some of those plays we just need to throw it away. We didn’t want to throw incomplete passes in those situations. He ran it.”
On if there is a reason that the errors happened at the end of the game and if it’s due to having young guys on the field:
“There’s no excuses there. Even if you’re a younger player, if you’re not a younger player we need to be able to execute at the end of the game. We’re eight games into the season. There are no rookies anymore, there are no young players. We need to be able to execute. There were breakdowns at the wrong time at the end of the game.”
On if K Jason Hanson’s injury is long term:
“Well, he was able to go back in and kick an extra point, after getting his knee taped up and a bunch of other things. He couldn’t have gone from very much farther than that.”
On how they will regroup after such a loss:
“I think our players take a lot of confidence in the way 54 minutes of that game went. I think when we look at the final 6 minutes; we can see a lot of reasons we weren’t able to close that out. Like I said, big plays allowed on defense – that had nothing to do with keeping their clock going. There were some big chunks that were there at the end of the game. We failed to execute: missed tackles, letting guys out of bounds, personal fouls moving them into field goal range, and then us failing to keep the clock going at the end there. There were a lot of situations. And then the missed extra point, that makes it a touchdown at the end rather than a field goal.”
On if he thought of putting Hill in, had the Lions received the ball in overtime:
“He was active only to hand the ball off. He couldn’t have done anything other than take a snap and hand the ball off, so there was no consideration. A little bit like Matt a couple weeks ago. It was only up in case of a dire emergency.”
On if QB Shaun Hill could be ready next week:
“We’ll see. That will close in right around the time that he’d be healing. We’ll have to just wait and see and see where he is and his ability to be able to handle the football and also throw and take a hit and do everything you need to do in an NFL football game.”
LIONS QB DREW STANTON
On the third-down play after the two-minute warning:
“A lot of things happened on that play, and I thought whether to go down and keep the clock running or to put a good ball on him and try to get a first down. So, we’ll look at the film, but it’s not sitting well right now.”
LIONS DT NDAMUKONG SUH
On attempting the extra point:
“I need to be ready at all times. I practice it, (I) just didn’t execute.”
LIONS S LOUIS DELMAS
On what’s been happening to the Lions late in the fourth quarter:
“Nothing. Nothing’s happening in the fourth quarter. If we want to be a good team, good offense and defense, a whole unit, you have to be able make it out of the fourth quarter. We haven’t been doing that throughout the year, we have to change it around.”
LIONS CB ALPHONSO SMITH
On how the Lions made mistakes to lose the game:
“Yeah, (that) just summed it up. We did have them bottled up all day, but it’s all about finishing. I’ve seen games where an offense has 100 yards going into two minutes left in the fourth quarter and they end up winning the game. It’s all about finishing; it’s really unfortunate that we didn’t finish. So to a sense, we did shoot ourselves in the foot.”
For Starters
K Jason Hanson has now played in 295 career games, the most in franchise history. Hanson has now tied Hall of Fame CB Darrell Green (Washington Redskins, 1983-2002) for the second-most games played by a player with one team and is now one game behind C Bruce Matthews (Houston Oilers/Tennessee Texans, 1983-2001) for the most games played on by a player on one team.
Hanson’s career 295 career games is second among active players and 11th all-time.
T Jeff Backus made his 152nd consecutive start today at left tackle.He has started every game since he was drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Backus currently holds the mark for the most consecutive starts among active interior (offense and defense) linemen and is currently tied for fifth among all active players with 152 straight starts.
He is second in Lions history for most consecutive games started behind Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau (171).
LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ
Opening statement:
“Obviously a very difficult loss to take, particularly when we had a 10-point lead as the game rolled down the fourth quarter. The end of the game, we failed to execute the way that we needed to and that’s the head coach’s fault. That’s my fault. I didn’t do a good job enough with the players in those situations, not only on defense, but on offense and on special teams. The game came down to one point. We had a missed extra point and there’s no question that Ndamukong is our backup field goal kicker. He’s done it in practice. We have a lot of confidence that he could kick it. It put him in a difficult situation because he went out without any warm-ups, where a kicker that’s not playing a position generally has time to take his time. Probably should have called a timeout, given him time to get ready. At the time, when Jason got roughed on the play, it looked like it was a big advantage for us, because it put us at first and goal at the 1. We were able to get a touchdown rather than a field goal. But in the long haul, that actually hurt us worse than it helped us, with the missed extra point, then also our kickoffs and the way the field goal team was at the end of the game.”
On QB Matthew Stafford’s condition:
“He’s very sore. He hurt his shoulder and wasn’t able to finish the game. You guys know how tough he is. If he could have he would’ve. We’re going to take a pretty serious look at it.”
On if he re-injured the same separation he had before:
“It’s his right shoulder. I don’t know if it’s even related. We took enough time with it that we thought that any re-injury would be a new injury. We’ll see where he is with that. That was a tough situation because he had green grass in front of him and had his chance to break out of there and run. But some of those plays we just need to throw it away. We didn’t want to throw incomplete passes in those situations. He ran it.”
On if there is a reason that the errors happened at the end of the game and if it’s due to having young guys on the field:
“There’s no excuses there. Even if you’re a younger player, if you’re not a younger player we need to be able to execute at the end of the game. We’re eight games into the season. There are no rookies anymore, there are no young players. We need to be able to execute. There were breakdowns at the wrong time at the end of the game.”
On if K Jason Hanson’s injury is long term:
“Well, he was able to go back in and kick an extra point, after getting his knee taped up and a bunch of other things. He couldn’t have gone from very much farther than that.”
On how they will regroup after such a loss:
“I think our players take a lot of confidence in the way 54 minutes of that game went. I think when we look at the final 6 minutes; we can see a lot of reasons we weren’t able to close that out. Like I said, big plays allowed on defense – that had nothing to do with keeping their clock going. There were some big chunks that were there at the end of the game. We failed to execute: missed tackles, letting guys out of bounds, personal fouls moving them into field goal range, and then us failing to keep the clock going at the end there. There were a lot of situations. And then the missed extra point, that makes it a touchdown at the end rather than a field goal.”
On if he thought of putting Hill in, had the Lions received the ball in overtime:
“He was active only to hand the ball off. He couldn’t have done anything other than take a snap and hand the ball off, so there was no consideration. A little bit like Matt a couple weeks ago. It was only up in case of a dire emergency.”
On if QB Shaun Hill could be ready next week:
“We’ll see. That will close in right around the time that he’d be healing. We’ll have to just wait and see and see where he is and his ability to be able to handle the football and also throw and take a hit and do everything you need to do in an NFL football game.”
LIONS QB DREW STANTON
On the third-down play after the two-minute warning:
“A lot of things happened on that play, and I thought whether to go down and keep the clock running or to put a good ball on him and try to get a first down. So, we’ll look at the film, but it’s not sitting well right now.”
LIONS DT NDAMUKONG SUH
On attempting the extra point:
“I need to be ready at all times. I practice it, (I) just didn’t execute.”
LIONS S LOUIS DELMAS
On what’s been happening to the Lions late in the fourth quarter:
“Nothing. Nothing’s happening in the fourth quarter. If we want to be a good team, good offense and defense, a whole unit, you have to be able make it out of the fourth quarter. We haven’t been doing that throughout the year, we have to change it around.”
LIONS CB ALPHONSO SMITH
On how the Lions made mistakes to lose the game:
“Yeah, (that) just summed it up. We did have them bottled up all day, but it’s all about finishing. I’ve seen games where an offense has 100 yards going into two minutes left in the fourth quarter and they end up winning the game. It’s all about finishing; it’s really unfortunate that we didn’t finish. So to a sense, we did shoot ourselves in the foot.”
Friday, November 5, 2010
FORMER LIONS’ STAR IN THE 1940s JOHN GREENE DIES AT 90
In Play Magazine
GREENE WAS ONE OF NFL’S TOP RECEIVERS
ALLEN PARK, MICH. -- John Greene, one of the Lions' star players in the 1940s, died Thursday, November 4, at his home in Franklin at age 90 after a brief illness. He was a pioneer of professional football during a turbulent decade long before the sport had the popularity it now enjoys.
Greene came to the Lions as a fifth-round (35th overall) selection in the 1944 NFL Draft after lettering three years as a lineman at the University of Michigan. A two-way performer early in his career, Lions' coach Gus Dorais was impressed by Greene’s speed so he moved him from the line to end in 1945. It was a move that soon vaulted Greene to star status among NFL receivers.
The 6-foot, 215-pounder led the Lions in receiving from 1945-47 and ended his seven-year pro career (1944-50) as Detroit's all-time leading receiver with 2,965 receiving yards, 26 touchdown catches and 173 receptions.
A two-time captain for the Lions, he averaged an impressive 16.9 yards per catch for his career. His 88-yard TD catch was the longest in the NFL in 1946.
Greene was more than a star on the field. Former Lions’ teammate Wally Triplett has fond memories of Greene off the field. Triplett (1949-50), Bob Mann (1948-49) and Mel Groomes (1948-49) were the first African-American players with Lions and among the first in the National Football League.
“I want to say ‘thank you” to John because what we have now in the NFL would not have been possible had it not been for him and others like (future Pro Football Hall of Famer) Bill Dudley,” said Triplett. “John was a star and a captain for the Lions. So, when he and Bill came over to me in the locker room, shook my hand and welcomed me to the Lions, it made a huge impact in my acceptance on the team and in the League. I will always appreciate what John and Bill did for me.”
Greene was nicknamed "the Cinderella Kid" for his rise to stardom after comparative obscurity while a lineman in college and early in his Lions’ career. That all changed when Dorais shifted him to end. Greene wore the number “81” during his best seasons in Detroit. When visiting Lions' training camp in 2009, he met and spent time with the Lions' current star receiver and number 81, Calvin Johnson. Lions' fans last saw Greene when he was introduced at halftime of the Lions-Rams game at Ford Field, October 10, during Alumni Day festivities.
He survived by his wife Alice and his niece Patricia Ruscello and two nephews Jack and Bill Gannon.
Visitation for John Greene will be from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 8, at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home in Clawson (1368 N. Crooks Road). The funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, at The Church of St. Owen in Bloomfield Hills (6869 Franklin Road).
GREENE WAS ONE OF NFL’S TOP RECEIVERS
ALLEN PARK, MICH. -- John Greene, one of the Lions' star players in the 1940s, died Thursday, November 4, at his home in Franklin at age 90 after a brief illness. He was a pioneer of professional football during a turbulent decade long before the sport had the popularity it now enjoys.
Greene came to the Lions as a fifth-round (35th overall) selection in the 1944 NFL Draft after lettering three years as a lineman at the University of Michigan. A two-way performer early in his career, Lions' coach Gus Dorais was impressed by Greene’s speed so he moved him from the line to end in 1945. It was a move that soon vaulted Greene to star status among NFL receivers.
The 6-foot, 215-pounder led the Lions in receiving from 1945-47 and ended his seven-year pro career (1944-50) as Detroit's all-time leading receiver with 2,965 receiving yards, 26 touchdown catches and 173 receptions.
A two-time captain for the Lions, he averaged an impressive 16.9 yards per catch for his career. His 88-yard TD catch was the longest in the NFL in 1946.
Greene was more than a star on the field. Former Lions’ teammate Wally Triplett has fond memories of Greene off the field. Triplett (1949-50), Bob Mann (1948-49) and Mel Groomes (1948-49) were the first African-American players with Lions and among the first in the National Football League.
“I want to say ‘thank you” to John because what we have now in the NFL would not have been possible had it not been for him and others like (future Pro Football Hall of Famer) Bill Dudley,” said Triplett. “John was a star and a captain for the Lions. So, when he and Bill came over to me in the locker room, shook my hand and welcomed me to the Lions, it made a huge impact in my acceptance on the team and in the League. I will always appreciate what John and Bill did for me.”
Greene was nicknamed "the Cinderella Kid" for his rise to stardom after comparative obscurity while a lineman in college and early in his Lions’ career. That all changed when Dorais shifted him to end. Greene wore the number “81” during his best seasons in Detroit. When visiting Lions' training camp in 2009, he met and spent time with the Lions' current star receiver and number 81, Calvin Johnson. Lions' fans last saw Greene when he was introduced at halftime of the Lions-Rams game at Ford Field, October 10, during Alumni Day festivities.
He survived by his wife Alice and his niece Patricia Ruscello and two nephews Jack and Bill Gannon.
Visitation for John Greene will be from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 8, at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home in Clawson (1368 N. Crooks Road). The funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, at The Church of St. Owen in Bloomfield Hills (6869 Franklin Road).
Thursday, November 4, 2010
LIONS TO HELP TACKLE PANCREATIC CANCER AT SUNDAY’S GAME IN MEMORY OF LIONS’ DIRECTOR OF SECURITY RICKY SANDOVAL
In Play Magazine
ALLEN PARK, MI – The Detroit Lions again are teaming up with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help increase awareness of pancreatic cancer at the Lions-New York Jets’ game on Sunday (Nov. 7) at Ford Field. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and this year more than 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the cancer. The mortality rate from this devastating disease has remained at 94% for many years.
The Lions have been touched by pancreatic cancer during Director of Security Ricky Sandoval’s fight against the disease. Ricky lost his courageous three-year battle with pancreatic cancer in July of 2009. His wife, Gael, continues Ricky’s battle by bringing awareness to pancreatic cancer.
A special check presentation during pre-game ceremonies will involve Gael, who founded the Detroit affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2007. Lions’ President Tom Lewand will represent the Lions who helped sponsor the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s “Links for the Cure” golf and PurpleStride fundraisers this summer that combined to raise $275,000 to support the mission of the organization.
Also, volunteers from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will hand out purple wristbands while supplies last as fans depart Gate A at Ford Field after the game. Wearing the wristbands allows fans to show their support in Ricky’s memory and for the thousands of Americans who are currently battling pancreatic cancer and/or who have lost loved ones to the disease.
Earlier this year, the Detroit Lions were recognized as the National Sponsor of the Year by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network during its national meetings in Dallas, Texas.
Together, the Detroit Lions and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network plan to tackle pancreatic cancer head-on by involving NFL fans in the continued effort to advance research, support patients and create hope.
To learn more about pancreatic cancer or how you can help fight this devastating disease visit http://www.pancan.org/ or call 1-877-272-6226.
ALLEN PARK, MI – The Detroit Lions again are teaming up with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help increase awareness of pancreatic cancer at the Lions-New York Jets’ game on Sunday (Nov. 7) at Ford Field. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and this year more than 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the cancer. The mortality rate from this devastating disease has remained at 94% for many years.
The Lions have been touched by pancreatic cancer during Director of Security Ricky Sandoval’s fight against the disease. Ricky lost his courageous three-year battle with pancreatic cancer in July of 2009. His wife, Gael, continues Ricky’s battle by bringing awareness to pancreatic cancer.
A special check presentation during pre-game ceremonies will involve Gael, who founded the Detroit affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2007. Lions’ President Tom Lewand will represent the Lions who helped sponsor the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s “Links for the Cure” golf and PurpleStride fundraisers this summer that combined to raise $275,000 to support the mission of the organization.
Also, volunteers from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will hand out purple wristbands while supplies last as fans depart Gate A at Ford Field after the game. Wearing the wristbands allows fans to show their support in Ricky’s memory and for the thousands of Americans who are currently battling pancreatic cancer and/or who have lost loved ones to the disease.
Earlier this year, the Detroit Lions were recognized as the National Sponsor of the Year by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network during its national meetings in Dallas, Texas.
Together, the Detroit Lions and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network plan to tackle pancreatic cancer head-on by involving NFL fans in the continued effort to advance research, support patients and create hope.
To learn more about pancreatic cancer or how you can help fight this devastating disease visit http://www.pancan.org/ or call 1-877-272-6226.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010
In Play Magazine
Lions WR Calvin Johnson named NFC Offensive Player of the Week; Team announces sellout for this week's game.
TODAY’S NEWS
The NFL announced today that WR Calvin Johnson was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Johnson was recognized for his nine-catch, 101-yard performance – which included a career-high three touchdowns – in the team’s 37-25 victory over the Washington Redskins (10/31). All three of his touchdown catches either gave the Lions their initial lead or allowed them to regain the lead. Johnson, who is tied for the NFC lead with eight touchdown receptions this season, has had at least one touchdown catch in each of the past four games. In his fourth season from Georgia Tech, this is Johnson’s first career Player of the Week Award.
Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand announced today that the team has reached a sellout for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at Ford Field. For more on Lewand’s announcement, click here.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: S C.C. Brown (knee), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) and QB Shaun Hill (left forearm) did not practice. S Louis Delmas (ankle), LB Ashlee Palmer (hamstring), TE Brandon Pettigrew (ankle) and RB Kevin Smith (knee) were limited in practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Bryant Johnson (foot), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and QB Matthew Stafford (foot) all had full participation in practice today.
The following players were listed on the New York Jets’ Injury Report today: LB David Harris (back) did not practice and LB Calvin Pace (foot) and CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will host the New York Jets Sunday, November 7 at Ford Field with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The Lions are aiming to win in consecutive weeks after a 37-25 victory against the Redskins while the Jets are looking to get back on track after a 9-0 loss to the Packers at New York.
Lions WR Calvin Johnson named NFC Offensive Player of the Week; Team announces sellout for this week's game.
TODAY’S NEWS
The NFL announced today that WR Calvin Johnson was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Johnson was recognized for his nine-catch, 101-yard performance – which included a career-high three touchdowns – in the team’s 37-25 victory over the Washington Redskins (10/31). All three of his touchdown catches either gave the Lions their initial lead or allowed them to regain the lead. Johnson, who is tied for the NFC lead with eight touchdown receptions this season, has had at least one touchdown catch in each of the past four games. In his fourth season from Georgia Tech, this is Johnson’s first career Player of the Week Award.
Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand announced today that the team has reached a sellout for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at Ford Field. For more on Lewand’s announcement, click here.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: S C.C. Brown (knee), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) and QB Shaun Hill (left forearm) did not practice. S Louis Delmas (ankle), LB Ashlee Palmer (hamstring), TE Brandon Pettigrew (ankle) and RB Kevin Smith (knee) were limited in practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Bryant Johnson (foot), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle), DE Turk McBride (ankle) and QB Matthew Stafford (foot) all had full participation in practice today.
The following players were listed on the New York Jets’ Injury Report today: LB David Harris (back) did not practice and LB Calvin Pace (foot) and CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will host the New York Jets Sunday, November 7 at Ford Field with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The Lions are aiming to win in consecutive weeks after a 37-25 victory against the Redskins while the Jets are looking to get back on track after a 9-0 loss to the Packers at New York.
Monday, November 1, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 37-25 victory over Washington. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
In the second half of Sunday’s game against the Redskins (10/31), QB Matthew Stafford was 18-of-27 (66.7-percent) for 140 yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 116.3, the highest tally in a second half of a game during his career. He was the only quarterback in the NFC with four touchdown tosses in Week 8. Stafford also became the first quarterback in team history to throw for 4 touchdowns in a game which each touchdown gave the Lions the lead.
WR Calvin Johnson’s seven touchdown receptions in October were the most by any player in the NFL as well as the most overall touchdowns (7) by any player in the League this past month. He also scored a touchdown in all four of the Lions games in October, including 2 at Green Bay (10/3), 1 vs. St. Louis (10/10), 1 at New York Giants (10/17) and 3 vs. Washington Redskins (10/31).
Johnson also set a franchise record with 7 receiving touchdowns for the month of October. He broke the previous mark of 6 touchdown receptions by WR Herman Moore in 1995.
Johnson became the first receiver in the NFL to score 7 touchdowns in October since 2000 (San Francisco WR Terrell Owens, 7; Minnesota WR Randy Moss, 7), and he is the first player to record 7 total touchdowns in the month since 2006 (San Diego RB LaDanian Tomlinson, 8; Kansas City RB Larry Johnson, 10).
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh’s was dominant during the month of October as he finished with 14 tackles, 4.5 sacks (29.5 yards lost), 1 interception, 1 pass defense and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown. He was a key cog in the Lions going 2-2 and winning both their home games. Suh had more sacks (4.5) in October than any other rookie in the NFL has tallied for the entire season, and he had the most among defensive tackles in the League (Chicago DT Israel Idonije recorded 4.5 sacks but did it over 4 games starting at LDE).
With 4.5 sacks, Suh became the first rookie defensive tackle to record 4.5 sacks in October since Jacksonville DT John Henderson had 5.0 in 2002.He also became the first defensive tackle in the NFL to collect 4.5 sacks during October since Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp had 5.0 in 2005.
WR Stefan Logan set up the Lions first score of the game when he returned a Redskins punt for a career-high 71 yards to give the ball to Detroit’s offense at Washington’s 19-yard line. He became the first player in Lions history to return a 100-yard kickoff return (105t vs. St. Louis, 10/10) and a punt return for at least 70 yards in the same season. Logan has now returned a kick (2 kickoffs, 1 punt return) for more than 50 yards in each of the past three games.
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 37-25 victory over Washington. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
In the second half of Sunday’s game against the Redskins (10/31), QB Matthew Stafford was 18-of-27 (66.7-percent) for 140 yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 116.3, the highest tally in a second half of a game during his career. He was the only quarterback in the NFC with four touchdown tosses in Week 8. Stafford also became the first quarterback in team history to throw for 4 touchdowns in a game which each touchdown gave the Lions the lead.
WR Calvin Johnson’s seven touchdown receptions in October were the most by any player in the NFL as well as the most overall touchdowns (7) by any player in the League this past month. He also scored a touchdown in all four of the Lions games in October, including 2 at Green Bay (10/3), 1 vs. St. Louis (10/10), 1 at New York Giants (10/17) and 3 vs. Washington Redskins (10/31).
Johnson also set a franchise record with 7 receiving touchdowns for the month of October. He broke the previous mark of 6 touchdown receptions by WR Herman Moore in 1995.
Johnson became the first receiver in the NFL to score 7 touchdowns in October since 2000 (San Francisco WR Terrell Owens, 7; Minnesota WR Randy Moss, 7), and he is the first player to record 7 total touchdowns in the month since 2006 (San Diego RB LaDanian Tomlinson, 8; Kansas City RB Larry Johnson, 10).
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh’s was dominant during the month of October as he finished with 14 tackles, 4.5 sacks (29.5 yards lost), 1 interception, 1 pass defense and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown. He was a key cog in the Lions going 2-2 and winning both their home games. Suh had more sacks (4.5) in October than any other rookie in the NFL has tallied for the entire season, and he had the most among defensive tackles in the League (Chicago DT Israel Idonije recorded 4.5 sacks but did it over 4 games starting at LDE).
With 4.5 sacks, Suh became the first rookie defensive tackle to record 4.5 sacks in October since Jacksonville DT John Henderson had 5.0 in 2002.He also became the first defensive tackle in the NFL to collect 4.5 sacks during October since Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp had 5.0 in 2005.
WR Stefan Logan set up the Lions first score of the game when he returned a Redskins punt for a career-high 71 yards to give the ball to Detroit’s offense at Washington’s 19-yard line. He became the first player in Lions history to return a 100-yard kickoff return (105t vs. St. Louis, 10/10) and a punt return for at least 70 yards in the same season. Logan has now returned a kick (2 kickoffs, 1 punt return) for more than 50 yards in each of the past three games.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Lions Game Notes Oct 31, 2010
In Play Magazine
Home Scoring
The Lions were victorious today over the Washington Redskins 37-25 at Ford Field. The team has scored at least 30 points (32 vs. Philadelphia September 19 and 44 vs. St. Louis Rams October 10). Today’s 37-point outing marks the first time since 1997 (38 vs. Minnesota 11/16/97, 32 vs. Indianapolis 11/23/97 and vs. Chicago 11/27/97) that the Lions have scored 30 points in three-consecutive home games.
Entering today’s game, the Lions led the lead in scoring average at home (38.0), and their average was nearly reached. The team is now averaging 37.7 (113 points) over their first three home games.
Stafford Returns
Second-year QB Matthew Stafford returned today after missing the last five games due to a shoulder injury to lead the Lions to a 37-25 win over the Redskins and giving the Lions two wins in the past three games and two wins in the last two home games.
Stafford completed 26-of-45 passes for 212 yards and 4 touchdowns, while accumulating a 90.2 passer rating.
His 4 touchdown passes are the second-highest single game tally of his career. He joins QB Bobby Layne (4), QB Eric Hipple (2), QB Gary Danielson (2) and QB Scott Mitchell (2) as the only passers in team history with at least two games of 4 touchdown passes, and Stafford is the first player in team history to do it twice in his first two years with the club.
By connecting with WR Calvin Johnson on 4th-and-1 with 3:12 left to play in the fourth quarter to take a 28-25 lead, which the Lions would not surrender, it marked Stafford’s second career fourth-quarter come-from-behind win.
Johnson’s Career Day
WR Calvin Johnson was crucial throughout today’s 37-25 win over the Redskins as he gathered 9 receptions for 101 yards and three touchdown receptions. Johnson’s 3 touchdown receptions is a career high and it was the first time since WR Roy Williams (3 vs. Arizona 11/13/05) that a Lions receiver recorded three touchdown receptions in a game.
All 3 touchdown catches by Johnson helped the team either take the lead initially in the game or re-take the lead.
Today’s game marked the fourth time in his career that he caught at least two touchdowns in a game and the first time against a team other than Green Bay.
With 3 touchdown receptions, Johnson passed WR Roy Williams (28, 2004-07) for the second-most receiving touchdowns by a Lions receiver in their first four seasons. E Cloyce Box holds the best marks of 32 touchdowns in his first four years (1949-50, 1952-53).
Johnson has now caught touchdown passes in 4 consecutive games.
His 101 yards marks the 11th time in his career that he has recorded 100 yards in a game. He has 100 receiving yards in the past two games (146 at New York Giants 10/17) for a two-game tally of 257 yards.
It is the second time in his career that he has recorded 100 yards in back-to-back games and first since he did so in 2008 (107 at Atlanta 9/7/08 and 129 vs. Green Bay 9/14/08)
With 101 receiving yards, Johnson passed WR Gail Cogdill (3,534 yards, 1960-63) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in their first four seasons with the Lions. With 35 yards receiving next week, he will surpass the highest tally set by Williams (3,652) from 2004-07.
His 9-catch day tied a career high and marked the third time he has registered 9 receptions in a game.
Johnson surpassed WR Brett Perriman (226, 2004-07) for most receptions by a Lions’ receiver in their first four seasons with the club. Johnson now holds the second-highest mark with 231 receptions.
Johnson has now caught passes in all 52 games he has played in his career. His 52-consecutive games with a reception is the longest streak by the Lions.
Suh-per Day
Lions rookie DT Ndamukong Suh electrified the Ford Field crowd as part of a dominating performance by the defensive line today when he registered 2 sacks (17 yards loss), 4 tackles (2 tackles for loss) and put an exclamation point on the victory today with a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 1:36 to play in the game that gave the Lions a 37-25 lead.
In the second quarter, Suh halted a Redskins drive when he registered two sacks in the span of three plays for a total of 17 yards lost. Suh became the first rookie to record two sacks in a game since DE Kalimba Edwards at Arizona December 8, 2002. He is the first Lions rookie defensive tackle to record two sacks in a game since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
The two sacks pushed his season total to 6.5, which ties Edwards (2002) rookie for the second most sacks by a Lions rookie since 1982. The record is 7.5 by LB Tracy Hayworth in 1992. Suh has the most by a Lions rookie defensive tackles since 1992.
Suh became the first Lions defensive lineman to return a fumble for a touchdown since Bob Bell (25 yards) at Green Bay November 1, 1971
Defensive Pressure Up Front
The Lions 37-25 win today was highlighted by a very aggressive attack by the defensive line to get to the quarterback. As a team, the Lions garnered 7 sacks (59 yards), including 6 by three defensive linemen.
DE Cliff Avril, DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch each registered 2.0 sacks each.
With three Lions defenders garnering 2.0 sacks today, it marked the first time since 1986 that the defense accomplished the feat (DE Keith Ferguson 4.0, DE William Gay 2.5 and DT Eric Williams 2.0; at Philadelphia 11/16/86).
Avril’s 2.0 sacks is a career high.
Vanden Bosch’s 2.0 sacks are the most he has garnered in his first season with the Lions. The last time he has 2.0 sacks in a game was against the New York Jets December 23, 2007 while he was with the Tennessee Titans.
On the season, the Lions defense now has 23 sacks.
Logan Goes Long on Punt Return
WR Stefan Logan set up the Lions first score of the game when he returned a Redskins punt for career-high 71 yards. He gave the ball to the Lions offense at the Redskins 19-yard line.
Logan has now returned a kick for more than 50 yards in each of the past three games. He returned a kickoff for a 105-yard touchdown vs. St. Louis 10/10 and a kickoff return for 58 yards at New York Giants 10/17).
The 71-yarder is the longest by a Lions returner since WR Eddie Drummond returned an 83-yard touchdown at Jacksonville November 14, 2004.
Logan becomes the first player in Lions history to return a 100-yard kickoff return and a punt return for at least 70 yards in the same season.
Smith’s Pick-Four
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith picked off his fourth pass of the season when he recorded a fourth quarter interception (returned for 4 yards).
With a fourth pick of the year, he became the first player for the Lions to record 4 interceptions in a season since CB Dre’ Bly registered 6 interceptions in 2005.
For Starters
K Jason Hanson has now played in 294 career games, the most in franchise history. Hanson is third all-time in games played with one team, currently at 294, and is now one game behind Washington CB Darrell Green (295) for second place on that list.
Among active players, Hanson ranks second with 294 career games, and he is 11th overall in League history.
T Jeff Backus made his 151st consecutive start today at left tackle.He has started every game since he was drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Backus currently holds the mark for the most consecutive starts among active interior (offense and defense) linemen and is currently tied for fifth among all active players with 151 straight starts.
He is second in Lions history for most consecutive games started behind Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau (171).
Home Scoring
The Lions were victorious today over the Washington Redskins 37-25 at Ford Field. The team has scored at least 30 points (32 vs. Philadelphia September 19 and 44 vs. St. Louis Rams October 10). Today’s 37-point outing marks the first time since 1997 (38 vs. Minnesota 11/16/97, 32 vs. Indianapolis 11/23/97 and vs. Chicago 11/27/97) that the Lions have scored 30 points in three-consecutive home games.
Entering today’s game, the Lions led the lead in scoring average at home (38.0), and their average was nearly reached. The team is now averaging 37.7 (113 points) over their first three home games.
Stafford Returns
Second-year QB Matthew Stafford returned today after missing the last five games due to a shoulder injury to lead the Lions to a 37-25 win over the Redskins and giving the Lions two wins in the past three games and two wins in the last two home games.
Stafford completed 26-of-45 passes for 212 yards and 4 touchdowns, while accumulating a 90.2 passer rating.
His 4 touchdown passes are the second-highest single game tally of his career. He joins QB Bobby Layne (4), QB Eric Hipple (2), QB Gary Danielson (2) and QB Scott Mitchell (2) as the only passers in team history with at least two games of 4 touchdown passes, and Stafford is the first player in team history to do it twice in his first two years with the club.
By connecting with WR Calvin Johnson on 4th-and-1 with 3:12 left to play in the fourth quarter to take a 28-25 lead, which the Lions would not surrender, it marked Stafford’s second career fourth-quarter come-from-behind win.
Johnson’s Career Day
WR Calvin Johnson was crucial throughout today’s 37-25 win over the Redskins as he gathered 9 receptions for 101 yards and three touchdown receptions. Johnson’s 3 touchdown receptions is a career high and it was the first time since WR Roy Williams (3 vs. Arizona 11/13/05) that a Lions receiver recorded three touchdown receptions in a game.
All 3 touchdown catches by Johnson helped the team either take the lead initially in the game or re-take the lead.
Today’s game marked the fourth time in his career that he caught at least two touchdowns in a game and the first time against a team other than Green Bay.
With 3 touchdown receptions, Johnson passed WR Roy Williams (28, 2004-07) for the second-most receiving touchdowns by a Lions receiver in their first four seasons. E Cloyce Box holds the best marks of 32 touchdowns in his first four years (1949-50, 1952-53).
Johnson has now caught touchdown passes in 4 consecutive games.
His 101 yards marks the 11th time in his career that he has recorded 100 yards in a game. He has 100 receiving yards in the past two games (146 at New York Giants 10/17) for a two-game tally of 257 yards.
It is the second time in his career that he has recorded 100 yards in back-to-back games and first since he did so in 2008 (107 at Atlanta 9/7/08 and 129 vs. Green Bay 9/14/08)
With 101 receiving yards, Johnson passed WR Gail Cogdill (3,534 yards, 1960-63) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in their first four seasons with the Lions. With 35 yards receiving next week, he will surpass the highest tally set by Williams (3,652) from 2004-07.
His 9-catch day tied a career high and marked the third time he has registered 9 receptions in a game.
Johnson surpassed WR Brett Perriman (226, 2004-07) for most receptions by a Lions’ receiver in their first four seasons with the club. Johnson now holds the second-highest mark with 231 receptions.
Johnson has now caught passes in all 52 games he has played in his career. His 52-consecutive games with a reception is the longest streak by the Lions.
Suh-per Day
Lions rookie DT Ndamukong Suh electrified the Ford Field crowd as part of a dominating performance by the defensive line today when he registered 2 sacks (17 yards loss), 4 tackles (2 tackles for loss) and put an exclamation point on the victory today with a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 1:36 to play in the game that gave the Lions a 37-25 lead.
In the second quarter, Suh halted a Redskins drive when he registered two sacks in the span of three plays for a total of 17 yards lost. Suh became the first rookie to record two sacks in a game since DE Kalimba Edwards at Arizona December 8, 2002. He is the first Lions rookie defensive tackle to record two sacks in a game since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
The two sacks pushed his season total to 6.5, which ties Edwards (2002) rookie for the second most sacks by a Lions rookie since 1982. The record is 7.5 by LB Tracy Hayworth in 1992. Suh has the most by a Lions rookie defensive tackles since 1992.
Suh became the first Lions defensive lineman to return a fumble for a touchdown since Bob Bell (25 yards) at Green Bay November 1, 1971
Defensive Pressure Up Front
The Lions 37-25 win today was highlighted by a very aggressive attack by the defensive line to get to the quarterback. As a team, the Lions garnered 7 sacks (59 yards), including 6 by three defensive linemen.
DE Cliff Avril, DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch each registered 2.0 sacks each.
With three Lions defenders garnering 2.0 sacks today, it marked the first time since 1986 that the defense accomplished the feat (DE Keith Ferguson 4.0, DE William Gay 2.5 and DT Eric Williams 2.0; at Philadelphia 11/16/86).
Avril’s 2.0 sacks is a career high.
Vanden Bosch’s 2.0 sacks are the most he has garnered in his first season with the Lions. The last time he has 2.0 sacks in a game was against the New York Jets December 23, 2007 while he was with the Tennessee Titans.
On the season, the Lions defense now has 23 sacks.
Logan Goes Long on Punt Return
WR Stefan Logan set up the Lions first score of the game when he returned a Redskins punt for career-high 71 yards. He gave the ball to the Lions offense at the Redskins 19-yard line.
Logan has now returned a kick for more than 50 yards in each of the past three games. He returned a kickoff for a 105-yard touchdown vs. St. Louis 10/10 and a kickoff return for 58 yards at New York Giants 10/17).
The 71-yarder is the longest by a Lions returner since WR Eddie Drummond returned an 83-yard touchdown at Jacksonville November 14, 2004.
Logan becomes the first player in Lions history to return a 100-yard kickoff return and a punt return for at least 70 yards in the same season.
Smith’s Pick-Four
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith picked off his fourth pass of the season when he recorded a fourth quarter interception (returned for 4 yards).
With a fourth pick of the year, he became the first player for the Lions to record 4 interceptions in a season since CB Dre’ Bly registered 6 interceptions in 2005.
For Starters
K Jason Hanson has now played in 294 career games, the most in franchise history. Hanson is third all-time in games played with one team, currently at 294, and is now one game behind Washington CB Darrell Green (295) for second place on that list.
Among active players, Hanson ranks second with 294 career games, and he is 11th overall in League history.
T Jeff Backus made his 151st consecutive start today at left tackle.He has started every game since he was drafted in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Backus currently holds the mark for the most consecutive starts among active interior (offense and defense) linemen and is currently tied for fifth among all active players with 151 straight starts.
He is second in Lions history for most consecutive games started behind Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau (171).
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
RON ADAMS OF WYANDOTTE NAMED LIONS COACH OF THE WEEK
In Play Magazine
Michigan Army National Guard on Board as Presenting Sponsor of High School Coach of the Week Program
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Ron Adams of Wyandotte as the 2010 week nine recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Adams led his Wyandotte Bears to a 27-0 victory over previously unbeaten Southgate on Friday (Oct. 22) to finish the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record. The win marks the first time the Bears have finished the regular season unbeaten since 1942. Wyandotte is currently ranked No. 6 in Division 2 by the Detroit Free Press.
Adams is in his 22nd year as a high school coach and fifth as head coach at Wyandotte where his record stands at 42-11. After taking over a team that was 1-8 in 2005, he has guided the Bears to five straight state playoff appearances.
Adams also served as head coach at Taylor Truman for five seasons where he led them to their first playoff appearance in school history. He has served as an assistant at Taylor Center, Melvindale and Wyandotte.
This week Adams and his squad host Allen Park (6-3) in the state playoffs.
Michigan Army National Guard on Board as Presenting Sponsor of High School Coach of the Week Program
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Ron Adams of Wyandotte as the 2010 week nine recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Adams led his Wyandotte Bears to a 27-0 victory over previously unbeaten Southgate on Friday (Oct. 22) to finish the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record. The win marks the first time the Bears have finished the regular season unbeaten since 1942. Wyandotte is currently ranked No. 6 in Division 2 by the Detroit Free Press.
Adams is in his 22nd year as a high school coach and fifth as head coach at Wyandotte where his record stands at 42-11. After taking over a team that was 1-8 in 2005, he has guided the Bears to five straight state playoff appearances.
Adams also served as head coach at Taylor Truman for five seasons where he led them to their first playoff appearance in school history. He has served as an assistant at Taylor Center, Melvindale and Wyandotte.
This week Adams and his squad host Allen Park (6-3) in the state playoffs.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
TONY SCARCELLI OF MARINE CITY NAMED LIONS COACH OF THE WEEK
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Tony Scarcelli of Marine City as the 2010 week eight recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Scarcelli guided his Marine City Mariners to a 56-21 victory over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore on Friday (Oct. 15) to improve to 7-1 on the season. Marine City is currently ranked No. 3 in Division 4 by the Detroit Free Press.
Scarcelli is in his 25th year as a coach at Marine City serving as head coach for the last six seasons and as an assistant for 19 seasons. His career record as head coach stands at 63-7 and includes the 2007 Division 4 state title and at least a share of the Macomb Area Conference (Gold Division) title all six seasons. The Mariner football program has never recorded a losing season in Scarcelli’s 25 years as a coach.
This week Scarcelli is preparing his squad to take on Grosse Pointe South (5-3).
Scarcelli guided his Marine City Mariners to a 56-21 victory over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore on Friday (Oct. 15) to improve to 7-1 on the season. Marine City is currently ranked No. 3 in Division 4 by the Detroit Free Press.
Scarcelli is in his 25th year as a coach at Marine City serving as head coach for the last six seasons and as an assistant for 19 seasons. His career record as head coach stands at 63-7 and includes the 2007 Division 4 state title and at least a share of the Macomb Area Conference (Gold Division) title all six seasons. The Mariner football program has never recorded a losing season in Scarcelli’s 25 years as a coach.
This week Scarcelli is preparing his squad to take on Grosse Pointe South (5-3).
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Today’s workout marked starting QB Matthew Stafford’s most extensive practice participation since Week
Lions CB Jack Williams practiced with the team for the first time today since being placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on September 4. The team now has three weeks to decide whether to add Williams to the active 53-man roster, release him or keep him on the PUP list for the rest of the 2010 season.
The team announced today that they have signed C Cody Wallace from the New York Jets practice squad.
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Today’s workout marked starting QB Matthew Stafford’s most extensive practice participation since Week
Lions CB Jack Williams practiced with the team for the first time today since being placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on September 4. The team now has three weeks to decide whether to add Williams to the active 53-man roster, release him or keep him on the PUP list for the rest of the 2010 season.
The team announced today that they have signed C Cody Wallace from the New York Jets practice squad.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Lions Head Coach Schwartz Press Conference Monday Oct 18
In Play Magazine
Opening statement:
"Zack Follett should be en route to Detroit fairly soon. He’s flying back today. He’s doing a lot better. His tests all came back very, very encouraging. We look forward to a quick recovery and seeing him back on the field sometime."
On how long he expects QB Shaun Hill to be out:
"I don’t know if he’s being operated on right now or if it’s further on down the road today but he’ll have his broken arm operated on. After that, I really don’t know. It’s going to be a few weeks but it’s a little too early. It’s his non-throwing arm. It depends on what kind of cast and everything else that could be put on it. I don’t want to put a time table on it but there’s going to be some missed time with it."
On if he thinks QB Matthew Stafford will be the starter against Washington:
"I don’t want to say hope, but anytime you’re talking about injury there is a degree of hope, because you never know exactly how someone is going to respond to an increased workload. He did throw last week. He had been throwing on a limited basis before that. So, hopefully we can keep him on track and we can be smart about how we use him and get him ready for that, but that’s definitely the plan."
The Lions have a bye week coming up and will be out of action this weekend.
Opening statement:
"Zack Follett should be en route to Detroit fairly soon. He’s flying back today. He’s doing a lot better. His tests all came back very, very encouraging. We look forward to a quick recovery and seeing him back on the field sometime."
On how long he expects QB Shaun Hill to be out:
"I don’t know if he’s being operated on right now or if it’s further on down the road today but he’ll have his broken arm operated on. After that, I really don’t know. It’s going to be a few weeks but it’s a little too early. It’s his non-throwing arm. It depends on what kind of cast and everything else that could be put on it. I don’t want to put a time table on it but there’s going to be some missed time with it."
On if he thinks QB Matthew Stafford will be the starter against Washington:
"I don’t want to say hope, but anytime you’re talking about injury there is a degree of hope, because you never know exactly how someone is going to respond to an increased workload. He did throw last week. He had been throwing on a limited basis before that. So, hopefully we can keep him on track and we can be smart about how we use him and get him ready for that, but that’s definitely the plan."
The Lions have a bye week coming up and will be out of action this weekend.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
UPDATE ON DETROIT LIONS LB ZACK FOLLETT
In Play Magazine
9:15 p.m. ET
“Both the MRI and CT tests performed on Zack this evening at the Hackensack Medical Center were NEGATIVE. Zack is resting comfortably and has feeling and movement in all of his extremities. He will continue to be monitored throughout the evening. We expect no further updates until Monday.”
9:15 p.m. ET
“Both the MRI and CT tests performed on Zack this evening at the Hackensack Medical Center were NEGATIVE. Zack is resting comfortably and has feeling and movement in all of his extremities. He will continue to be monitored throughout the evening. We expect no further updates until Monday.”
Thursday, October 14, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team announced today that they have waived-injured LB Spencer Havner and have signed LB Vinny Ciurciu. Ciurciu played in nine games for Detroit in 2009 and spent the 2010 preseason with the team before being released September 4.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: LB Landon Johnson (concussion), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle/groin), DE Turk McBride (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and CB Nathan Vasher (nose/biceps) did not practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder/knee) and WR Stefan Logan (foot) were limited in practice today. Best was upgraded from no practice to limited today.
The following players were listed on the New York Giants’ Injury Report today: T Will Beatty (foot) is out. WR Victor Cruz (hamstring), FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), DB Brian Jackson (neck), DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck) and RB D.J. Ware (groin) did not practice. LB Keith Bulluck (toe), C Shuan O’Hara (ankle/Achilles), S Kenny Phillips (knee) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) were limited in practice today. Umenyiora was upgraded from no practice to limited today.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team announced today that they have waived-injured LB Spencer Havner and have signed LB Vinny Ciurciu. Ciurciu played in nine games for Detroit in 2009 and spent the 2010 preseason with the team before being released September 4.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: LB Landon Johnson (concussion), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle/groin), DE Turk McBride (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and CB Nathan Vasher (nose/biceps) did not practice. RB Jahvid Best (toe), WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder/knee) and WR Stefan Logan (foot) were limited in practice today. Best was upgraded from no practice to limited today.
The following players were listed on the New York Giants’ Injury Report today: T Will Beatty (foot) is out. WR Victor Cruz (hamstring), FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), DB Brian Jackson (neck), DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck) and RB D.J. Ware (groin) did not practice. LB Keith Bulluck (toe), C Shuan O’Hara (ankle/Achilles), S Kenny Phillips (knee) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) were limited in practice today. Umenyiora was upgraded from no practice to limited today.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit
RICH BELL OF SAGINAW SWAN VALLEY NAMED LIONS COACH OF THE WEEK
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Rich Bell of Saginaw Swan Valley as the 2010 week seven recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Bell led his Swan Valley Vikings to a 28-13 victory over Freeland last Friday (Oct. 8) to improve to 6-1 on the season. Swan Valley is currently ranked No. 10 in Division 4 by the Detroit Free Press.
Bell is in his 38th year as a football coach and 10th as head coach at Swan Valley where he has compiled a record of 75-28. He served as head coach at St. Charles for eight seasons and at Freeland for two seasons. His overall career record as a head coach stands at 136-64-2. Bell has also been an assistant coach at Swan Valley, Saginaw MacArthur and Muskegon Mona Shores.
This week Bell and the Vikings host Hemlock (4-3).
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Rich Bell of Saginaw Swan Valley as the 2010 week seven recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Bell led his Swan Valley Vikings to a 28-13 victory over Freeland last Friday (Oct. 8) to improve to 6-1 on the season. Swan Valley is currently ranked No. 10 in Division 4 by the Detroit Free Press.
Bell is in his 38th year as a football coach and 10th as head coach at Swan Valley where he has compiled a record of 75-28. He served as head coach at St. Charles for eight seasons and at Freeland for two seasons. His overall career record as a head coach stands at 136-64-2. Bell has also been an assistant coach at Swan Valley, Saginaw MacArthur and Muskegon Mona Shores.
This week Bell and the Vikings host Hemlock (4-3).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Detroit Lions WR Stefan Logan has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 10-11). Logan had a 105-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the Lions’ 44-6 win against St. Louis. The return tied for the longest kickoff return in team history (Terry Fair, September 28, 1998) and tied for the sixth-longest in NFL history. It also marked the first non-onside kickoff-return touchdown by a Lion since Eddie Drummond’s 92-yard TD in 2004 (November 21). Logan also added 24 punt-return yards (12.0 avg.) and finished with 129 total return yards while also helping the kickoff cover unit allow just 18.3 yards per return. In his second season from South Dakota, this is Logan’s first career Player of the Week Award.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: RB Jahvid Best (toe), LB Spencer Havner (hamstring), LB Landon Johnson (concussion), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle/groin), DE Turk McBride (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and CB Nathan Vasher (nose/biceps) did not practice. WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder/knee) and WR Stefan Logan (foot) were limited in practice today.
The following players were listed on the New York Giants’ Injury Report today: T Will Beatty (foot) is out. WR Victor Cruz (hamstring), FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), DB Brian Jackson (neck), DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) and RB D.J. Ware (groin) did not practice. LB Keith Bulluck (toe), C Shuan O’Hara (ankle/Achilles) and S Kenny Phillips (knee) were limited in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston.
The game will be televised locally.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Detroit Lions WR Stefan Logan has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 10-11). Logan had a 105-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the Lions’ 44-6 win against St. Louis. The return tied for the longest kickoff return in team history (Terry Fair, September 28, 1998) and tied for the sixth-longest in NFL history. It also marked the first non-onside kickoff-return touchdown by a Lion since Eddie Drummond’s 92-yard TD in 2004 (November 21). Logan also added 24 punt-return yards (12.0 avg.) and finished with 129 total return yards while also helping the kickoff cover unit allow just 18.3 yards per return. In his second season from South Dakota, this is Logan’s first career Player of the Week Award.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: RB Jahvid Best (toe), LB Spencer Havner (hamstring), LB Landon Johnson (concussion), LB DeAndre Levy (ankle/groin), DE Turk McBride (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) and CB Nathan Vasher (nose/biceps) did not practice. WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin), WR Calvin Johnson (shoulder/knee) and WR Stefan Logan (foot) were limited in practice today.
The following players were listed on the New York Giants’ Injury Report today: T Will Beatty (foot) is out. WR Victor Cruz (hamstring), FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), DB Brian Jackson (neck), DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) and RB D.J. Ware (groin) did not practice. LB Keith Bulluck (toe), C Shuan O’Hara (ankle/Achilles) and S Kenny Phillips (knee) were limited in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston.
The game will be televised locally.
Monday, October 11, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 44-6 victory over St. Louis. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh’s interception against the St. Louis Rams was the first interception by a Lions’ rookie defensive lineman since DT Thurman McGraw intercepted a pass vs. the Los Angeles Rams October 15, 1950. Suh is also the first rookie defensive tackle in the NFL to register an interception since Falcons rookie DT Trey Lewis had one at Tennessee October 7, 2007.
WR Stefan Logan’s 105-yard kickoff return against St. Louis (10/10) tied for the longest kickoff return in team history. He tied CB Terry Fair who recorded a 105-yard touchdown September 28, 1998. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since TE Casey FitzSimmons returned an onside-kick 42 yards for a score vs. Chicago October 28, 2007. The last non-onside kickoff return for a touchdown by the Lions was WR Eddie Drummond’s 92-yard kickoff return for touchdown at Minnesota November 21, 2004. In NFL history, Logan’s 105-yarder is tied for the sixth longest kickoff return for touchdown.
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith, who the Lions acquired via trade on September 6, 2010, registered his first career interception return for a touchdown against St. Louis (10/10) when he picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and went 42 yards for the score. The interception marked his third interception of the season and the third in the past three games. The last Lions player with interceptions in three-straight games was CB Dré Bly when he did so in four-straight games in 2005 (at TB 10/2/05; vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and at Cleveland 10/23/05).
Lions QB Shaun Hill completed 21-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) vs. the Rams (10/10). His passing rating on the day was 117.6, the second highest of his career (142.3 rating vs. St. Louis November 16, 2008). The 117.6 rating was the highest by a Lions’ quarterback since QB Jon Kitna registered 137.3 vs. Chicago September 30, 2007. It was also the highest rating by a Lions quarterback with 30 passing attempts since QB Joey Harrington recorded a rating of 121.8 vs. Arizona November 13, 2005.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston.
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 44-6 victory over St. Louis. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh’s interception against the St. Louis Rams was the first interception by a Lions’ rookie defensive lineman since DT Thurman McGraw intercepted a pass vs. the Los Angeles Rams October 15, 1950. Suh is also the first rookie defensive tackle in the NFL to register an interception since Falcons rookie DT Trey Lewis had one at Tennessee October 7, 2007.
WR Stefan Logan’s 105-yard kickoff return against St. Louis (10/10) tied for the longest kickoff return in team history. He tied CB Terry Fair who recorded a 105-yard touchdown September 28, 1998. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since TE Casey FitzSimmons returned an onside-kick 42 yards for a score vs. Chicago October 28, 2007. The last non-onside kickoff return for a touchdown by the Lions was WR Eddie Drummond’s 92-yard kickoff return for touchdown at Minnesota November 21, 2004. In NFL history, Logan’s 105-yarder is tied for the sixth longest kickoff return for touchdown.
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith, who the Lions acquired via trade on September 6, 2010, registered his first career interception return for a touchdown against St. Louis (10/10) when he picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and went 42 yards for the score. The interception marked his third interception of the season and the third in the past three games. The last Lions player with interceptions in three-straight games was CB Dré Bly when he did so in four-straight games in 2005 (at TB 10/2/05; vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and at Cleveland 10/23/05).
Lions QB Shaun Hill completed 21-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) vs. the Rams (10/10). His passing rating on the day was 117.6, the second highest of his career (142.3 rating vs. St. Louis November 16, 2008). The 117.6 rating was the highest by a Lions’ quarterback since QB Jon Kitna registered 137.3 vs. Chicago September 30, 2007. It was also the highest rating by a Lions quarterback with 30 passing attempts since QB Joey Harrington recorded a rating of 121.8 vs. Arizona November 13, 2005.
The Detroit Lions will visit New Meadowlands Stadium this week to take on the New York Giants Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. The Lions will aim to win back-to-back games after beating the Rams 44-6 and the Giants will look to make it three-in-a-row after winning 34-10 at Houston.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
DETROIT LIONS VS. ST. LOUIS RAMS FACTS AND FIGURES
In Play Magazine
Lions 44-6 Win
The Lions defeated the St. Louis Rams 44-6 today at Ford Field. The last time the Lions scored 44 points in a game occurred when the Lions claimed a 44-7 win over Denver November 4, 2007.
Today’s 38 point margin of victory is the largest by the Lions since they beat Jacksonville 44-0 December 17, 1995
Defensive Stand
Detroit allowed just two field goals in today’s game vs. St. Louis. The last time the Lions did not allow the opponent to score a touchdown was vs. Seattle September 10, 2006 when they allowed just three field goals against the Seahawks. The Lions lost on a late field goal 9-6.
Today’s effort marked the first time the Lions allowed six points or less since they defeated Green Bay 17-3 September 11, 2005.
All Three Units Score
In the Lions’ 44-6 win today, the Lions scored on 3 passing touchdowns, 1 kickoff return touchdown and an interception return for touchdown. It marks the first time that all three units have scored for the Lions since they did so vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
Logan Takes Kickoff to House, Ties Record
WR Stefan Logan took a kickoff return following a Rams field goal 105 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 10-3 lead in the second quarter.
The 105-yarder ties a franchise record for the longest kickoff return in team history. He tied the record set by CB Terry Fair, who returned a kickoff 105 yards vs. Tampa Bay September 28, 1998.
Logan’s kickoff return for a touchdown was the team’s first since TE Casey FitzSimmons returned a onside kickoff 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
The kickoff return for touchdown was the second of Logan’s career.
Hill’s Career-Tying Three Touchdown Passes
When QB Shaun Hill connected with WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, it was Hill’s third touchdown pass of the game, which is the most he’s thrown for since joining the Lions and it ties his career high (3 vs. Tampa Bay December 23, 2007).
Hill now has passed for 10 touchdowns on the season, the second highest single-season tally of his career, including 9 touchdowns in his four starts this year. His career high is 13 in 8 starts while he was with San Francisco in 2008.
Hill is now 8-2 as a starter in home games during his career and 4-0 against the Rams.
Hill of a Day
Hill completed 21-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. His passing rating on the day was 117.6. His passer rating was the second highest of his career, second only to his 142.3 rating vs. St. Louis November 16, 2008.
Pick-Three
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith, who the Lions acquired via trade on September 6, 2010, recorded his third interception of the season, and he now has a pick in three-straight games. The last Lions player with interceptions in three-straight games was CB Dre Bly when he did so in four-straight games in 2005 (at TB 10/2/05; vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and at Cleveland 10/23/05
Smith registered his first career interception return for a touchdown when he picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and went 42-yards for the score.
The Lions, as a team, recorded 2 interceptions in the game. They have intercepted at least 2 passes in the past three games. The last time the Lions intercepted 2 passes in three-straight games was when they recorded two interceptions in four-straight games in 2005 (3 at TB 10/2/05; 2 vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, 3 vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and 3 at Cleveland 10/23/05).
Suh Tips and Picks
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh recorded his first career interception when he tipped Rams QB Sam Bradford’s pass at the line of scrimmage and plucked the ball out of the air in the fourth quarter. Suh then returned the interception 20 yards to set up a Lions field goal.
Suh finished with three tackles on the day.
Best’s Total Yards over 100
Rookie RB Jahvid Best combined for 104 yards in today’s game, including 67 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards. It was his second-highest tally of total yards from scrimmage on the season. His high is 232 yards vs. Philadelphia September 19, 2010.
In two games at Ford Field, Best has totaled 336 yards from scrimmage (145 rushing and 191 receiving.
For Starters…
K Jason Hanson has now played in 292 career games, a franchise record. His tally of 292 career games are the third most by a player in NFL history for a team that drafted him and the third most among active players. He is 11th overall in League history in career games.
T Jeff Backus has extended his streak of consecutive games starting to 149. He has the longest streak among active interior (offense and defense) linemen in the League and his streak is the fifth longest in the NFL among active players.
Lions Halt Rams Drive in RedZone with Turnover
With the Rams driving deep in Lions territory during the first quarter, the Lions forced a fumble (DT Corey Williams) at the Lions 6-yard line, and it was picked up by Lions CB Alphozo Smith. Smith returned the fumble nine yards before the Rams forced a fumble that was then recovered by Lion CB Jonathan Wade. Wade returned the fumble 10 yards to give the Lions the ball at the Detroit 27-yard line.
The fumble was the 12th takeaway of the season for Detroit (5 interceptions, 7 fumbles).
Calvin Johnson Increases Lions Lead
WR Calvin Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Shaun Hill with 6:14 left in the second quarter to put the Lions up 17-3. It was Johnson’s fourth touchdown reception of the year and Hill’s eighth touchdown toss.
Johnson has now scored touchdowns in three of the past four games.
On the drive, Hill was 8-for-9 passing for 78 yards, WR Nate Burleson caught 3 passes for 30 yards and RB Jahvid Best had 2 catches for 28 yards and four rushes for 13 yards (41 total yards).
Lions Extend Lead 24-6 to go into the Half
With :10 left in the second quarter QB Shaun Hill drifted out of the pocket and hit TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The score capped off 12-play 80-yard drive that covered 1:27.
Pettigrew scored his first touchdown of the season.
Lions Open Third Quarter with TD
Lions QB Shaun Hill hit WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 10:54 left in the third quarter to move the Lions into a 31-6 lead. The drive, that started after a punt (returned 17 yards by WR Stefan Logan) forced by a three-and-out by the Lions defense, covered 4 plays 41 yards in 1:53.
The touchdown was Burleson’s first as a Lion and it was his longest reception of the season. The reception was two yards past the line of scrimmage and Burleson raced the other 24 yards up the middle for the score.
The touchdown gave the Lions three-straight offensive possessions capped off by touchdowns, all in the air.
Lions 44-6 Win
The Lions defeated the St. Louis Rams 44-6 today at Ford Field. The last time the Lions scored 44 points in a game occurred when the Lions claimed a 44-7 win over Denver November 4, 2007.
Today’s 38 point margin of victory is the largest by the Lions since they beat Jacksonville 44-0 December 17, 1995
Defensive Stand
Detroit allowed just two field goals in today’s game vs. St. Louis. The last time the Lions did not allow the opponent to score a touchdown was vs. Seattle September 10, 2006 when they allowed just three field goals against the Seahawks. The Lions lost on a late field goal 9-6.
Today’s effort marked the first time the Lions allowed six points or less since they defeated Green Bay 17-3 September 11, 2005.
All Three Units Score
In the Lions’ 44-6 win today, the Lions scored on 3 passing touchdowns, 1 kickoff return touchdown and an interception return for touchdown. It marks the first time that all three units have scored for the Lions since they did so vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
Logan Takes Kickoff to House, Ties Record
WR Stefan Logan took a kickoff return following a Rams field goal 105 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 10-3 lead in the second quarter.
The 105-yarder ties a franchise record for the longest kickoff return in team history. He tied the record set by CB Terry Fair, who returned a kickoff 105 yards vs. Tampa Bay September 28, 1998.
Logan’s kickoff return for a touchdown was the team’s first since TE Casey FitzSimmons returned a onside kickoff 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
The kickoff return for touchdown was the second of Logan’s career.
Hill’s Career-Tying Three Touchdown Passes
When QB Shaun Hill connected with WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, it was Hill’s third touchdown pass of the game, which is the most he’s thrown for since joining the Lions and it ties his career high (3 vs. Tampa Bay December 23, 2007).
Hill now has passed for 10 touchdowns on the season, the second highest single-season tally of his career, including 9 touchdowns in his four starts this year. His career high is 13 in 8 starts while he was with San Francisco in 2008.
Hill is now 8-2 as a starter in home games during his career and 4-0 against the Rams.
Hill of a Day
Hill completed 21-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. His passing rating on the day was 117.6. His passer rating was the second highest of his career, second only to his 142.3 rating vs. St. Louis November 16, 2008.
Pick-Three
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith, who the Lions acquired via trade on September 6, 2010, recorded his third interception of the season, and he now has a pick in three-straight games. The last Lions player with interceptions in three-straight games was CB Dre Bly when he did so in four-straight games in 2005 (at TB 10/2/05; vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and at Cleveland 10/23/05
Smith registered his first career interception return for a touchdown when he picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and went 42-yards for the score.
The Lions, as a team, recorded 2 interceptions in the game. They have intercepted at least 2 passes in the past three games. The last time the Lions intercepted 2 passes in three-straight games was when they recorded two interceptions in four-straight games in 2005 (3 at TB 10/2/05; 2 vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, 3 vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and 3 at Cleveland 10/23/05).
Suh Tips and Picks
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh recorded his first career interception when he tipped Rams QB Sam Bradford’s pass at the line of scrimmage and plucked the ball out of the air in the fourth quarter. Suh then returned the interception 20 yards to set up a Lions field goal.
Suh finished with three tackles on the day.
Best’s Total Yards over 100
Rookie RB Jahvid Best combined for 104 yards in today’s game, including 67 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards. It was his second-highest tally of total yards from scrimmage on the season. His high is 232 yards vs. Philadelphia September 19, 2010.
In two games at Ford Field, Best has totaled 336 yards from scrimmage (145 rushing and 191 receiving.
For Starters…
K Jason Hanson has now played in 292 career games, a franchise record. His tally of 292 career games are the third most by a player in NFL history for a team that drafted him and the third most among active players. He is 11th overall in League history in career games.
T Jeff Backus has extended his streak of consecutive games starting to 149. He has the longest streak among active interior (offense and defense) linemen in the League and his streak is the fifth longest in the NFL among active players.
Lions Halt Rams Drive in RedZone with Turnover
With the Rams driving deep in Lions territory during the first quarter, the Lions forced a fumble (DT Corey Williams) at the Lions 6-yard line, and it was picked up by Lions CB Alphozo Smith. Smith returned the fumble nine yards before the Rams forced a fumble that was then recovered by Lion CB Jonathan Wade. Wade returned the fumble 10 yards to give the Lions the ball at the Detroit 27-yard line.
The fumble was the 12th takeaway of the season for Detroit (5 interceptions, 7 fumbles).
Calvin Johnson Increases Lions Lead
WR Calvin Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Shaun Hill with 6:14 left in the second quarter to put the Lions up 17-3. It was Johnson’s fourth touchdown reception of the year and Hill’s eighth touchdown toss.
Johnson has now scored touchdowns in three of the past four games.
On the drive, Hill was 8-for-9 passing for 78 yards, WR Nate Burleson caught 3 passes for 30 yards and RB Jahvid Best had 2 catches for 28 yards and four rushes for 13 yards (41 total yards).
Lions Extend Lead 24-6 to go into the Half
With :10 left in the second quarter QB Shaun Hill drifted out of the pocket and hit TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The score capped off 12-play 80-yard drive that covered 1:27.
Pettigrew scored his first touchdown of the season.
Lions Open Third Quarter with TD
Lions QB Shaun Hill hit WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 10:54 left in the third quarter to move the Lions into a 31-6 lead. The drive, that started after a punt (returned 17 yards by WR Stefan Logan) forced by a three-and-out by the Lions defense, covered 4 plays 41 yards in 1:53.
The touchdown was Burleson’s first as a Lion and it was his longest reception of the season. The reception was two yards past the line of scrimmage and Burleson raced the other 24 yards up the middle for the score.
The touchdown gave the Lions three-straight offensive possessions capped off by touchdowns, all in the air.
Friday, October 8, 2010
DETROIT LIONS REACH SELLOUT FOR SUNDAY’S GAME VS. ST. LOUIS
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions have reached a sellout for Sunday’s home game against the St. Louis Rams. By reaching a sellout by today’s 1 p.m. deadline, Sunday’s game will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets), including WJBK-TV FOX 2.
Sunday’s sellout was completed after Gardner-White Furniture purchased 800 tickets.
“Our fans’ support is outstanding, and we appreciate their excitement for this team,” said Lions President Tom Lewand. “A significant portion of the remaining tickets for Sunday’s game were purchased by our fans and that allowed us to complete the sellout by partnering with Gardner-White. We want to express our many thanks to our fans and Gardner-White for this Sunday’s game airing live in Metro Detroit.”
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions have reached a sellout for Sunday’s home game against the St. Louis Rams. By reaching a sellout by today’s 1 p.m. deadline, Sunday’s game will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets), including WJBK-TV FOX 2.
Sunday’s sellout was completed after Gardner-White Furniture purchased 800 tickets.
“Our fans’ support is outstanding, and we appreciate their excitement for this team,” said Lions President Tom Lewand. “A significant portion of the remaining tickets for Sunday’s game were purchased by our fans and that allowed us to complete the sellout by partnering with Gardner-White. We want to express our many thanks to our fans and Gardner-White for this Sunday’s game airing live in Metro Detroit.”
Thursday, October 7, 2010
ELLIOT UZELAC OF ST. JOSEPH NAMED LIONS COACH OF THE WEEK
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Elliot Uzelac of St. Joseph as the 2010 week six recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Coach Uzelac guided his St. Joseph Bears to a 35-28 victory over previously unbeaten Portage Central last Friday (Oct. 1) to improve to 6-0 on the season and wrap up a state playoff appearance. St. Joseph is currently ranked No. 4 in Division 3 by the Detroit Free Press.
Uzelac is in his fifth season as head coach at St. Joseph where he has compiled a record of 43-10. He took over the program in 2006 after the team went 0-9 the previous season and has guided the Bears to the state playoffs in each of his five seasons.
Uzelac started coaching in 1964. He was head coach at Western Michigan University, Navy and St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. He has served as an assistant at Bowling Green, Navy, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Georgetown and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
This week Uzelac and the Bears host Mattawan (2-4).
Coach Uzelac guided his St. Joseph Bears to a 35-28 victory over previously unbeaten Portage Central last Friday (Oct. 1) to improve to 6-0 on the season and wrap up a state playoff appearance. St. Joseph is currently ranked No. 4 in Division 3 by the Detroit Free Press.
Uzelac is in his fifth season as head coach at St. Joseph where he has compiled a record of 43-10. He took over the program in 2006 after the team went 0-9 the previous season and has guided the Bears to the state playoffs in each of his five seasons.
Uzelac started coaching in 1964. He was head coach at Western Michigan University, Navy and St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. He has served as an assistant at Bowling Green, Navy, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Georgetown and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
This week Uzelac and the Bears host Mattawan (2-4).
Monday, October 4, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 28-26 loss at Green Bay. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
Lions QB Shaun Hill scrambled up the middle and rushed for a 40-yard gain that helped set up a Lions field goal in the third quarter at Green Bay (10/3). His 40-yard rush is the longest of his career and it is the longest by a quarterback thus far in 2010. The last time a Lions quarterback rushed for a 40-yard gain was QB Gary Danielson vs. Minnesota September 23, 1984. The 40-yard rush also tied for the sixth longest rush by a Lions quarterback since 1948.
For the 22nd time in Jason Hanson’s career, he made four field goals in a single game. At Green Bay (10/3), he made field goals of 39, 52, 49 and 24 yards and is now tied with K Gary Anderson for third place in NFL History for the most games with four field goals.
Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew finished the game with 8 catches for 91 yards. His eight catches were a career high and they were the fourth-most by a Lions tight end in a single game since 1960, and the most since TE David Hill grabbed nine passes vs. Green Bay October 25, 1981.
The Lions special teams unit forced two fumbles on kickoff returns at Green Bay (10/3) marking their 10th takeaway over the past three years (2008-10) which is the most in the NFL during that span.
The Detroit Lions will host the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field on Sunday, October 10 at 1 p.m. The Lions will be looking to get on track after a tough 28-26 loss at Green Bay while Rams aim to win a third consecutive game after a 20-3 win against the Seattle Seahawks. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit (subject to blackout).
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 28-26 loss at Green Bay. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
Lions QB Shaun Hill scrambled up the middle and rushed for a 40-yard gain that helped set up a Lions field goal in the third quarter at Green Bay (10/3). His 40-yard rush is the longest of his career and it is the longest by a quarterback thus far in 2010. The last time a Lions quarterback rushed for a 40-yard gain was QB Gary Danielson vs. Minnesota September 23, 1984. The 40-yard rush also tied for the sixth longest rush by a Lions quarterback since 1948.
For the 22nd time in Jason Hanson’s career, he made four field goals in a single game. At Green Bay (10/3), he made field goals of 39, 52, 49 and 24 yards and is now tied with K Gary Anderson for third place in NFL History for the most games with four field goals.
Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew finished the game with 8 catches for 91 yards. His eight catches were a career high and they were the fourth-most by a Lions tight end in a single game since 1960, and the most since TE David Hill grabbed nine passes vs. Green Bay October 25, 1981.
The Lions special teams unit forced two fumbles on kickoff returns at Green Bay (10/3) marking their 10th takeaway over the past three years (2008-10) which is the most in the NFL during that span.
The Detroit Lions will host the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field on Sunday, October 10 at 1 p.m. The Lions will be looking to get on track after a tough 28-26 loss at Green Bay while Rams aim to win a third consecutive game after a 20-3 win against the Seattle Seahawks. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit (subject to blackout).
Thursday, September 30, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Rookie RB Jahvid Best has been named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for the month of September. Best started all three games in September and led NFL rookies with 307 total yards from scrimmage (183 receiving and 124 rushing) as well as scoring a league-best five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving). His 154 receiving yards in Week 2 (vs. Philadelphia, 9/19) are the most by a rookie running back in a game in the Super Bowl era. Best is the first Lion to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since 2004 when both wide receiver Roy Williams (September) and running back Kevin Jones (December) were honored. In 2009, Lions safety Louis Delmas was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. For Best’s comments on being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, click here.
The Lions announced today that they have signed S Dante Wesley and released S Randy Phillips.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: RB Jahvid Best (toe), RB Aaron Brown (finger), WR Nate Burleson (ankle), DT Sammie Hill (ankle), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), S C.C. Brown (forearm), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (back) were limited in practice today. LB Zack Follett (concussion), CB Chris Houston (knee), LB Landon Johnson (neck) and G Stephen Peterman (foot) had full participation in practice. Follett, Houston, Johnson and Peterman were upgraded to full practice; Delmas was upgraded to limited practice and Vanden Bosch was added to the injury report today.
The following players were listed on the Green Bay Packers’ Injury Report today: LB Brandon Chillar (shoulder) and S Nick Collins (knee) did not practice and LB Brady Poppinga (hamstring) and CB Sam Shields (calf) were limited in practice. T Chad Clifton (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (hand), LB Brad Jones (knee), S Derrick Martin (ankle) and DE Mike Neal (rib), S Charlie Peprah (quadriceps) and CB Charles Woodson (toe) had full participation in practice. Collins was downgraded to no practice; Clifton, Peprah and Woodson were upgraded to full practice and Poppinga and Shields were added to the Packers’ injury report today.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Green Bay to face the division rival Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 3 at 1 p.m. The Lions will be looking to get on track after a 24-10 loss at Minnesota and the Packers will be trying rebound after a last second 20-17 loss at Chicago on Monday Night Football.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
Rookie RB Jahvid Best has been named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for the month of September. Best started all three games in September and led NFL rookies with 307 total yards from scrimmage (183 receiving and 124 rushing) as well as scoring a league-best five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving). His 154 receiving yards in Week 2 (vs. Philadelphia, 9/19) are the most by a rookie running back in a game in the Super Bowl era. Best is the first Lion to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since 2004 when both wide receiver Roy Williams (September) and running back Kevin Jones (December) were honored. In 2009, Lions safety Louis Delmas was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. For Best’s comments on being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, click here.
The Lions announced today that they have signed S Dante Wesley and released S Randy Phillips.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: RB Jahvid Best (toe), RB Aaron Brown (finger), WR Nate Burleson (ankle), DT Sammie Hill (ankle), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), S C.C. Brown (forearm), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (back) were limited in practice today. LB Zack Follett (concussion), CB Chris Houston (knee), LB Landon Johnson (neck) and G Stephen Peterman (foot) had full participation in practice. Follett, Houston, Johnson and Peterman were upgraded to full practice; Delmas was upgraded to limited practice and Vanden Bosch was added to the injury report today.
The following players were listed on the Green Bay Packers’ Injury Report today: LB Brandon Chillar (shoulder) and S Nick Collins (knee) did not practice and LB Brady Poppinga (hamstring) and CB Sam Shields (calf) were limited in practice. T Chad Clifton (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (hand), LB Brad Jones (knee), S Derrick Martin (ankle) and DE Mike Neal (rib), S Charlie Peprah (quadriceps) and CB Charles Woodson (toe) had full participation in practice. Collins was downgraded to no practice; Clifton, Peprah and Woodson were upgraded to full practice and Poppinga and Shields were added to the Packers’ injury report today.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Green Bay to face the division rival Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 3 at 1 p.m. The Lions will be looking to get on track after a 24-10 loss at Minnesota and the Packers will be trying rebound after a last second 20-17 loss at Chicago on Monday Night Football.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
FORMER LIONS' PLAYER AND COACH, DON DOLL, DIES AT AGE 84
In Play Magazine
ALLEN PARK, MICH. – Don Doll, former Lions’ player and coach, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He was 84. Doll played safety for the Lions from 1949-52 and was part of the 1952 NFL Championship Team. He later coached for the Lions from 1963-64 and again from 1978-88.
In 2008, Doll was recognized as one of franchise’s greatest players when he was named to the Lions’ 75th Season All-Time Team.
Doll exploded onto the NFL scene after being named the Pacific Coast’s MVP for the University of Southern California Trojans in 1948. As a rookie in 1949, he tied a League record with four pass interceptions in a single game against the Chicago Cardinals and set an NFL rookie record with 11 pass interceptions for the season. Doll’s 11 picks his rookie year is the third-highest single-season tally in team history. His 301 interception return yards in 1949 still stands as an NFL rookie record.
In 1950, Doll followed up his rookie campaign with a remarkable 12 interceptions, which is still tied for the most in Lions’ history. Two seasons later, Doll helped the Lions win the 1952 NFL Championship and was named the MVP of the 1953 Pro Bowl following the season. During his career he was a four-time Pro Bowler and was selected three times when he was with the Lions (1951-53).
Doll finished his playing career with the Washington Redskins (1953), where he recorded 10 interceptions, and the Los Angeles Rams (1954).
In the history of the NFL, Doll is the only player to record 10 interceptions in three different seasons (1949, 1950 and 1953).
Doll later coached for the Lions for 13 seasons. His first stint on the club’s coaching staff was from 1963-64, and then he was on the staff for an 11-year stint (1978-88), holding various positions during that time. Doll coached in college and in the NFL for 34 years following his playing days, including 25 in the NFL.
He is survived by his wife, Diana, and his five children, Steven, Wendy, Kevan, Heidi and Michael, in addition to six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
ALLEN PARK, MICH. – Don Doll, former Lions’ player and coach, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He was 84. Doll played safety for the Lions from 1949-52 and was part of the 1952 NFL Championship Team. He later coached for the Lions from 1963-64 and again from 1978-88.
In 2008, Doll was recognized as one of franchise’s greatest players when he was named to the Lions’ 75th Season All-Time Team.
Doll exploded onto the NFL scene after being named the Pacific Coast’s MVP for the University of Southern California Trojans in 1948. As a rookie in 1949, he tied a League record with four pass interceptions in a single game against the Chicago Cardinals and set an NFL rookie record with 11 pass interceptions for the season. Doll’s 11 picks his rookie year is the third-highest single-season tally in team history. His 301 interception return yards in 1949 still stands as an NFL rookie record.
In 1950, Doll followed up his rookie campaign with a remarkable 12 interceptions, which is still tied for the most in Lions’ history. Two seasons later, Doll helped the Lions win the 1952 NFL Championship and was named the MVP of the 1953 Pro Bowl following the season. During his career he was a four-time Pro Bowler and was selected three times when he was with the Lions (1951-53).
Doll finished his playing career with the Washington Redskins (1953), where he recorded 10 interceptions, and the Los Angeles Rams (1954).
In the history of the NFL, Doll is the only player to record 10 interceptions in three different seasons (1949, 1950 and 1953).
Doll later coached for the Lions for 13 seasons. His first stint on the club’s coaching staff was from 1963-64, and then he was on the staff for an 11-year stint (1978-88), holding various positions during that time. Doll coached in college and in the NFL for 34 years following his playing days, including 25 in the NFL.
He is survived by his wife, Diana, and his five children, Steven, Wendy, Kevan, Heidi and Michael, in addition to six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
TERRY HESSBROOK OF ITHACA NAMED LIONS HS COACH OF THE WEEK
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Terry Hessbrook of Ithaca as the 2010 week five recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Hessbrook led his Ithaca Yellowjackets to a 42-6 victory over St. Charles on Friday (Sept. 24) to improve to 5-0 on the season. Ithaca is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 6 by the Detroit Free Press. They have outscored their opponents 278-41.
Hessbrook is in his seventh season as head coach of the Yellowjackets where he has compiled a career record of 50-17 including four state playoff appearances. This season marks his 23rd year of coaching which includes nine years an assistant at Ithaca, five seasons as head coach at Montabella and two years as an assistant at Alma College.
This week Hessbrook and the Yellowjackets travel to Saginaw Valley Lutheran (0-5).
COACH OF THE WEEK PROGRAM
Each week throughout the 2010 nine-week high school regular season, one coach that best develops his players’ character, discipline and football skill will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school and community.
This season’s program will award $24,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions and the National Football League and presenting sponsor the Michigan Army National Guard.
Each winning coach throughout the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school’s football program.
In addition to the monetary award, all winners receive a framed certificate signed by Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz and National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell. Winning coaches also receive a personalized game ball, and a Detroit Lions “Coach of the Week” hat.
In its 14th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program will have awarded $268,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan.
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Terry Hessbrook of Ithaca as the 2010 week five recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Hessbrook led his Ithaca Yellowjackets to a 42-6 victory over St. Charles on Friday (Sept. 24) to improve to 5-0 on the season. Ithaca is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 6 by the Detroit Free Press. They have outscored their opponents 278-41.
Hessbrook is in his seventh season as head coach of the Yellowjackets where he has compiled a career record of 50-17 including four state playoff appearances. This season marks his 23rd year of coaching which includes nine years an assistant at Ithaca, five seasons as head coach at Montabella and two years as an assistant at Alma College.
This week Hessbrook and the Yellowjackets travel to Saginaw Valley Lutheran (0-5).
COACH OF THE WEEK PROGRAM
Each week throughout the 2010 nine-week high school regular season, one coach that best develops his players’ character, discipline and football skill will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school and community.
This season’s program will award $24,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions and the National Football League and presenting sponsor the Michigan Army National Guard.
Each winning coach throughout the regular season will receive a $2,000 donation to his school’s football program.
In addition to the monetary award, all winners receive a framed certificate signed by Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz and National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell. Winning coaches also receive a personalized game ball, and a Detroit Lions “Coach of the Week” hat.
In its 14th year, the Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week program will have awarded $268,000 to high school football programs throughout the state of Michigan.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Lions RB Jahvid Best has been named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
In Play Magazine
The NFL announced today that Lions RB Jahvid Best has been named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on September 19-20. Best compiled 232 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in Detroit’s Week 2 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans will vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLV in North Texas.
The NFL announced today that Lions RB Jahvid Best has been named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on September 19-20. Best compiled 232 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in Detroit’s Week 2 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans will vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLV in North Texas.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions Injury Report: WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf), LB Zack Follett (concussion), G Stephen Peterman (foot) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), C.C. Brown (forearm) and LB DeAndre Levy (groin) were limited in practice today.
The following players were listed on the Minnesota Vikings Injury Report today: WR Percy Harvin (hip/illness) did not practice and WR Bernard Berrian (knee), CB Cedric Griffin (knee) and LB Ben Leber (back) were limited in practice. CB Chris Cook (knee), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee), T Bryant McKinnie (finger), C John Sullivan (calf) and QB Brett Favre (ankle) had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Minnesota to face the division rival Vikings at the Mall of America Field on Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m. Both teams will be looking for their first wins of the season after close losses in back-to-back weeks.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions Injury Report: WR Nate Burleson (ankle), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf), LB Zack Follett (concussion), G Stephen Peterman (foot) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), C.C. Brown (forearm) and LB DeAndre Levy (groin) were limited in practice today.
The following players were listed on the Minnesota Vikings Injury Report today: WR Percy Harvin (hip/illness) did not practice and WR Bernard Berrian (knee), CB Cedric Griffin (knee) and LB Ben Leber (back) were limited in practice. CB Chris Cook (knee), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee), T Bryant McKinnie (finger), C John Sullivan (calf) and QB Brett Favre (ankle) had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will travel to Minnesota to face the division rival Vikings at the Mall of America Field on Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m. Both teams will be looking for their first wins of the season after close losses in back-to-back weeks.
Monday, September 20, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 35-32 loss to Philadelphia at Ford Field. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
RB Jahvid Best rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for 154 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles. He is the first rookie in NFL history with at least 75 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game. Best is the first player to accomplish the feat since Buffalo RB Joe Cribbs finished with 85 rushing yards and 163 receiving yards vs. Cleveland (11/01/81).
UPDATE: Best’s 154 receiving yards are the most by a rookie running back in the Super Bowl era. He has the most receiving yards by a first-year running back since Cowboys RB Herschel Walker registered 170 receiving yards at Philadelphia 12/14/86 (Walker was designated as a “first-year” player and not as a rookie in 1986 due to his previous pro football experience).
TODAY’S NEWS
The team met today and reviewed film from Sunday’s 35-32 loss to Philadelphia at Ford Field. The players are off Tuesday and will return to the practice field Wednesday.
RB Jahvid Best rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for 154 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles. He is the first rookie in NFL history with at least 75 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game. Best is the first player to accomplish the feat since Buffalo RB Joe Cribbs finished with 85 rushing yards and 163 receiving yards vs. Cleveland (11/01/81).
UPDATE: Best’s 154 receiving yards are the most by a rookie running back in the Super Bowl era. He has the most receiving yards by a first-year running back since Cowboys RB Herschel Walker registered 170 receiving yards at Philadelphia 12/14/86 (Walker was designated as a “first-year” player and not as a rookie in 1986 due to his previous pro football experience).
0-2 Teams Have 11% Chance of Making the Playoffs
In Play Magazine
According to ESPN...
"Since the NFL adopted its current 12-team playoff format in 1990, there have been 160 clubs that began a year with a 0-2 record. Only 22 of those teams, just 13.75 percent, became playoff entries. The odds are even poorer in the past decade, with only 10.8 percent of the 0-2 teams recovering. There were no such clubs in five of the past 10 seasons and, since 1991, no more than three in a year."
According to ESPN...
"Since the NFL adopted its current 12-team playoff format in 1990, there have been 160 clubs that began a year with a 0-2 record. Only 22 of those teams, just 13.75 percent, became playoff entries. The odds are even poorer in the past decade, with only 10.8 percent of the 0-2 teams recovering. There were no such clubs in five of the past 10 seasons and, since 1991, no more than three in a year."
Friday, September 17, 2010
DETROIT LIONS REACH SELLOUT FOR SUNDAY’S GAME VS. PHILADELPHIA
Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions have reached a sellout for Sunday’s home-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. By reaching a sellout by today’s 1 p.m. deadline, Sunday’s game will air live in the local television markets (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets), including WJBK-TV FOX 2.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Blackout Looms Near for Lions Opening Day
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The NFL has granted the Lions a 24-hour extension to reach a sellout for Sunday’s regular season home opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field. Approximately 2,000 tickets are still available to purchase. The game must be sold out by Friday, September 17 at 1 p.m. ET in order to lift the local television blackout (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets). If a sellout is not reached by the deadline, the game will not air in the blackout areas, including WJBK-TV FOX 2 in Metro Detroit.
RB Jahvid Best’s two rushing touchdowns at Chicago (9/12) marked the first time a rookie scored two rushing touchdowns in Week 1 of the NFL season since Chargers RB La Dainian Tomlinson registered two in the 2000 opener.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report:
DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. S C.C. Brown (forearm), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf) and LB DeAndre Levy (groin) were limited and RB Jahvid Best (toe) had full participation in practice today. Both Delmas and Levy were upgraded from no practice to limited participation today.
The following players were listed on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Injury Report today:
LB Stewart Bradley (concussion) and QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) did not practice. WR Jason Avant (back), DE Antwan Barnes (wrist), RB Mike Bell (toe), G Nick Cole (knee), G Todd Herremans (ankle), T Austin Howard (back), LB Akeem Jordon (groin), DT Trevor Laws (oblique) and P Saverio Rocca (left hamstring) each had full participation in practice today. DT Brodrick Bunkley (ankle) and LB Ernie Sims (wrist, quadricep) were removed from the injury report today and Avant, Jordon and Rocca were added.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shorts on Sandoval Field (indoors) today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The NFL has granted the Lions a 24-hour extension to reach a sellout for Sunday’s regular season home opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field. Approximately 2,000 tickets are still available to purchase. The game must be sold out by Friday, September 17 at 1 p.m. ET in order to lift the local television blackout (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets). If a sellout is not reached by the deadline, the game will not air in the blackout areas, including WJBK-TV FOX 2 in Metro Detroit.
RB Jahvid Best’s two rushing touchdowns at Chicago (9/12) marked the first time a rookie scored two rushing touchdowns in Week 1 of the NFL season since Chargers RB La Dainian Tomlinson registered two in the 2000 opener.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report:
DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. S C.C. Brown (forearm), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps/calf) and LB DeAndre Levy (groin) were limited and RB Jahvid Best (toe) had full participation in practice today. Both Delmas and Levy were upgraded from no practice to limited participation today.
The following players were listed on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Injury Report today:
LB Stewart Bradley (concussion) and QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) did not practice. WR Jason Avant (back), DE Antwan Barnes (wrist), RB Mike Bell (toe), G Nick Cole (knee), G Todd Herremans (ankle), T Austin Howard (back), LB Akeem Jordon (groin), DT Trevor Laws (oblique) and P Saverio Rocca (left hamstring) each had full participation in practice today. DT Brodrick Bunkley (ankle) and LB Ernie Sims (wrist, quadricep) were removed from the injury report today and Avant, Jordon and Rocca were added.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
In Play Magazine
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shells on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team announced Tuesday that they have placed rookie CB Aaron Berry on the Reserve/Injured list and signed free agent CB Nathan Vasher.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. S C.C. Brown (forearm) was limited and RB Jahvid Best (toe) had full participation in practice today.
The following players were listed on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Injury Report today: LB Stewart Bradley (concussion) and QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) did not practice. DE Antwan Barnes (wrist), RB Mike Bell (toe), DT Brodrick Bunkley (ankle), G Nick Cole (knee), G Todd Herremans (ankle), T Austin Howard (back), DT Trevor Laws (oblique) and LB Ernie Sims (wrist, quadricep) each had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will host the Philadelphia Eagles in their home opener at Ford Field on Sunday, September 19 at 1 p.m. Both teams will be looking to get on track after losing their season openers. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit on WJBK-TV FOX Channel 2 (subject to blackout)
Approximately 3,000 tickets are still available for Sunday’s regular season home opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field. The game must be sold out by Friday, September 17 at 1 p.m. ET in order to lift the local television blackout (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets). If a sellout is not reached by the deadline, the game will not air in the blackout areas, including WJBK-TV FOX 2 in Metro Detroit.
TODAY’S NEWS
The Lions practiced in shells on the outdoor fields today at the team’s headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park.
The team announced Tuesday that they have placed rookie CB Aaron Berry on the Reserve/Injured list and signed free agent CB Nathan Vasher.
The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions’ Injury Report: DE Cliff Avril (knee/finger), S Louis Delmas (groin/biceps), LB DeAndre Levy (groin) and QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder) did not practice. S C.C. Brown (forearm) was limited and RB Jahvid Best (toe) had full participation in practice today.
The following players were listed on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Injury Report today: LB Stewart Bradley (concussion) and QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) did not practice. DE Antwan Barnes (wrist), RB Mike Bell (toe), DT Brodrick Bunkley (ankle), G Nick Cole (knee), G Todd Herremans (ankle), T Austin Howard (back), DT Trevor Laws (oblique) and LB Ernie Sims (wrist, quadricep) each had full participation in practice today.
The Detroit Lions will host the Philadelphia Eagles in their home opener at Ford Field on Sunday, September 19 at 1 p.m. Both teams will be looking to get on track after losing their season openers. The game will be televised in Metro Detroit on WJBK-TV FOX Channel 2 (subject to blackout)
Approximately 3,000 tickets are still available for Sunday’s regular season home opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field. The game must be sold out by Friday, September 17 at 1 p.m. ET in order to lift the local television blackout (Metro Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw/Flint and Toledo markets). If a sellout is not reached by the deadline, the game will not air in the blackout areas, including WJBK-TV FOX 2 in Metro Detroit.
MARC CISCO OF MONROE JEFFERSON NAMED LIONS COACH OF THE WEEK
In Play Magazine
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Marc Cisco of Monroe Jefferson as the 2010 week three recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program Presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Cisco and his Monroe Jefferson Bears defeated Grosse Ile in a 75-56 shootout on Friday (Sept. 10) to improve to 2-1 on the season. Cisco is his 47th year as a high school coach including the past 44 as head coach at Jefferson. His career record stands at 235-174-4 and includes nine state playoff appearances and the 1994 class BB state championship.
This week Cisco and the Bears play at New Boston Huron (2-1).
Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lionshave named Marc Cisco of Monroe Jefferson as the 2010 week three recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program Presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
Cisco and his Monroe Jefferson Bears defeated Grosse Ile in a 75-56 shootout on Friday (Sept. 10) to improve to 2-1 on the season. Cisco is his 47th year as a high school coach including the past 44 as head coach at Jefferson. His career record stands at 235-174-4 and includes nine state playoff appearances and the 1994 class BB state championship.
This week Cisco and the Bears play at New Boston Huron (2-1).
Monday, September 13, 2010
Detroit Lions Head Coach Mum on Stafford. ESPN reporting 4-8 Weeks.
In Play Magazine
Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz on the 19-14 lose to the Chicago Bears.
Schwartz says, “Well, we haven’t gotten any calls from the league about changing the rulebook, so we’re still where we are with the Calvin Johnson play. I think it’s important to recognize whether that play is ruled a touchdown, (or) whether it is ruled a complete pass.
“He catches the ball, that’s obvious to everyone who watches the play; he catches the ball and on a technicality it’s ruled an incompletion. That’s the letter of the law. That’s what it ended up being; it’s an incompletion. It doesn’t change the way we played other than that. And I think we’d feel a lot different if that’s ruled a touchdown and we go get a road win in the first week of the season; we would feel a little bit (better) about that effort and about that game than we do after it’s ruled an incompletion and we’re sitting here at 0-1 and we’re trying to put that game behind us and learn.
“I think I’ll just leave that play there and say we played hard. We didn’t play our best football. I think it’s a good sign when we play on the road and we don’t play our best football, but we still have a chance to win. That’s a good sign for this team and I’m happy about that, but other than that you’re never happy with a loss and there are always things to do to improve, even in a win. That’s it.”
Schwartz on Mathew Stafford's condition.
“Matt’s very sore today. We’ve had some good returns from his test that it doesn’t look like surgery is going to be needed, but how much time he misses is still going to be up in the air and we’ll probably know a little bit more on Wednesday.”
While the Lions are not saying anything concerning Stafford's shoulder ESPN is reporting that Stafford will be out 4-8 weeks with a seperated shoulder.
Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz on the 19-14 lose to the Chicago Bears.
Schwartz says, “Well, we haven’t gotten any calls from the league about changing the rulebook, so we’re still where we are with the Calvin Johnson play. I think it’s important to recognize whether that play is ruled a touchdown, (or) whether it is ruled a complete pass.
“He catches the ball, that’s obvious to everyone who watches the play; he catches the ball and on a technicality it’s ruled an incompletion. That’s the letter of the law. That’s what it ended up being; it’s an incompletion. It doesn’t change the way we played other than that. And I think we’d feel a lot different if that’s ruled a touchdown and we go get a road win in the first week of the season; we would feel a little bit (better) about that effort and about that game than we do after it’s ruled an incompletion and we’re sitting here at 0-1 and we’re trying to put that game behind us and learn.
“I think I’ll just leave that play there and say we played hard. We didn’t play our best football. I think it’s a good sign when we play on the road and we don’t play our best football, but we still have a chance to win. That’s a good sign for this team and I’m happy about that, but other than that you’re never happy with a loss and there are always things to do to improve, even in a win. That’s it.”
Schwartz on Mathew Stafford's condition.
“Matt’s very sore today. We’ve had some good returns from his test that it doesn’t look like surgery is going to be needed, but how much time he misses is still going to be up in the air and we’ll probably know a little bit more on Wednesday.”
While the Lions are not saying anything concerning Stafford's shoulder ESPN is reporting that Stafford will be out 4-8 weeks with a seperated shoulder.
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