There will be no Marinelli – Lynch reunion:
You knew the beat guys would ask Rod Marinelli about John Lynch when it was announced he was leaving the Broncos. Turns out he Lions have no need for a 37 year old safety, former Buc or not. It might have been a good story, but it wouldn’t have been a good football decision.
A pair of centers are signed:
As there is no legitimate backup to center Dominic Raiola in camp, the Lions signed 15 year veteran and long time Ram, Andy McCollum, along with undrafted free agent Nick Jones, to compete for the [...]

The poster boy for Lions draft ineptitude during the Matt Millen era, Mike Williams, has likely burned his final NFL bridge today. BMW, the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, was cut by his 3rd team in 2 years, the Tennessee Titans.
As bad as Millen’s drafts have been over the last 7 years, and numerous draft busts to have come through Detroit, Mike Williams could be considered the worst of the lot.  There were red flags everywhere about Williams, his weight and lack of speed being the 2 biggest. The Lions drafted him anyway.

Big Mike Williams back in happier [...]

Killer Kowalski’s latest WDFN interview is up at Mlive. Cliff notes version, Calvin Johnson is impressing the Hell out of him and Dan Orlovsky is clearly outplaying Drew Stanton in the competition to backup Jon Kitna:
I’m not sure if I should be happy Orlovsky is finally stepping up, or be bitterly disappointed in Stanton, as I expect a player taken high in the 2nd round to be pushing for playing time. I still believe placing Stanton on the IR last August was a moronic decision that would set back Stanton’s progress immeasurably. Their indefensible decision to sit Stanton has come [...]

I hate being put into the position to defend the Detroit Lions. Thanks to a boneheaded article by Tony Grossi in today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer, I’m going to do just that…Damn him. He claims the Lions were too generous in giving Leigh Bodden a new contract, while the Cleveland Browns have a relative bargain in Shaun Rogers.
Let’s break it down, shall we? My answers are in bold.
Who’s the better player — Shaun Rogers or Leigh Bodden?
It depends. Is Rogers pushing 4 bills on the scale, or is he in a semblance of shape? If he’s in shape, of course Rogers [...]

The Lions sign ANOTHER ex-Bucco:
Taye Biddle, a wide receiver recently waived by Tampa, was signed by the Lions today. Biddle is right in the Lions’ wheelhouse, being both a wide out and a former Buccaneer. How could the Lions NOT sign him?
The only reason this is being mentioned is the Tampa-Detroit connection, as Biddle is not expected to make Detroit’s opening day roster (If he does, the Lions are already in deep, deep trouble).  Biddle joining the team does beg the question. Do the Lions ever check the waiver wire for the rejects from any other team? It’s as bad [...]

Detroit Lions vice chairman and trust fund baby Bill Ford Jr. met with the beat writers over the weekend. As is my wont, I read between the lines of the transcript, and tell you what Junior was really thinking…

Um, yeah. I had to sell the Rolls. And the Bentley.
Same with the Jag. Even the Lincoln and the Mustang.
This is cool though, right?
• About the direction of the team and head coach Rod Marinelli:
“This is clearly Rod’s team and it shows. He’s got the guys he likes and he’s got them in shape. He’s got a big smile on his face [...]

Ernie Sims injures his right knee:
As if Lions fans don’t have enough to worry about, the big news out of camp today is Ernie Sims’ right knee. After tweaking the knee Sunday morning, the Lions only playmaking linebacker has been held out of practice since, and is scheduled to get an MRI today. The Lions are calling Sims’ MRI “precautionary,” and don’t believe it’s serious. Let’s hope so, as a long-term injury to Sims would be catastrophic for the Lions’ defense.
Edit 5:20 PM: Mlive is reporting Sims’ knee shows no structural damage, and he will only miss a few [...]

They become Detroit Lions.
Lehman was a Buc for what seemed to be about an hour, give or take 4 months. He was released by Tampa on Wednesday, likely for salary cap reasons. When Atlanta and Detroit immediately came calling, Lehman re-signed with his old team. Lehman must have figured, “The devil you know, better than the devil you don’t.”

Teddy Lehman, number 54 in your hearts…Soon to be number 58.
Actually, this is a solid free agent pick up for the Lions. Lehman already knows the defense, will add needed depth at a thin linebacker position and has proved to be a [...]

Let’s get out the pitchforks and torches, because it’s time for Jonesy to go.
I’m cross-posting what I just wrote at my other Detroit sports blog, The Wayne Fontes Experience, because I’m absolutely livid after what I just witnessed. Ahem…
Words can’t describe how pissed I am at Todd Jones right now…
But “DFA his useless fucking puff ball throwing homophobic washed up ass immediately” comes close. Damn close.
I don’t normally let bad losses get to me all that much. It’s not worth it. I also try not to blog mad. But tonight’s loss really struck the wrong chord. The wrong fucking [...]

When an undersized 2nd round draft pick is having the starting MLB job handed to them, both literally and figuratively, it’s takes the ultimate in agent hubris and stupidity to hold out. Yet that’s exactly what Jordan Dizon’s handlers were doing with their client.

With Rod Marinelli long known to loathe giving rookies starting jobs, and the team recently meeting with Takeo Spikes as a fallback MLB plan, it appears Dizon’s agents got the hint.
Thus, saner heads have finally prevailed, and Dizon has agreed to a 4 year deal this afternoon. Hopefully this means one of the bigger holes on the [...]