SideLion Report » 2011 » April » 20

Nick Fairley Visits Detroit?

Ross Husson — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:31:35 +0000

Yes, it is true according to detroitlions.com. Nick Fairley, who will most likely be a top pick in the draft next week, visited the Detroit Lions today. I find it very interesting that the Lions hosted Fairley. Fairley was amazing for the Auburn Tigers this year and led them to the the National Championship. He and Alabama’s Marcell Dareus are by far the two best DTs in the draft this year.

I know Fairley has a tendency to take plays off and has a questionable work ethic but do the Lions really think he will fall that far? Are the Lions planning to trade up and try to pick him? I hope the answer to that question is no. The Lions have bigger priorities besides Defensive Tackle. The Lions don’t need an upgrade at DT at all, Suh was the Defensive Rookie of the Year and Corey Williams caused havoc this year. Maybe he could play Defensive End but even if Fairley fell to the 13th pick, I don’t believe the Lions need to select him.

Fairley via DetroitLions.com: (more…)

2011 Schedule Will Test Lions

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:05:56 +0000

Remember when the Lions ended the season on a high note with a four game winning streak? Well, the NFL recognized that Tuesday night by rewarding the Lions a week five primetime matchup against the Bears. The great thing is the Lions won’t play in the Thursday or Sunday Night slot. Nope, The NFL gave them a Monday Night matchup at home! Usually you see the up and coming teams get a Sunday night game or a Thursday night game. But yesterday, the Lions were placed in the crème de la crème of NFL primetime.

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Monday Night Football is a Beginning, Not an End for the Detroit Lions

Zac Snyder — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:30:33 +0000

Excitement over the Lions first Monday Night Football game since 2001 is understandable but it is important to remember that this is a beginning, not an end.

The natural question to ask now that the Lions have a game in primetime is, has the team arrived on the national scene? Enthusiasm is growing locally but I see the week five appearance on Monday Night Football as the team’s national introduction, not arrival. The schedulers have deemed the Lions relevant, a far cry from prominent.

The Lions are now known nationally as a team on the rise and have been rewarded for the efforts in rising out of the ashes of 0-16. Fans that watch the Lions closely will see the flashes of brilliance from Matthew Stafford yet the nation knows him for his injuries. Beyond Detroit Calvin Johnson is known more for the one touchdown he didn’t catch (so says the rule book) than the 12 he did. That will start to change with the Lions’ introduction to a primetime audience.

A season less than what the majority of fans think the Lions can have next year and they may find themselves back off the primetime schedule in 2012. The recognition is nice but the Lions haven’t arrived just yet.

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