2024 Detroit Lions: Getting ready for the draft in Motown. (9 Viewers)

The Lions and head coach Jim Schwartz have agreed on a new multi-year contract extension, according to a league source. The length of the contract and financial terms were unknown.

The Lions and Schwartz have been steadfast in their refusal in not commenting on his contract this offseason.

“The next time I comment on my contract will be the first time,” Schwartz has said a number of times.

It always seemed like it was just a matter of time before the Lions and Schwartz would come to an agreement on a new deal, though. Schwartz, 46, has transformed an 0-16 organization to a 10-6 playoff team in only three seasons on the job. The Lions have gotten incrementally better in each of Schwartz’ three seasons, playing to a 2-14 record in 2009, 6-10 in 2010 and 10-6 in 2011. The Lions are expected to compete for a NFC North title and playoff spot this season.

Schwartz was entering the 2012 season in the final year of a four-year contract he signed back in January of 2009.

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'Anthony Borbely said:

My link

The Lions and head coach Jim Schwartz have agreed on a new multi-year contract extension, according to a league source. The length of the contract and financial terms were unknown.

The Lions and Schwartz have been steadfast in their refusal in not commenting on his contract this offseason.

"The next time I comment on my contract will be the first time," Schwartz has said a number of times.

It always seemed like it was just a matter of time before the Lions and Schwartz would come to an agreement on a new deal, though. Schwartz, 46, has transformed an 0-16 organization to a 10-6 playoff team in only three seasons on the job. The Lions have gotten incrementally better in each of Schwartz' three seasons, playing to a 2-14 record in 2009, 6-10 in 2010 and 10-6 in 2011. The Lions are expected to compete for a NFC North title and playoff spot this season.

Schwartz was entering the 2012 season in the final year of a four-year contract he signed back in January of 2009.

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Former Detroit Lions cornerback Eric Wright was hit with a felony DUI charge in Los Angeles on Monday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Wright was involved in an auto accident near the Staples Center. He told officers he had been drinking earlier in the day, but refused a Breathalyzer or field sobriety test.

Wright is being charged with a felony because the accident resulted in an injury. The other driver complained of pain, but refused medical treatment according to the Times.

Wright is the only starter the Lions are not returning from last season's team. He signed a five-year, $37 million contract with the Tampa Bucs as a free agent.

The Lions have had a tumultuous offseason with six arrests, the most recent coming last weekend. On Saturday, Aaron Berry, Wright's presumed replacement, was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, two counts of causing accidental damage to an unattended vehicle or property and two counts of failure to stop and give information to law enforcement.

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'Anthony Borbely said:

Now the former Lions are getting into the act.

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As we count down the days to training camp, Around the League will examine one player from every team set for a breakout campaign in 2012. Next up, the Detroit Lions.

Making the leap? The Lions are looking for "Da Missile" to launch this season.

Selected with the No. 33 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan, Louis Delmas was an instant hit in the back end of the Lions' secondary. In his first three games, Delmas had 17 tackles and returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Delmas finished his rookie season with 94 tackles, one sack and two interceptions, the second of which he returned 101 yards for a touchdown.

In his second season, Delmas led the Lions in tackles (84) and had a pair of sacks and forced fumbles, but failed to come down with an interception. Delmas went without an interception again in 2011, which means his most recent pick came during a 31-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on December 20, 2009. Much to the chagrin of Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the quarterback who threw that ball, Kurt Warner, has been out of football for two seasons.

Health was an issue for Delmas in 2011, as he missed the last five games of the regular season with a knee injury. It might not have been a coincidence that the Lions' pass defense, which ranked seventh in yards per play last season, allowed over 321 passing yards per game during that stretch.

The Lions' secondary might not be the strongest part of the defense, but a healthy Delmas, playing behind a potent pass rush, should be able to create more turnovers to mask the deficiencies the team has at cornerback and strong safety. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Delmas should have some additional motivation to take his game to the next level this season.

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'Faust said:

Louis Delmas key to Detroit Lions secondary

By Brian McIntyre

Around the League writer

As we count down the days to training camp, Around the League will examine one player from every team set for a breakout campaign in 2012. Next up, the Detroit Lions.

Making the leap? The Lions are looking for "Da Missile" to launch this season.

Selected with the No. 33 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan, Louis Delmas was an instant hit in the back end of the Lions' secondary. In his first three games, Delmas had 17 tackles and returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Delmas finished his rookie season with 94 tackles, one sack and two interceptions, the second of which he returned 101 yards for a touchdown.

In his second season, Delmas led the Lions in tackles (84) and had a pair of sacks and forced fumbles, but failed to come down with an interception. Delmas went without an interception again in 2011, which means his most recent pick came during a 31-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on December 20, 2009. Much to the chagrin of Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the quarterback who threw that ball, Kurt Warner, has been out of football for two seasons.

Health was an issue for Delmas in 2011, as he missed the last five games of the regular season with a knee injury. It might not have been a coincidence that the Lions' pass defense, which ranked seventh in yards per play last season, allowed over 321 passing yards per game during that stretch.

The Lions' secondary might not be the strongest part of the defense, but a healthy Delmas, playing behind a potent pass rush, should be able to create more turnovers to mask the deficiencies the team has at cornerback and strong safety. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Delmas should have some additional motivation to take his game to the next level this season.

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It's easy forget that Mikel Leshoure is more than just a name that gets tossed into copy about the Detroit Lions' off-field problems.

Before his two offseason arrests on marijuana charges -- and the two-game suspension that followed -- Leshoure was best known as a running back attempting to make the difficult comeback from Achilles' tendon surgery.

The focus on Leshoure can now be turned back to football. The 22-year-old running back was limited in minicamp, and it remains to be seen how hard the team pushes Leshoure when training camp kicks off later this month. A healthy Leshoure could be leaned on to provide the inside running game the Lions lacked a season ago.

"Leshoure definitely has that in him," coach Jim Schwartz said, via the Detroit Free Press. "No matter how we do it, running the football, throwing the football, short yardage, first-and-10, we need to have the ability to pick up tough yardage, and I think that's something that Mikel can do for us."

With Kevin Smith also returning, the Lions have a promising 1-2 punch that might also be among the league's most fragile pairings.

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'Anthony Borbely said:

'Faust said:

Louis Delmas key to Detroit Lions secondary

By Brian McIntyre

Around the League writer

As we count down the days to training camp, Around the League will examine one player from every team set for a breakout campaign in 2012. Next up, the Detroit Lions.

Making the leap? The Lions are looking for "Da Missile" to launch this season.

Selected with the No. 33 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan, Louis Delmas was an instant hit in the back end of the Lions' secondary. In his first three games, Delmas had 17 tackles and returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Delmas finished his rookie season with 94 tackles, one sack and two interceptions, the second of which he returned 101 yards for a touchdown.

In his second season, Delmas led the Lions in tackles (84) and had a pair of sacks and forced fumbles, but failed to come down with an interception. Delmas went without an interception again in 2011, which means his most recent pick came during a 31-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on December 20, 2009. Much to the chagrin of Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the quarterback who threw that ball, Kurt Warner, has been out of football for two seasons.

Health was an issue for Delmas in 2011, as he missed the last five games of the regular season with a knee injury. It might not have been a coincidence that the Lions' pass defense, which ranked seventh in yards per play last season, allowed over 321 passing yards per game during that stretch.

The Lions' secondary might not be the strongest part of the defense, but a healthy Delmas, playing behind a potent pass rush, should be able to create more turnovers to mask the deficiencies the team has at cornerback and strong safety. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Delmas should have some additional motivation to take his game to the next level this season.

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I think Delmas is the single most important player on the roster outside of Stafford and Calvin.

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'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

'Anthony Borbely said:

'Faust said:

Louis Delmas key to Detroit Lions secondary

By Brian McIntyre

Around the League writer

As we count down the days to training camp, Around the League will examine one player from every team set for a breakout campaign in 2012. Next up, the Detroit Lions.

Making the leap? The Lions are looking for "Da Missile" to launch this season.

Selected with the No. 33 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan, Louis Delmas was an instant hit in the back end of the Lions' secondary. In his first three games, Delmas had 17 tackles and returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors. Delmas finished his rookie season with 94 tackles, one sack and two interceptions, the second of which he returned 101 yards for a touchdown.

In his second season, Delmas led the Lions in tackles (84) and had a pair of sacks and forced fumbles, but failed to come down with an interception. Delmas went without an interception again in 2011, which means his most recent pick came during a 31-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on December 20, 2009. Much to the chagrin of Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the quarterback who threw that ball, Kurt Warner, has been out of football for two seasons.

Health was an issue for Delmas in 2011, as he missed the last five games of the regular season with a knee injury. It might not have been a coincidence that the Lions' pass defense, which ranked seventh in yards per play last season, allowed over 321 passing yards per game during that stretch.

The Lions' secondary might not be the strongest part of the defense, but a healthy Delmas, playing behind a potent pass rush, should be able to create more turnovers to mask the deficiencies the team has at cornerback and strong safety. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Delmas should have some additional motivation to take his game to the next level this season.

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I think Delmas is the single most important player on the roster outside of Stafford and Calvin.

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nah, the Leos need Suh to return to rookie form, far more important

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A tumultuous offseason hasn't quenched the optimism surrounding the Detroit Lions, who return 21 of 22 starters from last year's playoff squad. This type of roster consistency is unusual in the NFL, but it might not last for long.

The Lions' defense, in particular, could look drastically different in 2013, and here's why: Up to nine key contributors could be unrestricted free agents after this season, per Justin Rogers of MLive.com.

Defensive end Cliff Avril has until July 16 to sign a long-term deal with the Lions. He told Adam Schein of SiriusXM BLITZ on Tuesday that talks are "progressing," but we're not holding our breathe. A one-year deal appears likely.

Along with Avril, defensive tackles Corey Williams and Sammie Hill are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in 2013. That list also includes defensive end Lawrence Jackson, linebackers DeAndre Levy and Justin Durant, safety Louis Delmas and cornerbacks Chris Houston and Jacob Lacey. Not a minor cast of characters. Detroit's defensive line, which employs an eight-man rotation, also must prepare for the eventual departure of 34-year-old Kyle Vanden Bosch.

It's too early to speculate how the Detroit Lions will navigate through this, but a young, talented roster could look markedly different a year from now. The NFL's better teams -- and front offices -- learn how to grow a roster and lock in core players amid constant turnover. It will be interesting to see how general manager Martin Mayhew and the Lions tackle what lies ahead.

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When people talk about the Detroit Lions they tell you how critical Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson are to the team's future, and, of course, they're right. But they're forgetting someone here, and I'm talking about running back Mikel Leshoure.

As a matter of fact, so is coach Jim Schwartz, who this week told the Detroit Free Press how important Leshoure could be to the Lions' fortunes.

Important? Indispensible is more like it. I don't care if it's Leshoure or Kevin Smith or Jahvid Best, but somebody ... somebody ... must act as a threat to run the ball, and Leshoure is the logical choice.

Best would be, too, but I don't know what his future looks like after suffering another concussion. Running backs and concussions are as compatible as the Red Sox and Yankees, and once a back has had more than one -- and Best has -- I move on to Plan B.

That's where Leshoure comes in, and if you don't know much about him, that's OK. He's more famous for what he's done off the field -- namely, get nailed twice in one month for marijuana possession, drawing a two-game suspension -- than he has on it. That's because he never had a chance to play his rookie season, bowing out after tearing an Achilles in training camp.

The injury not only crippled Leshoure; it impaired the Lions, who, after Best was sidelined in the sixth game of the season, were forced to recycle Smith and Maurice Morris and call on Keiland Williams. Yeah, I know, the numbers weren't much different -- with the Lions actually averaging more per carry afterward -- but they couldn't produce the quality yards when they were needed most ... and that's why Leshoure could be so valuable to this year's team.

Schwartz said he's capable of getting the "tough yardage," and I'd hope so. I mean, that's why they drafted him. But he must ... absolutely must ... give them something they didn't have down the stretch in 2011, and that's the threat of a running game. The Lions lost it when Best was hurt, and it showed: They split their last 10 games after winning their first five and were closed out in the opening game of the playoffs.

Best gave them a versatility that was missing in Morris and Smith. That doesn't mean Smith didn't have his moments. He did. But the guy's fragile. So the Lions never really had anyone to back off defenses, and that makes all the difference in games you absolutely, positively must win.

Exhibit A: Last year's Atlanta Falcons. People keep telling me that it's a passing league, and that you don't need to run to be successful. Well, tell that to Mike Smith and the Falcons. They couldn't convert two fourth-and-1s and another third-and-1 in their playoff loss to the New York Giants, while the Giants ran for a season-best 172 yards.

Exhibit B: Last year's Detroit Lions. Look what happened in their first game without Best. It was vs. Atlanta, with the Lions three times failing to produce a yard after they were set up first-and-goal at the Falcons' 6. Reason: They couldn't run. They tried ... but with wide receiver Nate Burleson, and he gained nothing. So they turned to Stafford, who produced an incompletion and a sack, before taking the field goal.

The Lions didn't have a back the Falcons respected, and it showed. When they ran, they did it with a wide receiver ... and that's what I'm talking about when I mention the threat of a rushing game.

When the Indianapolis Colts went to Super Bowl XLIV, they did it with the league's 32nd-ranked running game. That was supposed to be an indication of how poorly they ran, but it wasn't; it was a reflection of Peyton Manning's decision making. He chose to pass and not to run, even though he had a capable back in Joseph Addai, who scored 10 times that season -- and it's important to make the distinction.

I remember when the San Francisco 49ers lost Ricky Watters to Philadelphia prior to the 1995 season and plugged in little-known Derek Loville at his position. Loville responded with 13 touchdowns and 87 receptions, which was terrific, but the defending Super Bowl champions went nowhere in that season's playoffs.

As quarterback Steve Young later explained, the 49ers were handicapped because they didn't have the rushing threat to back off Green Bay. So then-defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur rushed three and dropped everyone else into coverage, daring the 49ers to beat them with Loville. They could not, with Loville running for 5 yards and Young forced to throw a career-high 65 times, and suffered a 27-17 defeat.

That game illustrates another element here, and that's what a ground game can do for a quarterback -- which is open passing lanes that aren't there. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you drop seven or eight into coverage it's going to be difficult to find open receivers. But produce an attack opponents respect, and watch them commit defenders to the line of scrimmage.

Look what happened to New England two years ago in the playoffs. The New York Jets -- who did have a running game -- blanketed the secondary with defenders and stunned the AFC's top seed. Now, look what happened to the New York Jets last season. The running game that served them so well in Mark Sanchez's first two seasons fizzled, and so did Sanchez and the offense.

People want to blame Sanchez, and, granted, he threw too many interceptions and was anything but consistent. But it's like one coach told me: When you're successful throwing off play-action and don't have a rushing attack opponents respect, what do you think is going to happen? Answer: The 2011 New York Jets.

That's a long way of saying that Schwartz is right to single out Mikel Leshoure as a significant element to this year's success. No one is more important to what happens to the Lions than Stafford, who threw for more than 5,000 yards, but Leshoure can take the pressure off him by grinding out the tough yards Stafford had to gain with his right arm.

All I know is that Detroit was 5-1 when it had Best in the lineup and was 5-6 (including the playoffs) without him. Best gave the Lions the threat they will need again this season, and, as I said, I'm not counting on him. So, if I'm Schwartz, I look at what's left and hope Mikel Leshoure is as good as I need him to be -- both on and off the field.

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Penciled in as the Detroit Lions' No. 3 receiver behind Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, 2011 second-round pick Titus Young is looking to challenge Stefan Logan for the return specialist role, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Penciled in as the Detroit Lions' No. 3 receiver behind Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, 2011 second-round pick Titus Young is looking to challenge Stefan Logan for the return specialist role, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

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"Around the League" is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. We continue with the Detroit Lions.

Adjusted cap number: $124.766 million

Cap room remaining: $3.776 million (Total will decrease by around $1 million once first-round pick Riley Reiff signs.)

Best bargain: Brandon Pettigrew has evolved into one of the game's more complete tight ends, catching 83 passes for 777 yards and five touchdowns last season while providing the offense with a solid in-line blocker. According to official playing-time documents, only four tight ends logged over 1,000 snaps last season, and Pettigrew was one of them (Rob Gronkowski, Heath Miller and Jason Witten were the others). Entering the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract, the 2009 first-round draft pick will earn $1.0625 million in base salary this season.

Potential camp casualty: In a normal season, Corey Williams would be primed to be a camp casualty. The Lions have used multiple first-round picks on defensive tackles in recent seasons, and Williams turns 32 in August and is scheduled to make $4.9 million in base salary in the final year of his contract. But with Nick Fairley's off-the-field issues, the Lions are unlikely to release the effective Williams. Outside linebacker Justin Durant is a two-down player who is scheduled to earn $1.75 million in non-guaranteed base salary in the final year of his deal. The Lions have some promising young talent at the position (Doug Hogue, Tahir Whitehead) who could step up and supplant Durant this summer.

Contract issue looming in 2013: After not reaching a multiyear extension before Monday's franchise deadline, defensive end Cliff Avril will be the biggest contractual issue facing the Lions next offseason. The 2008 third-round pick has 30 sacks in his 57-game career, including 11 while playing on the restricted free-agent tender in 2011. Our own Albert Breer reported Monday that Avril turned down a three-year, $30 million contract that included $20 million in guaranteed money, an offer that effectively ended talks.

From Avril's point of view, that's understandable. It would cost the Lions $12.726 million to franchise Avril next year, a two-year haul of $23.331 million in fully guaranteed base salary. Then there's the issue of what pass-rushing defensive ends can earn as unrestricted free agents. Last July, Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson parlayed 21.5 career sacks over four seasons, including an 11.5-sack season in 2010, into a six-year, $76 million contract that included a $30 million signing bonus. Though I can't say with 100 percent certitude, it would not come as a surprise to learn that Avril's camp was seeking $30 million in guaranteed money and didn't take too kindly to a $30 million contract offer where just two-thirds was guaranteed.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford restructured his contract earlier this offseason to provide the Lions with some cap relief. The result is a $12 million base salary and $20.32 million cap number in 2013 that the Lions might want to roll over into a longer-term contract.

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Detroit Lions cornerback Aaron Berry was arrested early Saturday morning for the second time within 30 days and charged with three counts of simple assault for allegedly brandishing a firearm in Harrisburg, Pa., according to the Detroit Free Press.

Previously, Berry was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence charges on June 23. Berry agreed to enter a diversionary program for first-time offenders last week.

Here are the details from that report:

"Obviously, I'm limited in what I can provide because it's a pending investigation," a person answering the phone at the Harrisburg Police Dept. and identifying himself as Cpl. Gautsch said; a Cpl. Kyle Gautsch works for the department. "It looks like he was charged with three counts of simple assault and there was a firearm involved. Any other information would have to be disclosed by our press-release guy."

Gautsch said Berry was taken into custody around 2:30 a.m. Saturday and is "no longer at our holding facility." He declined to say if the firearm was registered.

The Lions released this official statement in response to Berry's arrest:

"We are extremely disappointed by the reports involving Aaron Berry. We are currently gathering more information and will have further comment when appropriate."

Berry's arrest is the seventh by a Detroit Lions player this offseason.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested twice this offseason; running back Mikel Leshoure was arrested twice; Berry was arrested twice, while Johnny Culbreath was also arrested.

Fairley was arrested marijuana possession, then later arrested for driving under the influence and attempting to elude police in Mobile, Ala.; Leshoure was arrested twice for marijuana possession, while Culbreath was also arrested for marijuana possession.

In addition, Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams was in court last Wednesday on previous DWI charges from a 2011 arrest. The judge in that case is expected to rule sometime this week.

Berry was expected to compete for a starting spot this season. He received most of Detroit's first-team reps at cornerback this offseason.

Lions rookies are slated to report for training camp on Monday, while veterans will arrive on Thursday.

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'Anthony Borbely said:

Here we go again:

Link

Detroit Lions cornerback Aaron Berry was arrested early Saturday morning for the second time within 30 days and charged with three counts of simple assault for allegedly brandishing a firearm in Harrisburg, Pa., according to the Detroit Free Press.

Previously, Berry was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence charges on June 23. Berry agreed to enter a diversionary program for first-time offenders last week.

Here are the details from that report:

"Obviously, I'm limited in what I can provide because it's a pending investigation," a person answering the phone at the Harrisburg Police Dept. and identifying himself as Cpl. Gautsch said; a Cpl. Kyle Gautsch works for the department. "It looks like he was charged with three counts of simple assault and there was a firearm involved. Any other information would have to be disclosed by our press-release guy."

Gautsch said Berry was taken into custody around 2:30 a.m. Saturday and is "no longer at our holding facility." He declined to say if the firearm was registered.

The Lions released this official statement in response to Berry's arrest:

"We are extremely disappointed by the reports involving Aaron Berry. We are currently gathering more information and will have further comment when appropriate."

Berry's arrest is the seventh by a Detroit Lions player this offseason.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested twice this offseason; running back Mikel Leshoure was arrested twice; Berry was arrested twice, while Johnny Culbreath was also arrested.

Fairley was arrested marijuana possession, then later arrested for driving under the influence and attempting to elude police in Mobile, Ala.; Leshoure was arrested twice for marijuana possession, while Culbreath was also arrested for marijuana possession.

In addition, Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams was in court last Wednesday on previous DWI charges from a 2011 arrest. The judge in that case is expected to rule sometime this week.

Berry was expected to compete for a starting spot this season. He received most of Detroit's first-team reps at cornerback this offseason.

Lions rookies are slated to report for training camp on Monday, while veterans will arrive on Thursday.

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'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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'Da Guru said:

'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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The fights? After a rough practice Young punched Delmas..happens on practice fields all over the NFL. The Lions wanted to make an example out of Young or nobody would ever have heard anything. About the arrests..the fans and media cares way more than the players care. All the players care about is what you can give on Sundays.

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'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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I agree with you, except the part bout Avril being their best Dline men. He IMO shouldtn have even been franchised. Not worth the money

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'Da Guru said:

'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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The fights? After a rough practice Young punched Delmas..happens on practice fields all over the NFL. The Lions wanted to make an example out of Young or nobody would ever have heard anything. About the arrests..the fans and media cares way more than the players care. All the players care about is what you can give on Sundays.

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'Chazzhawk said:

'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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I agree with you, except the part bout Avril being their best Dline men. He IMO shouldtn have even been franchised. Not worth the money

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Talent wise I don't think he is the best, but he was the best Dlineman last year.

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'Sabertooth said:

'Da Guru said:

'Chazzhawk said:

There is no way this team is better than last year, between all the arrests, the fights, and if Cutler and Forte stay healthy this year they are the 3rd best team in the North, and I have a hard time believing both wild cards will come from the North. The defense is horrible and all they did was bring back the same crew, and pissed off their best defensive lineman from last year in contract talks (Although if the 3 year 30 million dollar offer is true than Avril is a moron). I think the offense actually gets better but the team struggles to go 8 - 8.

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The fights? After a rough practice Young punched Delmas..happens on practice fields all over the NFL. The Lions wanted to make an example out of Young or nobody would ever have heard anything. About the arrests..the fans and media cares way more than the players care. All the players care about is what you can give on Sundays.

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So I wonder why we only hear about it infrequently.

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'matuski said:

Lions Cut Berry

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'Da Guru said:

'matuski said:

Lions Cut Berry

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No big loss. I always laugh at how teams will cut marginal players that can be replaced but more gifted players will keep getting chance after chance.

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'Da Guru said:

'matuski said:

Lions Cut Berry

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No big loss. I always laugh at how teams will cut marginal players that can be replaced but more gifted players will keep getting chance after chance.

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'Da Guru said:

Heard some bad news yesterday on The Ticket yesterday that rookie WR Ryan Broyles (ACL) will not be ready and will start the season on PUP missing the first 6 games. Rookie WRs have a tough enough time adjusting to the NFL..missing almost half the year is not good.

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'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

'Da Guru said:

Heard some bad news yesterday on The Ticket yesterday that rookie WR Ryan Broyles (ACL) will not be ready and will start the season on PUP missing the first 6 games. Rookie WRs have a tough enough time adjusting to the NFL..missing almost half the year is not good.

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this is no surprise guy tore his ACL in November

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'Da Guru said:

Heard some bad news yesterday on The Ticket yesterday that rookie WR Ryan Broyles (ACL) will not be ready and will start the season on PUP missing the first 6 games. Rookie WRs have a tough enough time adjusting to the NFL..missing almost half the year is not good.

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'Chazzhawk said:

'Da Guru said:

Heard some bad news yesterday on The Ticket yesterday that rookie WR Ryan Broyles (ACL) will not be ready and will start the season on PUP missing the first 6 games. Rookie WRs have a tough enough time adjusting to the NFL..missing almost half the year is not good.

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I don't think this is that big of a deal this year, they have weapons and showed that last year. The defense is what is scary

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'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

Jahvid, not cleared for contact, on the PUP

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'Da Guru said:

'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

Jahvid, not cleared for contact, on the PUP

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It has been almost 10 months since Best has played a game due to concussions and still not cleared. Sad to say that this may be the end of Javid Best as a NFL player.

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'benson_will_lead_the_way said:

How's the defense looked in camp thus far? Who's replacing Aaron Berry? Any new talks on Cliff Avril?Thanks

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'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

'Da Guru said:

'bicycle_seat_sniffer said:

Jahvid, not cleared for contact, on the PUP

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It has been almost 10 months since Best has played a game due to concussions and still not cleared. Sad to say that this may be the end of Javid Best as a NFL player.

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Yeah that cannot be a good sign

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Well then. My first day at Detroit Lions training camp started with news of safety Louis Delmas' knee surgery, continued through what surely wasn't the team's sharpest practice of camp and ended with tailback Kevin Smith leaving a team drill after appearing to bruise his right quadriceps.

Smith's injury does not appear serious, although it did provide a reminder of how close the Lions are to an emergency in their backfield. (Jahvid Best remains on the PUP list and Mikel Leshoure has missed most of training camp because of a hamstring injury.) And even though coach Jim Schwartz huddled the team at mid-practice, presumably after one too many false starts and overthrown balls, I can't get too worked up about one sloppy practice in the context of a three-week training camp.

On the other hand, I wouldn't blow off the potential ramifications of Delmas' surgery, an undisclosed procedure on his left knee that came after he missed most of the last 10 days of camp. Schwartz termed his status as "week-to-week," which is Schwartz-speak for something more than minor, and the best guess is that Delmas could miss the preseason.

If you made a list of the Lions' five most important players, Delmas would probably be on it. The Lions defense ranked among the NFL's worst in the five games Delmas missed after spraining his right knee last season, and he is as important as an energy lifter as he is on the field. For him to face a health situation once again, rather than contributing to the on-field development of what the Lions hope is a more consistent pass defense in 2012, is a scary proposition.

"It doesn't do any good to have him back if he's not the same kind of player," Schwartz said. "And that's the whole idea of why we did what we did, to get him back for practices and get him healthy on the field. Because he does mean a lot to us, not just from his play, but his personality, his leadership, and all those things."

With Delmas sidelined, the Lions used veterans Erik Coleman and Amari Spievey as their first-team safeties Wednesday. Coleman and Spievey had been competing for the job opposite Delmas, and the Lions have veterans Sean Jones and John Wendling in reserve.

But I think we can all agree that Delmas adds a level of attitude that the Lions wouldn't otherwise have. He runs full speed, sacrifices his body in contact situations and never stops talking on the field.

Go back and look at what Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told us about his team's defensive changes this summer. Rodgers lauded the energy added by a group of rookies and newly signed veterans, suggesting it would make the Packers a better overall team. It might sound silly, but energy and attitude are real things that are contagious and highly valued by football people. Delmas is that guy for the Lions.

"You hope those guys will pick up the slack," middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch said. "But Lou is a heck of a player. I enjoy watching him play and fly around. I love his attitude on the field. You can't replace that. Hopefully he can get back soon."

A few months from now, we could very well look back at this moment and view it as a small delay in progress for the Lions defense. This is a team deep enough to handle some short-term injuries. But there are a few players on this roster whose absence brings heightened concern, and Louis Delmas is one of them.

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'Ilov80s said:

Willie Young was a great 7th round pick. He is owning the Browns RT.

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'Chazzhawk said:

The only thing you can take from preseason is being healthy at the end of it, other than that it is crap. The Lions went 4 - 0 in the preseason a few years ago, and then went 0 - 16 in the regular season.

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'Mene said:

Bill Bentley looking good as well. Would be huge if this kid can surprise and grab that second CB spot... we desperately need someone in that secondary to step up.

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Was it just three years ago when we were all arguing about who the Detroit Lions should select with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 draft? The Lions narrowed their options to Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith and Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry.

Curry was the choice of Lions fans wary of highly-drafted quarterbacks and desperately hoping for an improved defense.

Traditionalists wanted to draft Smith to replace what seemed to be an aging Jeff Backus.

The Lions, as it turned out, were sold on Stafford for months before the draft and negotiated with Smith and Curry only to aid their leverage with Stafford's agent.

I was reminded of those times this week when the St. Louis Rams, who drafted Smith No. 2 overall, demoted him to second-team right tackle. Curry, drafted No. 4 by the Seattle Seahawks, moved to the Oakland Raiders last season and is sidelined for the moment by a knee injury he reportedly sought stem-cell treatment for.

Stafford, I'm told, threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns last season.

To be clear, there weren't many people arguing from a public perspective that Stafford was the slam-dunk choice, myself included. It's hard to argue with it now.

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