Archive for the ‘Detroit Lions Football’ Category
Detroit Lions: Corey Redding Traded to Seattle for LB Julian Peterson
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on March 18th, 2009
Lions defensive tackle Cory Redding has been traded to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson.
The Lions also are sending the Seahawks a fifth-round draft choice to complete the deal.
Redding signed a seven-year, $47.8 million contract to stay in Detroit in 2007, when the team decided to move him from defensive end. Former Lions coach Rod Marinelli believed Redding would be able to help the “three-technique” defensive tackle format.
Though Redding didn’t produce the desired sacks, he is considered a talented, developing player who is still in his prime.
In acquiring Peterson, the Lions are getting a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker who can get to the quarterback.
Detroit Lions: Jay Cutler Still an Option?
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on March 11th, 2009
Back in February there were some rumors that Jay Cutler was almost traded to the Lions. At that time I was thinking: damn that’d be sweet. It would have fixed one of the Lions’ major problems: whose going to play quarterback, and do we need to draft one #1 overall this year?
Well, rumors were reported (even though I can’t find them in print yet) today on 97.1 The Ticket that Jay Cutler spoke with his new head coach – former New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels – recently and that it “did not go well”.
Man, I’d trade the #1 pick today, right now for Jay Cutler. Why?? Because we’d know who is starting, he’s a proven decent Quarterback – and, we would not have to commit the 50 million dollar contract to Georgia’s Matt Stafford or some other player whose not proven.
If they do end up keeping the pick, neither QB (Stafford or USC’s Mark Sanchez) are #1 draft picks anyways and I would draft Aaron Curry.
Please, please get Jay Cutler!
Mike Valenti apologizes on WXYT 97.1 The Ticket
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on March 5th, 2009
I listen to 971 The Ticket almost everyday. This is just a bummer. Mike Valenti read some user submitted jokes about Corey Smith that were just garbage. The Lions got pissed and commented about the quality of content on their flagship (WXYT) radio station.
Come on Mikey V, clean it up! This is one time the Lions got it right for speaking up. I read an article about Corey Smith and he was a tough player and an even better human being.
Damned Mike, say it ain’t so bro… I really like your show:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090304/SPORTS01/90304073&s=d&page=6#pluckcomments
Detroit Lions: 2009 Free Agent Signings
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 28th, 2009
The Lions have made some moves. They’ve signed three players so far this off season as the free agent signing frenzy began with some huge signings by the Washington Redskins as they payed up big for DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth.
The Lions have signed
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3.04.2009
Position Corner Back
Height: 5′11” Weight: 188 Age: 28
Last Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/phillipbuchanon/profile?id=BUC267107
Notes: He’s a decent corner from what I know of him… What’s his Madden 09 rating??
Deal: Two-year, $8.5 million deal
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3.04.2009
Position Defensive Tackle
Height: 6′2” Weight: 345 Age: 36
Last Team: Atlanta Falcoms
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=JAC185074
Notes: Getting up there in age, but you have to love the size of this guy! We desperately needed it on the D Line. I’m all about this signing.
Deal: Three-year, $8-million
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2.27.2009
Position: RB
Height: 5′11” Weight: 211 Age: 29
Last Team: Seattle Seahawks
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/mauricemorris/profile?id=MOR472481
Notes:
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2.28.2009
Eric King
Position: DB
Height: 5′10” Weight: 185 Age: 26
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/ericking/profile?id=KIN460205
Last Team: Tennessee Titans
Notes:
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2.28.2009
Bryant Johnson
Position: WR
Height: 6′3” Weight: 211 Age: 27
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/bryantjohnson/profile?id=JOH086211
Notes: 3 years, $9 mil
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2.28.2009
Position: DB
Height: 6′1” Weight: 207 Age: 32
Stats: http://www.nfl.com/players/anthonyhenry/profile?id=HEN593539
Notes: Traded to the Lions from Cowboys for Jon Kitna
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Detroit Lions: Jon Kitna Traded to Dallas for Anthony Henry
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 28th, 2009
Jon Kitna’s finally out of Detroit. The Lions have traded last year’s the sideline cancer, the Halloween Trickster and Devout Christian to the Dallas Cowboys for a decent Cornerback in Anthony Henry. The Lions put Kitna on IR last year, after he exploded on the sideline during a game while arguing and looking like a baby.
Jon Kitna was traded to the Cowboys for DB Anthony Henry
Goodbye… good riddance, good luck, god bless.
I love this trade. What’s up with Maring Mayhew and the Cowboys? So far, Martin Mayhew has made all the right moves in my opinion. Way to go, keep giving away our garbage to the Cowboys for quality players and draft picks.
Wow… so far, this is awesome!
Dave Birkett: Jeff Backus asked to move to Left Guard
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 19th, 2009
Dave Birket is reporting on his blog that Lions coaches and officials have spoken to their Left Tackle Jeff Backus about possibly moving to Left Guard on the offensive line. Reports say he was “receptive” about the idea.
http://davebirkett.blogspot.com/2009/02/backus-candidate-at-guard.html
I’m not sure Backus can play Guard but if he can, we could kill two birs with one stone here. He may even be an upgrade at Guard; one thing’s for sure: he struggled stopping speed rushers on the outside and stronger Defensive Ends seems to push right through him. He seemed like he likes to stand up a lot over there after the snap.
So, if this is true – I’m thinking that they might take a big left tackle first overall – or I suppose at #20, their second first round pick coming up in the NFL Draft. The Lions really need an upgrade to their line. Time will tell if this is true and if Backus can even do it succesfully. This is news comes after earlier this week, the Lions resigned Daunte Culpepper. Let’s hope this is a sign that they are not going to take Matt Stafford with the first overall pick.
Lions restructure Culpepper’s deal, re-sign Hanson, Peterman
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 17th, 2009
The Lions have resigned Quaterback Daunte Culpepper, Kicker Jason Hanson and Offensive Guard Stephen Peterman. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Culpepper was due a roster bonus of 2.5 million later this month, but team President Tom Lewand said the deal was restructured.
This is all decent news but not ground breaking. I think Culpepper has a chance to be decent again and his re-uniting with former Minnesota Vikings coordinator Scott Linehan – the Lions newest Offensive Coordinator. The real gem in my opinion is resigning Jason Hanson. I was a little worried about that based on a report last week that the two sides were not close on making a deal.
Detroit Lions: Jason Hanson could be franchised
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 11th, 2009
Reportedly, Jason Hanson could get the franchise tag from the Lions this off season. The reason is that, according to his agent, the Team and Hanson’s agent are not close to a deal. Hanson (38 yrs old) is coming off his best year of his storied career in Detroit. He broke the single season record for 50 yard field goals in a season making 7 and was totally jobbed on not making the Pro Bowl.
That said: REALLY LIONS?? Are going to have to franchise your place kicker? Well, it could be worse – I mean we could just go ahead and throw the franchise tag on someone like Keary Colbert or George Foster. Or how about Rudy Johnson? At least Hanson was and is our best player, but is that not a total discredit to Matt Millen and Rod Marinelli and what they accomplished here?
Jason Hanson could be franchised by the Detroit Lions in 2009 (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
I say pay Hanson what he’s worth. The man is the Lions all time scorer and he can still kick field goals like nobody’s business. It would be nice to see him kick a game winner once in a while, but OH WAIT… we can’t win any football games. We went 0-16 last year. It’s still weird to see that record in print.
According to Kornheiser: Matt Millen is “crushed” by WDIV during Superbowl
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on February 4th, 2009
I was in a good mood and ready to watch some good football on Superbowl Sunday – and then I glanced at the TV screen and saw Matt Millen’s face. Apparently NBC found it necessary to hire Matt Millen, the worst Pro Sports GM in the history of the world, for an “anal”yst spot on their broadcast team.
Not only is this a slap in the face for Detroiters who love the un-lovable Lions; but listening to him was even worse than looking at him. He had nothing interesting to say during the game coverage and at times he sounded scared. So now you know how I really feel….
All this got more interesting when I read the Yahoo story Matt Millen’s NBC commentary comes with a warning label By MJD Published on Monday. So I guess WDIV – a television station in Detroit ran a scroller underneath Team Wrecker’s face. It said, and I quote:
“Matt Millen was president of the Lions for the worst eight-year run in the history of the NFL. Knowing his history with the team, is there a credibility issue as he now serves as an analyst for NBC Sports?”
Well… ahhh – YES!!!! That answer is for everyone in Detroit who watched their Franchise go from mediocrity to cellar dwellars and some of the worst football ever played – including your kid’s pee wee league. So they were asking fans to go and vote on their website about the issue. A clever ploy to drive more traffic to their site/blog (I know the feeling).
So anyways, the guys on ESPN’s PTI (Pardon the Interruption) got on the air yesterday and said that this was “a vicious attack” and that they could not believe it happened and they (WDIV) used a “guerrilla tactic” against Millen.
Huh?? I hardly think that stating facts and asking opinions is “crushing” anyone – unless the truth is soooo bad that it makes you look like a complete failure, and people wonder how you got your job back analyzing professional football teams after winning 31 games in 8 years and ruining a ball club and “CRUSHING” its fans?? Wait, i guess that might be the case here…
What do you think Tony K?
Kudos to WDIV and to Detroit! Millen left our state’s football team in dissaray, and a town where he never actually moved there, and he did not address the media or the fans. Suddenly he shows up on NBC as a football analyst where he can voice his opinions in a more civilized manner where people still respect him. We don’t respect Matt Millen in Detroit or in Michigan. We don’t agree with NBC hiring him, and most of us probably turn the TV channel when he’s on.
I also heard a rumor that Millen might be replacing Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football. Way to stick up for your “pal” Kornholer and Wilbutt. You must really LOVE MATT MILLEN as much as you said you did yesterday on PTI.
Lions Hold Townahall Meeting. Uniform Changing?
Posted by Joe in Detroit Lions Football on January 29th, 2009
The Lions had some Townhall Meetings yesterday and tonight in Detroit. Presumably, they wish to address their deteriorating fan base after their league history worst 0-16 season. I’m still surprised that they could not win at least one game. Anyways, some fans brought up the subject of a uniform change for team. After all, this worked for the Broncos and Buccaneers right?
Well, I think this is a little bit grasping for straws here, but I think that it would help. We need a new identity for our football team and that Lion logo – the one you can’t tell if he has a mouth – is played out. Also, the Honolulu Blue (what’s up with the Honlolulu??) is just not cool and says nothing about a “blue collar” town. I think a darker blue, silver and fiercer looking Lion decal on the helmet would be much better.
Still, changing the uniforms is not going to fix the lack of talent on both sides of the ball. But, change is good – just ask Obama’s campaign manager. I say, break-it-down; start over if you can. Get the sour taste of 0-16 out of our mouths from last year. Let’s hope they don’t go Detroit Pistons Teal color of the mid-90’s.
Since the fans bailed out of Ford Field last year – here’s an idea: let’s have the fans vote for the colors and logo. This way, the interest would be way up immediately and the team would forever be a part of Detroit – instead of William Clay Ford’s miserable play toy.
