Ummm, OK.

In case you didn’t know, Calvin Johnson is in the news a lot. Unfortunately, as of late, it seems his media attention is equal parts Sunday performance and colleague criticism.

There’s always an NFL analyst or fellow player commenting on Johnson’s lack of “eliteness.” It’s not that they think he’s not a great wide receiver, it’s just so many of them don’t believe he’s among the best.

What – ever.

It seems ESPN analyst Cris Carter feels he hasn’t quite made his point abundantly clear yet. Back in August, Carter released a list of his top wide receivers in the NFL. His list went like this: 1. Andre Johnson, 2. Larry Fitzgerald, 3. Greg Jennings, 4. Reggie Wayne, 5. DeSean Jackson, 6. Roddy White.

Fast forward to present time.

Despite calling Johnson a “phenomenal” player, Carter went on to say:

Carter said there are “really four elite wide receivers” in the NFL: Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers, Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals and Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans.

And to that, Matthew Stafford emerged from his month-long Twitter drought to post this:

You tell ‘em, Stafford. » Continue reading “Calvin Johnson: Not an Elite Wide Receiver?”

As we enter week four games, I suppose it’s no surprise that the Lions injury report keeps expanding.

Of the 15 players on the report, nine missed practice Wednesday.

Here’s a rundown:

Did Not Practice: WR Calvin Johnson (Ankle), WR Rashied Davis (Foot), OT Jason Fox (Foot), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Not Injury Related), DT Nick Fairley (Foot), LB Justin Durant (Concussion), CB Aaron Berry (Groin), S John Wendling (Knee), S Louis Delmas (Abdomen)

Limited In Practice: WR Maurice Stovall (Hand), TE Brandon Pettigrew (Shoulder), DE Lawrence Jackson (Hamstring), LB DeAndre Levy (Knee), CB Eric Wright (Groin)

Fully Practiced: QB Matthew Stafford (Right Forearm)

I’m thinking a lack of practice for Fairley means he will in fact not be playing on Sunday. I never actually thought he would, but this sort of solidifies it.

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

Lions LB and special-teams ace, Isaiah Ekejiuba, left Sunday’s game against the Vikings in the first half after going down with a shoulder injury. Headcoach Jim Schwartz and company were hopeful that he may be able to return sooner than later.

“He wasn’t able to finish with a shoulder, so that’s never a great sign,” Schwartz said at Monday’s press conference. “He’s going through testing and stuff today. Hopefully we’ll get some – I don’t want to say good news – but we’ll get some decent news with that.”

Well the Lions did in fact get some news. Unfortunately, it wasn’t decent. Ekejiuba — who entered his seventh NFL season this year and second with Detroit — was placed on injured reserve today, ending his season.

He had two tackles on the season on special teams, both recorded against the Chiefs in week two. It was reported that the Lions signed cornerback Anthony Madison to fill the now empty roster spot.

Madison played in 16 games with the Steelers last season, with one start. He made 24 tackles with a sack and an interception.

Madison was with the Lions in training camp but was released before the season began.

Other injury updates:

• The Lions are reportedly “hopeful” that Nick Fairley will be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. I tend to think this is all a bunch of speculation. While I do think Fairley is making significant progress, I can’t foresee him making his first game appearance only a little over a week after his first practice. Just doesn’t seem feasible. But, then again, I’m not a trainer or a coach or Nick Fairley, so what do I know?

“He’s making progress, he’s improving, and we’re not going to put him on the field before he’s ready,” Schwartz said. “I think that’s — I don’t want to say a luxury that we have — but a good situation that we’re in … that we’re getting production out of our other defensive linemen, and we don’t have to press a guy back before he’s ready and set him back or set the team back.”

• Cornerback Aaron Berry also left Sunday’s game with an injured groin. His status is currently unknown.

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

Yes, you read that right.

Two things I thought I’d never see in the same sentence: Lions and win streak. And then add to that the fact that they currently hold the longest active win streak of regular season games in the NFL, and you end up with my mind being blown.

Prior to Sunday, the current longest win streak belonged to — unsurprisingly — the New England Patriots. They, of course, lost on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills, however.

The last time the Lions won seven straight games was in 1995. They started the season 3-6 and ended up finishing with a 10-6 record thanks to seven straight wins to end the season.

Incidentally, the Lions Super Bowl odds also improved after Sunday’s dramatic win. The Lions odds steadily improved during the offseason, but after a 3-0 start and a lot of hype, the Lions odds to win the big dance is now 10-1, according to @chadmillman. 

Millman tweeted this earlier today: “The world we live in: New SB odds from LV Hilton have Det at 10-1. GB, NE 9-2, Pitt, Bal, SD, NO also 10-1. Hou 15-1, Phi 16-1. Buf at 40-1.”

It is indeed a strange world we live in. One where the Lions have better than 100-1 odds of winning and where they hold a streak that doesn’t involve losing 16 straight games.

Am I dreaming?

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

It’s not about how you start. It’s about how you finish.

Thank God!

This old adage could be used to summarize either of the two teams on the football field today. And it’s beginning to look like the storyline for the Minnesota Vikings season thus far.

After a brutally painful first half where the Lions were held to just 46 total yards, the Vikings managed to collapse in the second-half for the third-straight week, handing the Lions a 26-23 overtime win and their third win of the season. It’s the first time the Lions have started 3-0 since 1980 and its their first win at the Metrodome since 1997.

Whether you chalk it up to an excellent second-half for Detroit or a lousy one for the Vikings, the end result is still the same, the Lions get the win and prove that they aren’t the same old Lions.

“It was as tough as a win … as I’ve been a part of,” Schwartz said. “We had to overcome a lot of adversity. It’s tough to be down 20 at the half.”

Yes, this game exposed a lot of Detroit’s weaknesses. And no, the Lions didn’t play exceptionally well. And yes, the Vikings were as much a part of getting this win as the Lions were.

But the Lions of old would have come out in the second-half down 20-0 and it would have only gotten worse. They wouldn’t have fought back, they wouldn’t have rallied around their biggest players. They wouldn’t have stopped their opponents in the redzone on a 4th-and-1 to get the ball on downs. » Continue reading “26-23 OT Win Propels Lions to First 3-0 Start in 31 Years”

September 25, 2011

1:00 PM EST

Metrodome

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with writing these game previews. I love them because it means we’re mere hours away from Detroit Lions football. I hate them because it also means I’m only a day away from the next work week. *Sigh* Rough life, I know.

Nevertheless, Sundays mean football and football means a happy Melissa, so I won’t complain. And if the Lions get a win, it only makes the week that much better, right? Right.

Week 3 of the NFL season is probably the Lions first big test of the year. No, the Vikings aren’t all that good — they aren’t even favored to win. But the Lions still have a lot to prove. And as their first conference game that also happens to be on the road, it will still be a telling trip to the Metrodome.

The Vikings enter Sunday’s game with an 0-2 record — the only team in the NFC North without a win. The Lions on the other hand are 2-0 and not looking to stop their win-streak anytime soon.

Here are some things to look for:

• Two words: Adrian Peterson. Despite giving up just three points last week, the Lions run defense looked anything but solid. If they want to control the Vikings, they’re going to have to start with Peterson who last season against Detroit racked up 160 yards and two touchdowns in their Sept. 26 meeting. The Lions defense will have to fill the gaps in order to keep Peterson at bay — otherwise it could be a very long day. And with a pass game that’s been anything but consistent, I expect Peterson to get the ball a lot. » Continue reading “Week 3 Preview: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings”

For the first time since his Aug. 1 training camp injury, rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley is back on the practice field.

After missing almost all of training camp, all of preseason and so far the first two games of the season, Fairley returned to practice on a limited basis yesterday.

“This was a big step,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’d been doing a lot of stuff on the side and doing a lot of lifting and conditioning and things like that, but actually putting a helmet on — he doesn’t even have any stickers on his helmet. It’s just part of the process, though.”

Despite being back on the practice field, Fairley is not expected to return to real action anytime soon. He’s been doing light running and was able to run some drills yesterday, however, he does still have a slight limp and is far from game-ready.

It’s been speculated that he may be ready for the Oct. 2 Monday Night Football game, but defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham was unable to confirm.

“You can’t tell,” Cunningham said. “I’m not a trainer or a doctor or anything like that, but my hope as a football coach is to get him out there and let’s get him ready to roll ’cause I think he’s pretty good.”

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

Barry Sanders Memorial Blog is introducing a new feature here today: From the Lions’ Mouth.

Each edition of FtLM will highlight a player, coach, or someone from the Lions’ organization who said something noteworthy — be it a tweet or interview, amusing or offensive. I can’t promise you’ll see it every day or even every week, but what I can promise is this: It will always be awesome and it will always be from the mouth of a Lion.

For the first edition of FtLM I give you Detroit Lions TE Tony Scheffler. Scheffler joined Twitter just yesterday and introduced himself in the most awesome way possible:

As you may or may not know, Scheffler and WR Nate Burleson seem to have a bit of an end zone dance-off going on this season. It started in the preseason and has quickly escalated through the first two games. Though, as it stands right now, Scheffler is winning the touchdown celebration war. » Continue reading “From the Lions’ Mouth: ‘Born From a Boom Box’”

“The party is on, my friend.”

I think it would be for the greater good of all mankind, if Matthew Stafford was  mic’d up for every game of the NFL season — and for every season of Stafford’s hopefully long career.

Why, you might ask? Because it’s better entertainment than going to the movies — and it’s free.

For this past Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Films wired Stafford for sound for an episode of Sound FX that aired last night at 9:30 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.

Here’s the result:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GzBqBNly6bY

If that doesn’t make you love the guy even more than you already do — well, then you have no soul. He was focused, encouraging, hard-nosed, all while still being absolutely hilarious. And the ref was spot on. It certainly did look like he was having fun out there. What a truly awesome video.

This isn’t the first time Stafford has been mic’d for a game. He was also wired for sound back in 2009 in a game against the Cleveland Browns. You can watch that video here. » Continue reading “NFL Films Puts Stafford to the (Mic) Test”

After two tremendous games to start the 2011 season, it was announced Wednesday that Matthew Stafford is a finalist for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. The contest is for games played this past Sunday and Monday.

Stafford is nominated alongside New England’s Tom Brady and Dallas’ Tony Romo.

The official page says of Stafford:

Stafford completed 23 of 39 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Lions’ 48-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 45-point margin of victory is the largest in Detroit team history. Combined with his three Week 1 touchdown passes, Stafford’s four score performance helped him tie a 1962 Lions team record for most touchdown passes in the season’s first two games.

Finalists for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week were running backs LeGarrette Blount of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills and Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons.

You’re eligible to vote for one player from each category (*cough* Matthew Stafford *cough*). Voting ends Friday at 3 p.m. ET and will be announced on NFL Total Access on NFL Network and on NFL.com.

So, uh, yeah … GO VOTE!

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