Detroit Lions
Burning question: can the Lions build a shutdown defense?
The Detroit Lions took a massive leap forward as a team in 2011, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, as Matt Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards and Calvin Johnson led the league in receiving yards en route to being an almost-unanimous All-Pro selection. Their stay in the playoffs would prove short-lived, though, as the New Orleans Saints moved the ball virtually at will. The Saints did that on the heels of Week 17′s game against the Green Bay Packers, when a Matt Flynn-led offense did the same. If the Lions are to be a serious Super Bowl contender, they’ll need to avoid those defensive disasters in the future. What do they have to do to avoid them, and what role might Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley play going forward?
The first question Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz have to answer is, how good exactly was their defense in 2011? Was it as bad as it looked those final two games, when they gave up 45 points both games, th…
Combine offers agents, execs time to talk
INDIANAPOLIS — The old hands wont be forgotten while the youngsters hoping to land jobs in the NFL are going through the audition regimen at the NFL Scouting Combine this week.
Having player agents and front-office executives at the same venue makes an ideal setting for contract negotiations for teams that want to re-sign their own free agents before the signing period begins on March 13.
Theres an opportunity for us to meet with a lot of the agents and do some negotiating in an efficient fashion, Lions president Tom Lewand said. Free-agency and the draft are running parallel.
“We have an interest in keeping as many of our free agents as possible.
As of Wednesday morning, the NFL had not released to teams the exact numbers for the 2012 salary cap or the franchise tag as it applies to players at every position.
But the best estimate is, the cap will be close to the 120 million limit of 2011. It might be at most 1 million higher.
The franchise tag carries a one-year guaranteed salary for a player designated by his team and can be used only once per offseason.
Defensive end Cliff Avril has drawn the most attention of the Lions who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents. He’s the only player under consideration for the franchise tag, but the Lions have not tipped their hand on whether they intend to apply the tag before the March 5 deadline.
The tag for Avril is projected to carry a one-year salary in the range of 10.6 million, but the guaranteed salary goes into effect only if the player signs the tender offered when the tag is applied.
Avril was quoted over the weekend as saying he would consider holding out if the Lions put the franchise tag on him. Avril is seeking a long-term contract, which is understandable.
Defensive end Charles Johnson of the Panthers, who has had a career similar to Avrils, signed a six-year, 72-million contract last year to remain in Carolina. Johnsons contract included 30 million in guaranteed money.
Three other Lions starters — linebacker Stephen Tulloch, cornerback Eric Wright and offensive tackle Jeff Backus — are due to become free agents, along with backup quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton.
Hill has a stronger bargaining position than Stanton because he has been the No. 2 behind starter Matthew Stafford for the last two seasons. Stanton was stuck in the No. 3 spot last year and was not active for a game.
The Lions have an excellent working relationship among the quarterbacks, which is important, particularly with a young starter like Stafford. He turns 24 next month.
Hill said at the end of last season that he wanted to return if the Lions want him, and there’s no indication that they dont.
Shaun has value on and off the field, Lewand said Wed be hopeful of having him back.
“The same thing goes for Drew.
Combine offers agents, execs time to talk
INDIANAPOLIS The old hands wont be forgotten while the youngsters hoping to land jobs in the NFL are going through the audition regimen at the NFL Combine testing and workouts this week.
Having player agents and front-office executives at the same venue makes an ideal setting for contract negotiations for teams that want to re-sign their own free agents before the free-agency signing period begins on March 13.
Theres an opportunity for us to meet with a lot of the agents and do some negotiating in an efficient fashion, said Lions president Tom Lewand.
Free-agency and the draft are running parallel. We have an interest in keeping as many of our free agents as possible.
As of Wednesday morning, the NFL had not released to teams the exact numbers for the 2012 salary cap or the franchise tag as it applies to players at every position.
However, the best estimate is that the cap will be close to the 120 million limit of 2011. It might be 1 million higher, at most.
The franchise tag carries a one-year guaranteed salary for a player, designated by his team, and can only be used once per off-season.
Defensive end Cliff Avril has drawn the most attention of the Lions who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents. He is the only Lion who is under consideration for the franchise tag, but the Lions have not tipped their hand on whether they intend to apply the tag before the March 5 deadline.
The tag for Avril is projected to carry a one-year salary in the range of 10.6 million.
However, the guaranteed salary goes into effect only if the player signs the tender offered when the tag is applied. Avril was quoted over the weekend as saying he would consider holding out if the Lions put the franchise tag on him.
Avril is seeking a long-term contract, which is understandable. Defensive end Charles Johnson of the Panthers, who has had a career similar to Avrils, signed a six-year, 72-million contract last year to remain in Carolina. Johnsons contract included 30 million in guaranteed money.
Three other Lions starters are due to become free agents linebacker Stephen Tulloch, cornerback Eric Wright and offensive tackle Jeff Backus along with backup quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton.
Hill has a stronger bargaining position than Stanton because he has been the No. 2 behind starter Matthew Stafford for the last two seasons. Stanton was stuck in the No. 3 spot last year and was not active for a game.
The Lions have an excellent working relationship among the quarterbacks, which is important, particularly with a young starter like Stafford. He turns 24 next month.
Hill said at the end of last season that he wanted to return, if the Lions want him, and there is no indication that they dont.
Shaun has valuable on and off the field, Lewand said Wed be hopeful of having him back. The same thing goes for Drew.
Detroit Lions Defensive End Cliff Avril May Holdout if Team puts Franchise Tag on him
The Detroit Lions have until March 5 to either strike a deal or use the franchise tag on defensive end Cliff Avril. Avril wants a long term deal and may have some leverage after coming off of an 11 sack campaign in 2011.
Avril who will be 26 in a few months, may holdout and miss some off-season workouts if the team does not meet his demand of offering a long term deal. This is a familiar situation for Avril as he wanted a long term deal last season, but ended up signing a one year restricted free agent tender with the Lions worth $2.6 million before the start of the 2011 season.
If the franchise tag is used on Avril it will come with a significant raise. The franchise tag is an average of the top five salaries at a particular position. In this case, that would be defensive end.
The projected number for defensive ends is expected to be around $10.5 million give or take. This is definitely no chump change, but Avril does have a case for a long term deal.
Ultimately, Cliff Avril is pro…
NFC North Watch: Laying the Offseason Groundwork
So as we’re painfully aware, it’s the offseason. Which means sometimes there isn’t enough Bears news to go around, so we’re going to keep an eye or two or three (wait what?) scattered around the division. “Know thy enemy” is a very sage piece of wisdom in any competitive endeavor, and it continues to hold true in football, so as we started doing on a near-weekly basis last offseason, we’ll share every-so-often what’s going on with the guys the Bears play against a combined six times each season.
But first, I’ll throw a quick link at you that slipped in past the Friday Den… ESPNChicago got Football Outsiders to reveal a snippet of their “needs” for each of the NFC North teams. Long story short (or short story shorter), the Lions need run-blocking, Green Bay needs pass rush, and the Vikings need to improve “perhaps ‘the worse secondary in the league’.”
Over in Lions land, they have their own version of the Matt Forte problem – defensive end Cliff Avril says he’ll contemplate…
Lions’ Avril: Fans taking holdout talk the wrong way — but, yeah, he might do it
Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, a soon-to-be free agent, phoned in to “NFL Live” on ESPN this afternoon.
Lions go back to the drawing board in preparation for combine
ALLEN PARK, Mich. Whether its the first pick in the draft or the last and the Lions have had both their philosophy has remained constant since Martin Mayhew became general manager five games into the 2008 season.
The Lions are sure to follow what has been a successful plan in Mayhews tenure as they head to the NFL Combine testing and workouts this week in Indianapolis.
In short, they rely on their extensive scouting reports and do not reach to fill needs at specific positions by drafting lesser-rated players.
At any point in the year, answers to draft questions sound like recorded messages. Just punch 2012 for this years announcement.
The message from coach Jim Schwartz after the Lions had been eliminated from their first playoff appearance since 1999 rings as true and familiar as ever more than a month later.
Improvement in the talent level and a 10-6 won-lost record may have lowered the Lions draft position, but the philosophy is at the same level.
I think its a lot easier to see the needs that we have, but I dont think it changes your philosophy, Schwartz said.
There will be accelerated talk about free-agency during this week as well. The signing period begins on March 13, but the presence of agents allows for face-to-face communication and can speed up the process for teams seeking to re-sign their own free agents.
The Lions must make decisions on four veteran starters who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents defensive end Cliff Avril, linebacker Stephen Tulloch, offensive tackle Jeff Backus, cornerback Eric Wright.
Free-agency is looming in the background. For this week, draft preparation is front and center.
After being in the draft spotlight with high picks for nearly a decade, the Lions 10-6 record dropped them to 23rd overall for the first round on April 26.
The Lions will scrutinize players, or those who will fall to them at that position, who can upgrade primary needs chiefly defensive back, linebacker and development on the offensive line.
Theyll be nothing more than interested spectators in what is sure to be a hot debate in the next two months over which of two talented quarterbacks should be drafted first overall by the Colts Andrew Luck of Stanford or Robert Griffin III of Baylor.
Its their lowest original draft position in 20 years since they drafted defensive end Robert Porcher with the 26th pick in 1992.
The Lions have had lower picks on the first round, but they were the product of trades. Most recently, they took running back Jahvid Best at No. 30 in 2010 with a pick acquired in a draft-day trade with the Vikings.
The Lions also had the second overall pick in 2010 and took defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
The Combine begins Wednesday and runs through Tuesday with players in various position groups arriving and departing in waves.
Offensive linemen, tight ends and kickers arrive on Wednesday to begin a series of height and weight measurements, physical and psychological exams and meetings with individual teams.
Free-agency will make more of an impact on the draft than it did last year, when the owners lockout pushed back the signing period until just before training camps opened.
Teams had no chance to fill needs before the draft with free agents.
With that in mind, here are some key issues and thoughts in advance of the Combine or, to modify a phrase used by former Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, the Pajama Olympics:
Lions salary cap: The Lions never make public their salary-cap status, and most reports have said they are operating close to this years spending limit, projected to be about 120 million.
However, Peter King of Sports Illustrated has reported that the Lions are 11.7 million under the cap, and there is no reason to dispute his report.
That figure should give the Lions more leeway to sign free agents – including their own — than most of us, including myself, have thought.
The signing period begins on March 13.
They also can get additional cap space by renegotiating Calvin Johnsons contract. His salary-cap hit in 2012, which is the last year of his contract, is more than 22 million.
Draft strengths: Its a good draft for defensive backs, linebackers and offensive linemen.
The secondary and linebacker are primary needs for the Lions and they have to look at the offensive line because of the age of veterans such as left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola. Both are going into their 12th seasons.
The tackle position is solid in the draft. The top prospects all are in the range of 6-5, 6-6 and 6-7.
Such players as Matt Kalil of Southern Cal and Riley Reiff of Iowa will be long gone before the Lions draft at No. 23. However, they might look at someone like Kelechi Osemele of Iowa State or Mike Adams of Ohio State.
Teams shy away from guards in the first round. The top prospects there include David DeCastro of Stanford and Cordy Glenn, a 6-6, 346-pound road-grader from Georgia.
Janoris Jenkins of North Alabama and Dre Kirkpatrick are talented cornerbacks who have character concerns. The interview process at Indy will be an important part of the week for both players.
Unless someone improves his position in the Combine or workouts before draft day, it could be the middle of the second round before the first safety goes off the board.
State representatives: The Spartans lead the contingent of Michigan schools with five Combine invitees.
Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy is rated by many as a first-round prospect, and quarterback Kirk Cousins has shown he has the poise and bearing to play in the NFL. Other Spartans are running back Edwin Baker, wide receiver Keshawn Martin and defensive back Trent Robinson.
Michigan has three players at the Combine defensive tackle Mike Martin, wide receiver Junior Hemmingway and center David Molk.
Defensive back Jeremy Jones of Wayne State and wide receiver Jordan White of Western Michigan also have received invites to the Combine.
Draft schedule: April 26, first round. April 27, rounds 2-3. April 28, rounds 4-8.
Different position, same philosphy for Lions
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Whether its the first pick in the draft or the last — and the Lions have had both — their philosophy has remained constant since Martin Mayhew became general manager five games into the 2008 season.
The Lions are sure to follow what’s been a successful plan in Mayhews tenure as they head to the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis.
In short, they rely on their extensive scouting reports and don’t reach to fill needs at specific positions by drafting lesser-rated players.
At any point in the year, answers to draft questions sound like recorded messages. Just punch “2012″ for this years announcement.
The message from coach Jim Schwartz after the Lions had been eliminated from their first playoff appearance since 1999 rings as true and familiar as ever more than a month later.
Improvement in the talent level and a 10-6 won-lost record might have lowered the Lions draft position, but the philosophy is at the same level.
I think its a lot easier to see the needs that we have, but I dont think it changes your philosophy, Schwartz said.
There will be accelerated talk about free agency during this week, as well. The signing period begins on March 13, but the presence of agents allows for face-to-face communication and can speed up the process for teams seeking to re-sign their own free agents.
The Lions must make decisions on four veteran starters who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents: defensive end Cliff Avril, linebacker Stephen Tulloch, offensive tackle Jeff Backus, cornerback Eric Wright.
Free agency is looming in the background. For this week, draft preparation is front and center.
After being in the draft spotlight with high picks for nearly a decade, the Lions dropped to 23rd overall for the first round on April 26.
The Lions will scrutinize players who might fall to them at that position and can upgrade primary needs, chiefly defensive back, linebacker and development on the offensive line.
Theyll be nothing more than interested spectators in what’s sure to be a hot debate in the next two months over which of two talented quarterbacks, Andrew Luck of Stanford or Robert Griffin III of Baylor, should be drafted first overall by the Colts.
The Lions will be drafting in their lowest position in 20 years, when they drafted defensive end Robert Porcher with the 26th pick in 1992.
They’ve had lower picks in the first round, but they were the product of trades. Most recently, they took running back Jahvid Best at No. 30 in 2010 with a pick acquired in a draft-day trade with the Vikings.
The Lions also had the second overall pick in 2010 and took defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
The combine begins Wednesday and runs through Tuesday, with players in various position groups arriving and departing in waves.
Offensive linemen, tight ends and kickers arrive on Wednesday to begin a series of height and weight measurements, physical and psychological exams and meetings with individual teams.
Free agency will make more of an impact on the draft than it did last year, when the owners lockout pushed back the signing period until just before training camps opened. Teams had no chance to fill needs before the draft with free agents.
With that in mind, here are some key issues and thoughts in advance of the combine — or to modify a phrase used by former Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, the Pajama Olympics:
Lions salary cap
The Lions never make public their salary-cap status, and most reports have said they’re operating close to this years spending limit, projected to be about 120 million.
But Peter King of Sports Illustrated has reported that the Lions are 11.7 million under the cap, and there’s no reason to dispute his report.
That figure should give the Lions more leeway to sign free agents – including their own — than most of us have thought.
They also can get additional cap space by renegotiating Calvin Johnsons contract. His salary-cap hit in 2012, which is the last year of his contract, is more than 22 million.
Draft strengths
Its a good draft for defensive backs, linebackers and offensive linemen.
The secondary and linebacker are primary needs for the Lions, and they have to look at the offensive line because of the age of veterans such as left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola. Both are going into their 12th seasons.
The tackle position is solid in the draft. The top prospects all are in the range of 6-5, 6-6 and 6-7.
Such players as Matt Kalil of Southern Cal and Riley Reiff of Iowa will be long gone before the Lions draft at No. 23. But they might look at someone like Kelechi Osemele of Iowa State or Mike Adams of Ohio State.
Teams shy away from guards in the first round. The top prospects there include David DeCastro of Stanford and Cordy Glenn, a 6-6, 346-pound road-grader from Georgia.
Janoris Jenkins of North Alabama and Dre Kirkpatrick are talented cornerbacks who have character concerns. The interview process at Indy will be an important part of the week for both players.
Unless someone improves his position in the combine or workouts before the draft, it could be the middle of the second round before the first safety goes off the board.
State representatives
The Spartans lead the contingent of Michigan schools with five combine invitees.
Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy is rated by many as a first-round prospect, and quarterback Kirk Cousins has shown he has the poise and bearing to play in the NFL. Other Spartans are running back Edwin Baker, wide receiver Keshawn Martin and defensive back Trent Robinson.
Michigan has three players at the combine: defensive tackle Mike Martin, wide receiver Junior Hemmingway and center David Molk.
Defensive back Jeremy Jones of Wayne State and wide receiver Jordan White of Western Michigan also have received invites.
Draft schedule
April 26, first round. April 27, rounds 2-3. April 28, rounds 4-8.
Detroit Lion’s Matthew Stafford and Kyle Vanden Bosch are Team Players
The Detroit Lions have tough decisions to make this off season that will affect how they are able to improve the team they are going to put on the field for the 2012 season. The Detroit Lions have had many poor seasons before their post season berth in 2011. Having those poor seasons brought them high draft picks such as Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Calvin Johnson. The Detroit Lions had the great fortune of these recent high drafts picks to succeed and improve the team to super bowl contenders.
The other side of this equation is the Detroit Lions have a lot of their team salary tied up with these 4 players, with key free agents such as Cliff Avril, Stephen Tullock wanting long term contract extensions. With payroll and salary cap limits affecting how ownership will make the decision. Which key free agents to keep or let go as well bringing in players via the draft and or free agency.
Matthew Stafford and Kyle Vanden Bosch both announced they are willing to …
Could Randy Moss be playing on the Detroit Lions in 2012
Randy Moss a few days go ended his premature retirement from the National Football League. Could Moss be thinking about playing alongside Calvin Johnson and joining the Detroit Lions in 2012? The rumor mill has already begun spreading on where Moss will be playing football in 2012.
Would the Detroit Lions take a chance on Randy Moss? Considering the last time anyone saw Randy Moss on the football field he played for the Patriots, Vikings and the Titans in 2010. He caught on 28 receptions for a very modest 393 yards. When Moss was on the Titans he was used pretty much as decoy for the final regular season games of the 2010 season.
The Detroit Lions should take this risk and sign moss to a league minimum contract with incentives that can earn Moss more money if he can reach certain statistics a receiver of his magnitude, should be able to reach every season. The Patriots took this risk by trading for him before 2007 season began. Randy Moss was rejuvenated and motivated to prove to …
TMZ caught up with Lions QB Matthew Stafford
Celebrity gossip harassment website TMZ tracked down Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford as he and his girlfriend, Kelly Hall, were at the outdoor check-in desk at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday. Per usual when TMZ meets up with celebrities, the cameraman hassled Stafford with mind-blowing interrogation.He had been in L.A. attending the Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards. Stafford and Calvin Johnson accepted the Dynamic Duo award. Staff was a good sport, despite looking like he was ready to run the other way after the first couple questions.
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Stafford’s mature well-beyond his 24 years of age. And he’s always sporting a Tigers cap – there’s nothing with that. He’s a good kid and Detroit is lucky to have him.
Matthew Stafford and Girlfriend Take in Hall of Game Awards
Where’s the kegger T?
Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford and his girlfriend Kelly Hall attend the 2nd Annual Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards at Barker Hangar — You would never guess this dude is a QB. As usual Stafford’s puff face says O-Lineman. -TO
Stafford’s Girlfriend Loves Keg Stands
Matthew Stafford Does Letterman
‘Possible’ holdout doesn’t make Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril selfish
The 25-year-old is looking for a long-term deal to stay in Detroit; he doesn’t want the Lions to slap the “franchise player” tag on him.
Lions assistant retiring after 27 years
Detroit Lions assistant coach Don Clemons is retiring.
The team says Clemons is departing after 27 seasons with the Lions. He was a defensive assistant in 2011.
He’s worked for nine head coaches with the Lions and coached multiple positions on defense. He’s also served as the team’s strength coach.
Before joining the Lions in 1985, Clemons was strength and conditioning coach at Arizona State and a linebackers coach at New Mexico State. He also coached outside linebackers at Kutztown State.
Lions DE Avril may holdout if placed under franchise tag
Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril told the Detroit Free Press that he may hold out if the team puts its franchise tag on him, rather than negotiate a new long-term contract this offseason.The Lions can use the franchise tag to keep Avril off the free-agent market with a one-year deal. Avril told the newspaper he is considering skipping training camp and the start of the 2012-13 season if a contract is not in place.”I don’t want to be franchised,” Avril told the newspaper. “That’s basically what I got last year. The (restricted free-agent) tender was basically the same thing. I just want security and longevity.”Avril had a career-high 11 sacks and six forced fumbles this season. He has 30 sacks in 57 career games.
