[*JD*]

(provided the world doesn't end in 4 hours and there's a season)

Let's see how bad the Ford Curse is!

[*JD*]

Nice that we were asked and nice that we took a pass:

Detroit Lions - NFL | Lions say no to HBO's 'Hard Knocks' series | The Detroit News

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by *JD*

(provided the world doesn't end in 4 hours and there's a season)

Let's see how bad the Ford Curse is!

This is priceless:

May 21, 2011 Judgment Day?
Dr. Michael Youssef - Guest Columnist - 5/20/2011 7:00:00 AM


Dear Mr. Camping,

So, Saturday the 21st is the day the world comes to an end?!

I cannot wait for that day. To be honest, I have been looking forward to it daily.

But…

What troubles me is that you seem to know something that the divine Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, did not claim to know. He said that only the Father knows the hour.

But…

It is okay by me if you want to make a prediction. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and I promise you now that if you are proven wrong, and we are all still around on Sunday the 22nd of May, I will not write anything against you.

However….

I would like to present an offer to you. If you legitimately believe that Saturday is the end of the world, please transfer your entire net worth to Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef by Friday, May 20. Please do not worry about liquidating the $86 million in radio assets you have from Family Radio. We will use them beginning May 22 for our own broadcasting needs.

I would offer you a tax-deductible receipt for your generous gift, but I don't suppose you will really need it.

My contact details are as follows:

Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef
P.O. Box 20100
Atlanta, GA. 30325
Phone 1 800 337 LEAD

I look forward to hearing from you.

- Michael Youssef Ph. D

An open letter to Harold Camping (OneNewsNow.com)

[papalawrence]

Their D line has potential to be better than the Silver Rush of old. I just hope they have a darn season. And I hope Stafford holds up. Lots of reasons to be excited about the Lions.

[detroitsportsfan]

I'm surprised that nobody started a Post-Rapture thread.

Originally Posted by Stefan S

This is priceless:




An open letter to Harold Camping (OneNewsNow.com)

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Here is an NFL site that is similar to that Bleacher Mob basketball site that had links to other forums and news sites.

I have it bookmarked. It is kind of no frills and easy to navigate:

Your Link to NFL News and Message Boards!

[tin mad dog]

I just post about NFL stuff on the Lions Forum and here.

[El Axe]

While they haven't returned from the lockout and no free agents have been signed, I felt like going through the proposed 2011 season schedule and wanted to come up with a way to predict the number of wins for the Lions if the season happens.

I looked at Sagarin's rating last year and I added 1.5 points, which is only mild improvement. I figure that the team is young and on the rise and that Stafford should be able to play more. Using that as a baseline, I looked at each opponent and gave a % chance of the Lions winning each game based on the predicted point differential. I translated the percentage to that much of a win and added them all up to come up with a predicted number of wins.

For example, the Lions would be favored by 20 against Carolina at home, so I gave that a 90% or .9 wins. The Lions are favored to lose by 3 at Chicago, so I gave that 40% or .4 wins.

Adding up these totals gave the Lions 9.6 wins next season. Interesting, too, is that the Lions would be favored in 12 individual games. The main reason is that their schedule is easier next season than 2010.

It was a fun exercise and a less biased method of prediction.

[Kstat]

NFC North: Sources, Nnamdi Asomugha Likely To Sign With Lions | NFLDraftCity.com

NFC North: Sources, Nnamdi Asomugha Likely To Sign With Lions

Free Agency will begin immediately following an agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is expected to be the top free agent available. Sources close to both the Lions and Asomugha have privately expressed mutual interest in coming to terms on an agreement once work resumes.

Lions' GM Martin Mayhew has been consistent in his attempt to return Detroit football back to respectability. The team made a few gutsy picks in April’s draft, seemingly ignoring positions of greatest need like cornerback, or linebacker. However, many close to the Lions situation felt the picks of a third wide receiver and second running back were necessities and integral to the success of the offense; completing an offensive overhaul that has surrounded the teams greatest investment, Matthew Stafford with a plethora of weapons.

The Lions did add arguably the top defensive tackle from the 2011 draft class to an already stellar defensive line, and passed on top cornerbacks Jimmy Smith & Prince Amukamara in favor of Auburn’s Nick Fairley.

With the holes in the secondary and linebacking core still clearly an issue, it’s natural to draw the conclusion there would be interest in a top cornerback like Asomugha from Detroit, although it seems a little farfetched considering the Lions’ recent history of embarrassment including an 0-16 record just a few years ago. It is believed Nnamdi would like to join a perennial playoff team like the Packers or Eagles, and many seem to put the Lions in the same group as the star cornerback’s former team, another recent bottom feeder, Oakland Raiders. While many agree with that sentiment, others believe it won’t be long before the Lions return to respectability and may even reach the postseason as early as this upcoming season. NFLDraftCity.com’s Chris Habbo is reporting, according to sources close to Asomugha, he agrees with the latter opinion and would be interested in joining the Lions if the interest is mutual and both sides can come to term on a contract.

When presented to a member of the Detroit Lions staff the level of interest from the individual close to Asomugha, a Lions’ representative conveyed, “We still have obvious holes in our defense, specifically the secondary and if there is a player out there that we think can help us in some of those areas, we’re going to do everything in our power to make that player a part of this team.” The Lions representative declined to comment directly on Nnamdi Asomugha, but made it clear, “We’re not going to hold back if a player is there and can help this team and we feel the situation is right, the player is right and if those details are established, money won’t be an issue.”

If the Lions are unable to come to terms with Asomugha, it is expected they will shift focus to Cincinnati’s Jonathan Joseph or Jets’ Antonio Cromartie.

[El Axe]

BTW, here is the schedule I used. I hope it's accurate, I got it from a Lion's forum:

@TB, KC, @MIN, @DAL, CHI, SF, ATL, @DEN, @CHI, CAR, GB, @NO, MIN, @OAK, SD, @GB

[Medz]

If we can sign Asomughua...I don't want to even imagine how sick that defense would look.

[GC_STONES]

If we land Scrabble and resign Houston - there is no excuse for us (healthy Stafford or not) to not be .500 + record and be a threat for a high seed in the playoffs.

To me, we already are a legit wild card caliber team - to add an elite corner in his prime with this ridiculous defensive line would just be divine. Phonso Smith coming back healthy and having a full training camp as well... then resign Houston - nice depth at corner then. Not to mention a full strength and conditioned Lou Delmas in the backfield; and Spievy with a full year/offseason under his belt as the other safety.

Sure we would have weak LB corps but we can't be a super all-madden team. Add Scrabble and we are now the new sexy team probably for most people to choose as a darkhorse contender (even now, we are that to some).

edit: to add Delmas.

[detroitsportsfan]

Nnamdi Asomugha would be a huge addition to Detroit. Man, I'm liking the way this Lions team is coming together.

[King Mob]

They call Asomughua Scrabble?

[The King]

That would be fucking amazing if he came here. A true SHUTDOWN corner. NOBOSY even throws to the guy and he has constantly shutdown the best WR in the game. Ashmagua and Revis are pretty much the only real shutdown guys in the game today.

The cost is the only concerning part. We are paying a lot of guys big money.

[GC_STONES]

Scrabble is a 'shutdown corner' in his prime and he also is a very good open field tackler/run support corner. Truly the only complete corner in the game (there are some young guys that have had one or two good years, though) in his prime.

Then there is this... Scrabble is known for being a leader on and off the field - a great character guy. This is equally important for the Leos. A franchise player in every way of the word!

Other fans of teams have argued why Scrabble would go to the Lions over real contenders like Ravens or Dallas. They are in denial; players see how far the Lions have come - they were close to being 9-7/10-6 last year without Stafford and many injuries. This team is just as much a contender as an aging Raven team with Joe Chokeo at QB or the constant bust Cowboys.

edit for Kings comment: The cost will be quite high, probably anywhere from $12 to $14 million per year. He is the number one corner in the league and still has many years left in his tank. This will cost a pretty penny, but we have to jump on this - it is our time.

[*JD*]

The Emmitt-vs.-Barry poll | ProFootballTalk

[Whiteman]

so this lockout is nearly over. We need to resign Chris Houston. He was stable last year, and maybe the most consistant. That said, I really have a good feeling Tulloch will be a Lion as soon as free agency begins. As long as we come away with an upgrade in the secondary and at LB, I will be happy.

[detroitsportsfan]

Houston is overrated and inconsistent last season. Maybe he's one of the best corners on the market so maybe it makes sense for the Lions to resign him (but not break the bank on him). Alphonso Smith looked even better at times but also looked worse. The Lions also have some corners & safeties who are on the roster but haven't played too much the last season or two because of injuries but the Lions seem to like their upside. That said, adding a corner or two and a linebacker or two seem to be the Lions greatest needs.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

There are a lot of good corners out there this year.

Joseph, Cromartie, Asomougha, Ike Taylor, etc.

[The King]

Joseph is the guy I want to target. He's really good and still pretty young. Asmomaugh is the ideal guy, but he's going to break the bank.

BTW, I read how the TOTAL contract for Cam Newton is something like $36 million in the new CBA. That's HALF of what Bradford got last year. It sucks for the Lions as we have to devote so much cap room to Calvin, Stafford and Suh in terms of rookie contracts. Thankfully those guys are all legit, but the rookie scale in the past few years has really crippled bad teams in the league.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Well lack of a rookie scale.

Here is one thing to consider though...the contract length being shorter- 4 years with a team option for a 5th year. Starting that 5th year, the salary really escalates. Before, you'd pay draft picks more, but high 1st Rounders would generally be signed for 6 or 7 years.

[RugbyPike#11]

Can't believe I didn't realize this, but Joseph went to my high school. He was a freshman when I was a senior. I usually pay attention to the D-1 recruits from my high school, but Joseph went JUCO before going to USC (the southeastern one with the chicken mascot).

[El Axe]

Geez, training camp just started and the Lions are already missing two important pieces to injury. Backus is going to miss most of preseason and Alphonso Smith is being placed on PUP.

That said, I like the Wright signing and I'm betting that Leggett will work out well. If they can get Houston back for a reasonable price, then the secondary will be serviceable, maybe even NFL average.

Durant at LB will be an upgrade and I think Palmer/Carpenter/Follett will help make the LB corps also serviceable, which will be an improvement over last year.

Peter King made an impromptu comment that the Lions are a darkhorse for the superbowl. He has actually been very accurate in his playoff predictions, but his most egregiously poor prediction in the past was when he predicted the Lions for the SB early in the Millen era.

[detroitsportsfan]

The Lions are still looking at players. This roster isn't set yet. They should be improved from last year. I'm really looking forward to seeing how dominate that defensive line can be. Adding a couple of pieces at receiver and running back and adding a healthy Matthew Stafford should give the offense a boost as well. I'm cautiously optimistic with the Lions this season.

[Whiteman]

lol its like I really dont care about the Pistons at all. Its Lions baby!!!!!!!

[detroitsportsfan]

Yeah, the Pistons are still in a state of flux. It's hard to say how well they'll do this season. By the time training camp opens, half the roster could be gone. And that's if (a big if) a new collective bargaining agreement is reached by that time.

The Lions seem to have a blueprint in place and are following it. You can see it coming together. It actually appears that Lions management are competent in putting the pieces together!

[papalawrence]

The Eagles have landed Cromartie and Asomugha? Holy crap.

[GC_STONES]

and the Iggles got V Young....

they brought in a great d-line coach and Babin at DE opposite Cole. They have a worse LB corps than us.

They upgraded their o-line a pinch which was a HUGE hole.

It really all comes down to Vick. I dont think he'll be a one hit wonder - but its only a matter of time before he gets banged up and how many years will he last (hes 31ish).

Despite the upgrades on D, the Eagles were putrid on D last season. They'll be average but not dominant, imo.

Overall , the NFC looks really interesting.... Eagles, Packers, Bucs, Saints, Rams, Lions, Vikings, Bears, falcons... all look legit

[Forsh]

Originally Posted by GC_STONES

and the Iggles got V Young....

they brought in a great d-line coach and Babin at DE opposite Cole. They have a worse LB corps than us.

They upgraded their o-line a pinch which was a HUGE hole.

It really all comes down to Vick. I dont think he'll be a one hit wonder - but its only a matter of time before he gets banged up and how many years will he last (hes 31ish).

Despite the upgrades on D, the Eagles were putrid on D last season. They'll be average but not dominant, imo.

Overall , the NFC looks really interesting.... Eagles, Packers, Bucs, Saints, Rams, Lions, Vikings, Bears, falcons... all look legit

Giants are better than half those teams.

[GC_STONES]

Better than whom? They finished 10-6 but the only playoff team they beat were the Seahawks. Giants are certainly solid, and belong in that group of 'playoff caliber teams' (I forgot them). But they aren't better than half those teams; equal to, sure, but not sure I would give them the nod over any of those teams besides Bucs and Vikings. Lions and Rams have improved and are on a upward swing whereas the Giants do not appear to be.

Realistically the NFC looks like

Tier 1 - Packers, Eagles
Tier 2 - Falcons, Bears, Giants, Saints, Bucs
Tier 3 - Lions, Rams, Vikings

My bold prediction is that the Saints and Giants don't make the playoffs. Lesser prediction is that the Bears don't either.

Packers NFCN winners, Bucs win the NFCS, Eagles win NFCE, Rams win NFCW

Lions and Falcons get the wild card.

[GC_STONES]

Assuming the Lions can resign Houston and sign either Barnett or Tulloch at LB.....

Lions record-
@TB - L
KC - W
@Minn - W
@Dal - W
Chi - W
SF -W
ATL - L
@Den - W
@Chi - L
Car - W
GB - W
@NO - L
Min - W
@OAK - W
SD - L
@GB - L

10-6, wild card

[GC_STONES]

Not afraid of anyone beside GB and Philly in the NFC. Tampa to a lesser degree, they are legit.

[Big Jerm]

Originally Posted by GC_STONES

and the Iggles got V Young....

they brought in a great d-line coach and Babin at DE opposite Cole. They have a worse LB corps than us.

They upgraded their o-line a pinch which was a HUGE hole.

It really all comes down to Vick. I dont think he'll be a one hit wonder - but its only a matter of time before he gets banged up and how many years will he last (hes 31ish).

Despite the upgrades on D, the Eagles were putrid on D last season. They'll be average but not dominant, imo.

Overall , the NFC looks really interesting.... Eagles, Packers, Bucs, Saints, Rams, Lions, Vikings, Bears, falcons... all look legit

You're saying the Eagles D will be "average?" They still have work to do at LB, but there's not anything else on their defense that remotely resembles a weakness.

[GC_STONES]

The Eagles were quite bad on D last season; I don't think they make a leap to elite top 5 defense. They are middle of the pack with the potential of being a top 10 D.

[Big Jerm]

Originally Posted by GC_STONES

The Eagles were quite bad on D last season; I don't think they make a leap to elite top 5 defense. They are middle of the pack with the potential of being a top 10 D.

They were already middle of the pack last season. They were ranked 14th against the pass, 15th against the run, and 12th overall. They gave up a ludicrous amount of TD's through the air, but I think having a 3 corner rotation of Asante Samuel, Rodgers-Cromartie, and Asomugha, along with a very promising safety in Nate Allen should take care of that. Adding Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins to Trent Cole and Mike Patterson up front can't hurt the run defense and the ability to rush the passer. LB is a very valid concern, but I can't imagine they'd put so much effort into the rest of the defense and ignore that aspect. If they shore up the LB position, they're top 5, easily.


NFL Stats: Team

[GC_STONES]

Their red zone D was possibly worst in the league. DRC/Samuels (the gambler)ain't going to fix that - Scrabble will most assuredly have a huge impact, though. LB is situation is worse than ours right now.

I also know that their offense was certainly their defense re: the run. They do not have a strong run D but teams got torched by the eagles O and had to pass to catch up. Like I said, they are 10-15 ranked D right now with the potential to go higher simply because of their offense giving them a huge lead and now they have the corners to handle opponents going ham with the pass game (along with Babin for the pass rusher).

[GC_STONES]

All in all, if Vick does his thing again this year; the Eagles will be the front runners in the NFC.

[GC_STONES]

Well, we officially resigned Houston and signed Tulloch. Solid. Houston isn't a stud #1 corner but hopefully Wright + Houston + (whenever he gets back from his injury) Smith will provide an adequate corner group.

I truly think safety will be a strength this year with a 100% health Delmas and a seasoned Spievy (kid has major talent).

LB is no longer a weakness - not a strong unit but certainly not a void in the middle of our D, either.

We bolstered our front four - this is going to make the back 7 job so much easier. We have a top 5 d-line with potential to be #1. This is going to make the likes of Levy, Tulloch, Wright, Delmas look really good behind them.

Offense is solid, with Stafford its top 10. This is the most excited I've been for the Lions in a long long time.

edit: forgot they signed Durant too. Levy/Tulloch/Durant... rock solid unit and behind that front four... we may get a probowl caliber LB production out of Levy/Tulloch.

[Big Jerm]

Originally Posted by GC_STONES

Their red zone D was possibly worst in the league. DRC/Samuels (the gambler)ain't going to fix that - Scrabble will most assuredly have a huge impact, though. LB is situation is worse than ours right now.

I also know that their offense was certainly their defense re: the run. They do not have a strong run D but teams got torched by the eagles O and had to pass to catch up. Like I said, they are 10-15 ranked D right now with the potential to go higher simply because of their offense giving them a huge lead and now they have the corners to handle opponents going ham with the pass game (along with Babin for the pass rusher).

Say what you want about Asante Samuel, but opposing teams only threw at him 36 times last season, and he intercepted 7 of those passes and had 14 passes defensed. Somehow, I don't think he was the problem. It was the oposite CB position, which was basically up in the air all season. DRC/Asomugha is a massive upgrade over Joselio Hanson, Dimitri Patterson, etc. At one point, they were starting 3 rookies in the secondary due to injuries. Only time will tell though. I'm saying they're a top 5 defense this year, but I could turn out to be wrong.

[GC_STONES]

You're argument is probably more valid than mine. I just don't think their front 7 is that strong and we'll see if teams figured out Vick to a degree with a whole year to plan for him. All that said, Eagles were a top ten team last year and this season they are an elite squad.

Looks like we lose Turk McBride to the Saints. He showed great promise - but we still have Jackson (potential stud, imo) and Willie Young as backup DEs. Not to mention Suh and Fairley can play some DE.

[El Axe]

With Tulloch signing, I think the LB corps goes from serviceable to above-average. I hope they can re-sign Carpenter.

Reports on Davis are good, all things considered. His foot is broken, but it's a stress fracture that happened over the course of time and started healing over 3 weeks ago. People are raving about Aaron Berry, the 2nd-year corner.

I'm pretty pumped about the defense, maybe a top-7 defense.

Honolulu Blue Kool aid is tasting pretty good right now.

Mayhew's offseason has been stellar. McBride's the only loss, and not a big one, and they've added serious players without overspending. Tulloch's contract has got to be the bargain of the league.

[hack]

The team is definitely on the rise. How far it can go though is possibly a function of Stafford's ability to stay healthy, which does not look likely.

[GC_STONES]

Originally Posted by hack

The team is definitely on the rise. How far it can go though is possibly a function of Stafford's ability to stay healthy, which does not look likely.

Eh.

The team was four key plays away (top 2 of those plays being the game 1 'no catch' and also the horrendous officiating in first GB game the non-PI call twice in a row on Woodson that would've put us in FG position for game winner) from being 10-6... without Stafford! So we were close to being a playoff team (I argue that we were a playoff caliber team last year, bad breaks and such, good teams do get lucky so I'll concede) last season:

now look what we have added this season, mind you, we have no player leaving besides Turk Mcbride:

1) Healthy Stafford
2)Healthy Best
3) Healthy Delmas
4) Healthy Levy
5)Healthy Pettigrew
6)Fairley
7)Tulloch (snubbed from probowl last year)
8)Leshoure (every down back stud)
9)Titus Young (Desean Jackson 2.0)
10)Durant (super athletic LB that plays the run strong)

These are all new additions. Then we have Spievey in his second year; I am a huge fan of him at safety. Calvin is only going to be better/hungrier this year. All we need is a resigned Avril to solidify this team to make a legit playoff/NFC championship run.

[detroitsportsfan]

McBride was solid for the Lions and basically did what was asked of him but it basically came down to a numbers crunch. Turk probably did what was best for him and moved on. The Lions are so deep along the defensive line that they already have players (ie. Lawrence Jackson, Willie Young) on the roster to fill the void. I was particularly impressed with Jackson's play late in the season. People might forget that he's 1st round talent who got discarded by Seattle. A nice pick-up by the Lions.

[GC_STONES]

Jackson can be a damn good starter for us, if Avril somehow leaves the team. Assuming we do sign Avril; a combo of Jackson and W Young backing up Avril/KVB is a rather sick rotation.... oh, and then there's the inside rotation of Suh, Fairley, Williams and Hill. We are ridiculous right now at the d-line.

The LB group just became quite strong, especially against the run. Our corners are big names, but Wright and Houston can turn their careers around here - and what better chance do they have than with this d-line helping them.

My above 10-6 estimation was conservative. I only 'fear' the Eagles in the NFC and even them, the Lions can beat.

[detroitsportsfan]

Andre Fluellen is on the D-Line too. He plays mostly at tackle but occasionally plays on the end. Detroit's D-Line might be the best in the league. I can't wait to see them wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

[hack]

The Lions aren't the only team that was one or two plays away from a significantly better record -- that happens all the time. I totally agree that the trend is in the right direction. If it weren't for Stafford's shoulder we'd be the talk of the league as up-and-comers. It'll have to be a historically good defense, however, to overcome a mediocre QB.

[Medz]

If it weren't for Stafford's shoulder we'd be the talk of the league as up-and-comers.

We're already the talk of the league as up-and-comers. Stafford's health is a concern of course, but there's a legitimate team to be excited about here. No need to be pessimistic just for the sake of pessimism anymore.

[hack]

Oh I think there's a great need for that. Teams don't just shake off the potential loss of a franchise QB. That would be exceptional. There's some great stuff to be excited about, but it's also silly to think we're SB bound -- we haven't made the playoffs in 12 years and have a big question mark at the most important position. I'll be happy if we make the playoffs this year, play a good game and maybe even get a win.