Maybe it’s Martin Mayhew’s controversial draft past. Maybe it’s the fact that I wanted someone else to fill that fifth selection. I guess it could be because filling the shoes of recently departed Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch seems difficult. Or perhaps it’s because I like my draft selections to have the fashion sensibilities of Nate Burleson and not Russell Westbrook.

But it’s probably not any of those things. It’s probably just the fact that selecting BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah was just the wrong choice.

Plain and simple.

But for as many people who share my sentiment, there are that many more who think Ansah will be the second coming of Reggie White.

OK, maybe not. But you get my point.

It’s true that the Lions need pass rushers. And it’s true that Ansah’s 6’5, 271-pound frame is appealing to fill that void. But I’m finding it hard to put stock in a guy whose American football experience dates all the way back to 2010.

For you math wizards, that’s three years ago. Not a long time for someone who was just selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. » Continue reading “Ziggy Ansah Selection a Huge Gamble for Detroit Lions”

With the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected BYU defensive end Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah.

Ansah, who is a native of Ghana, didn’t begin playing football until 2010, and had to be taught the most basic of American football rules. Even then, the 6’5, 271-pound Cougar didn’t see much production at BYU until last season when an injury forced him into the starting lineup.

In his senior season, Ansah recorded 62 tackles and 4.5 sacks, but it wasn’t until his performance at the Senior Bowl that his draft stock really started to soar.

And the Lions took the bait. With the departure of DE Cliff Avril and the release of Kyle Vanden Bosch this offseason, it’s likely that Ansah could step into that starting role along side Ndamakong Suh and Nick Fairley. But I’m skeptical.

Bottom line: I don’t like the pick (more on that later) but I’m going to hope Ansah’s potential is as extraordinary as many experts — and apparently the Lions — seem to think.

You can find me on Twitter @MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

After 12 seasons in the National Football League, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Jeff Backus released a statement Thursday announcing his retirement.

While Backus’ retirement is something many could have expected in the coming seasons, I don’t think many outside of the organization expected it so soon. Backus was a warrior on the field and the idea of him never putting on a Lions uniform again is a difficult one to grasp.

Backus released this statement:

“Today, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for me to hang up my cleats and retire. It’s a bittersweet moment, but I’m content knowing I gave everything I had, played as hard as I could and tried my best to live up to the standards I believe in.

“I want to thank the Ford Family and the Detroit Lions for allowing me the privilege to represent the city of Detroit and play in the National Football League for the last 12 years. I also want to thank all of my coaches and teammates for all their support over the years.

“To the fans of Detroit, I thank you for the support and loyalty you have shown the Lions and myself. You deserve a winner. » Continue reading “Jeff Backus Announces Retirement from the NFL”

Via @DetroitLionsNFL

If you can stop refreshing your Twitter feed for a brief moment, I’d like to take some time to tell you what’s happened today in Detroit. Because a lot has happened. Some good. Some great. Some hugely overrated. But all worth talking about.

You see, free agency started yesterday and as of around 10 a.m. this morning, the Lions and general manager Martin Mayhew decided to go all Supermarket Sweep on everyone. It went a little like this: “We’ll take this free agent, and we’ll take this free agent, and we’ll take this free agent …”

Rinse. Repeat.

And now we’re here with more depth in the backfield and hopefully a play maker in the run game.

So, without further ado, your new Detroit Lions are:

RB, Reggie Bush (4 years, $16M): How do you say “meh” in Spanish? I’m one of about three people who aren’t overly jazzed about this signing. There was plenty of speculation leading up to his deal today, but I was mostly hoping it would pass on by. Sure, the Lions needed someone to fill the sorely missed shoes of Jahvid Best, but is Bush really that guy? Maybe? I hope. But I’m not sold yet.

He’s had a mediocre career. And while it’s true he’s gotten somewhat better with age, I can’t forget the years he struggled in New Orleans with an offense just as explosive as the one he’ll be joining in Detroit. With that said, the Lions didn’t overpay him and if they use him like they should, he’ll prove me and all his critics wrong. And I hope it happens. » Continue reading “Detroit Lions Make Waves in Free Agency”

In order to divert our attention from the downward spiral that is Titus Young’s career, I present to you: “The Lions Need Leadership (also talent) in the Secondary — the Charles Woodson story.”

If you haven’t heard, the Green Bay Packers announced today that they have released veteran safety and Jay Cutler killer, Charles Woodson. I immediately called in a favor to Lions general manager Martin Mayhew.

He didn’t pick up.

So while I’m waiting to hear back from him, let’s discuss the possibilities here. Would the Lions even have a chance at Woodson? And if so, should they take it?

Here’s why they should: 

1. He’s Charles Woodson.
2. The Michigan tie-in is too compelling to ignore.
3. Even at 36, he’d still likely be the most talented person in the Lions’ secondary.
4. Leadership, leadership, leadership. Something the Lions, if you haven’t noticed, could use a little more of.  » Continue reading “Should the Detroit Lions Take a Chance on Charles Woodson?”

On Monday, the Detroit Lions released second-year wide receiver Titus Young. That sound you heard shortly after was the entire Lions fan-base breathing a sigh of relief.

For the majority of his tenure in the Motor City, Young offered little in the way of positivity. He was a cancer in the locker room, he was largely unproductive on the field, and he showed little effort to rein in his bad behavior and piss poor attitude.

Really, it was only a matter of time before the Lions’ front office did what they had likely been threatening for quite some time — and that was let him go.

Even in his rookie season, Young’s behavior foreshadowed his eventual demise. He was a nuisance on the field — showing a lack of discipline so infuriating even the Oakland Raiders would blush. And then last summer, Young was sent home after punching safety Louis Delmas during voluntary workouts.

As his production on the field dropped, it seems his desire to be a loyal teammate did, too.

Young was sent home a second time after he purposefully lined up incorrectly in the Nov. 18 game against the Green Bay Packers. And his fight with wide receiver coach Shawn Jefferson was just icing on an already bitter cake. » Continue reading “The Curious Case of Titus Young”

By now you’ve heard about Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young’s Twitter rant on Tuesday. And if not, let me help you out. It went something like this:

Blah, blah blah, I’m the best. Blah, blah, blah, give me the ball. Blah, blah, blah, I’m the most selfish person to ever live.

If you wish to read the actually account of the events, just click here.

In any case, head coach Jim Schwartz was asked during a press conference Wednesday his thoughts on the incident. Here’s what he had to say:

“There are good ways to go about getting that and not so good ways about trying to get that done. This is a pretty good example on a not-so-good way.  It is what it is,” Schwartz said. “We obviously still have some ground to cover there.”

Ain’t that the truth. » Continue reading “Jim Schwartz Weighs in on Titus Young’s Twitter Incident”

There’s nothing like being welcomed back into the blogosphere with a little Detroit Lions drama. Maybe I’m the problem. Maybe I insight stupidity in these guys. Who knows? What I do know, is that at the very least, I can be thankful (for today anyway) that no one was arrested.

Instead, we have a little Titus Young Twitter incident. After remaining silent on Twitter since December of last year, the Lions wide receiver started spouting off at the keyboard. Young has since deleted most of the tweets, but here are some of he highlights for your reading pleasure:

• “Like I said I never been selfish but if I’m not going to get the football i don’t want to play anymore.”
• “Never have I ran the wrong route, just put my self where the ball was going.”
• “To Be the best you gotta Beat the best #Me.”
• “My first year I played football I was the best. It’s true I could be alot better, But wit the football. My first year I was a captain Lol.”
• “I’m a team Playa that just loves the Football.”
• “Never played the game for d money.”
• “2 All the Detroit fans that are speaking against me, #ItwasjustAllgoodjustaweekago.”

So, yep. » Continue reading “Detroit Lions WR Titus Young Continues to Dig Massive Hole”

There’s a lot to be said about sports. About writing. About writing about sports.

For me, it’s always been my outlet. My way to sort of unplug, disconnect from the real world and just get lost in my two biggest passions in life. When I was having a bad day, I’d write. When I was having a good day, I’d write. When I was too busy to write, I’d write. There’s little that can get in your way when you love to do something so much you forget it’s not actually your day job.

But sports aren’t bigger than life. Writing isn’t bigger than life. And no matter how much of an escape something is to you one day, it can be the thing that makes you want to run the next. How can I put any passion into a post, into the creativity and time it takes to maintain a blog, when I’m struggling to even understand why I’m doing it?

In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been on here in more than five months. And if we’re being absolutely honest with each other, I had little desire to do so.

Writing seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The latter half of 2012 was somewhat of an evil stepsister to me — to my family. And no amount of love for sports or writing will compensate for the loss of family members, or the other struggles one might be facing in life. Why — how — can I justify finding happiness in writing when so many things in my life, so many people in my life, were the exact opposite? » Continue reading “A Little Less About Football, A Little More About Life”

August 17, 2011

8:00 PM EST

M&T Bank Stadium

After a tough loss in the preseason opener last week, the Lions are looking to rebound against a Baltimore Ravens team that made a 31-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons look awfully hard last week.

Both teams have been plagued by the injury bug this offseason and both struggled to get their first team offense going early on.

The Ravens and Lions will return several players tonight who missed the opener, and it could mean a more consistent attack on both sides of the ball. Defensive end Cliff Avril, strong safety Amari Spievey, and wide receiver Titus Young are all expected to be active tonight for the Lions, while Baltimore will welcome back veteran center Matt Birk and rookies Courtney Upshaw and Bernard Pierce.

Here are some things to watch for: » Continue reading “Preseason Game 2: Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens”