I know its way too early to even compare Kevin Smith to most good NFL running backs, let alone the greatest of all-time, but he showed some moves tonight that should get Lions fans excited about a running back again.

Stanton hurts thumb, Lions nation holds their breath:
Stanton bashed his thumb against either a teammate’s helmet (Mlive) or shoulder pads (News) in practice today, leaving his status for the weekend’s exhibition in doubt, and fans everywhere thinking, “Here we go again, Stanton has been snake bit by injuries his entire football college and pro career.”
The Lions will have an update on Stanton’s status Friday, but the pride of Sparty grads everywhere isn’t concerned.
“I don’t think it’s anything major. I’m just trying to keep the swelling down,” Stanton said. When asked if he’s expecting to play in Saturday’s preseason game [...]

As a parting shot as he heads off into a hard earned retirement, the News’ Mike O’Hara stirred up a hornets nest here in Detroit. His predicting a very good season for the Lions, a team that normally has trouble reaching mediocrity, has everyone atwitter.
One paragraph in particular has fans and writers alike wondering if O’Hara knows something, has drank too much of the Lions’ Kool-Aid these past 30 years or is just plain off his meds…
From what I’ve seen so far, I was wrong. The Lions will win nine games, maybe more. They’re super fast on defense, they will [...]

The Lions made a couple of personnel moves.
Another Lion has been declared out for the season. The world’s biggest fullback, the 310 lb Jon Bradley, was placed on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. The former defensive tackle turned blocking back was in a tight competition for the fullback job with 5th round draft pick Jerome Felton. This all but assures the Furman’s finest will make the team as the Lions’ only true fullback.
According to the Killer, Bradley’s injury also means the Lions will likely carry 4 tight ends, Dan Campbell, Michael Gaines, Sean McHugh and John Owens, [...]

What in the Sam Hill is going on in Detroit? Maybe the better question is, what’s in the water at the Lions’ Allen Park HQ causing the beat writers to…Hell, just read what they’re saying.
Mike O’Hara in the News:
When the 2008 schedule was released, I wrote the Lions could win nine games. It wasn’t a prediction, just a somewhat humorous way of showing how a 9-7 season was possible.
From what I’ve seen so far, I was wrong. The Lions will win nine games, maybe more. They’re super fast on defense, they will build a running game, protect the quarterback and [...]

Ace, of Detroit sports blog “The Ace of Sports,” has put together a “Detroit Athlete of the Decade” tournament, with round 1 beginning this week. I was asked to contribute to the Detroit Lions portion of the project, nominating who I think is the best Lions player of the last 10 years.
Also contributing were other local bloggers I’m sure you’re familiar with: Natalie (Need4Sheed), Dave (Gorilla Crouch), Christy (Behind the Jersey), and Blake (Spot Starters).
My pick? You’ll have to visit Ace’s site to find out.

Do we need to be reminded why the Lions traded the overweight and underachieving Shaun Rogers? Just in case you do, Mlive’s Highlight Reel directs us to this report from yesterday’s Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers made the trip to New Jersey for tonight’s game against the New York Giants on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” but is inactive for the game.
Rogers, the Browns’ biggest off-season acquisition, suffered from general soreness in several places last week, including a knee. It caused him to miss three practices, including the last two before tonight’s game.
You’re kidding. Really? Rogers’ knee is sore? [...]

Let’s take a walk on the wild side, and see what’s being said about the Lions 2nd exhibiton win.
At Fan Sided sister blog Stripe Hype, they make their feelings known about the loss to Detroit. They ain’t happy. Ain’t happy at all…
Just as well I didn’t have a chance to watch this one live. A loss? Check. Injuries? Check. Offense still grinding? Check? Defense still choking? Check.
Sounds just like a a fed up Lions fan during the Millen nightmare era.
The Cincinnati Enquirer’s coverage was not at all flattering. No one is happy in Bengals-land
The pass from Palmer was intercepted by [...]

For a game review, I thought I would go over the my “10 things I’m watching, dammit!” But before I review anything, Calvin Johnson deserves special mention.
The Lions’ wideout is a beast. A man amongst boys. A stud. A star in the making. Is silly good. Makes the Lions entire offense better. Utterly unstoppable. A threat to make a big play every snap.

I hope to see Calvin Johnson celebrate like this at least 10 times in 2008
I think that’s enough of the superlatives for the time being. All you can say is, without question, Johnson was the best player on [...]

Game Information
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Stadium: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Television: WWJ-TV 62/CBS
Play-By-Play: Gus Johnson
Color: Desmond Howard
Sidelines: Matt Shepard
Lions Radio Network: 97.1 FM The Ticket (WXYT-FM)
Play-By-Play: Dan Miller
Color: Jim Brandstatter
Sidelines: Tony Ortiz
2008 Preseason Records: Lions, 1-0; Bengals 1-0
2007 Records: Lions, 7-9; Giants 7-9
Point Spread: Lions +3.5, O/U 35, as per BetUS
Fan Sided’s Opposition Blog: Stripe Hype
Big Al’s “10 things I’m watching, dammit!”
Improvement in the running game – Time for Kevin Smith to take a stranglehold of the number 1 spot on the RB depth chart.
Run blocking – It can’t be any worse than last week, can it?
Gosder Cherilus vs. [...]