Who else is waiting in anticipation?

Barry Sanders will make a cameo appearance in a movie titled “Touchback,” which is set to premiere April 27 in the Grand Rapids, Mich. area. He plays an assistant coach.

The film casts Brian Presley as the lead role, who also co-produced the movie. He plays a former high school quarterback who is transported back in time and given the chance to relive a critical point in his athletic career.

The movie, which filmed a lot of it scenes more than a year ago, used the football field of Coopersville High School in GR. That’s where my dad went to school, ladies and gentlemen. Which means he’s famous in some round about way. Right? Right. » Continue reading “Barry Sanders to Make Film Deput”

Calvin Johnson appeared as a guest on Jim Rome is Burning last week and discussed — among many things — contract talks, the playoffs, and the crazy coverage he endured on the field this season.

You can watch the interview here:

http://www.jimrome.com/videos?uri=channels/383728/1589584   

It’s funny to hear that even Johnson gets surprised at some of the things teams do to keep him contained.

Of all the looks opposing defenses gave him this year, nothing surprised Johnson more than what the Saints did when the two teams meet on Sunday Night Football late in the season. Deep in the red zone, the Saints had two men jam Johnson at the line of scrimmage as if he was a gunner on punt coverage.

“That was crazy,” Johnson said.  » Continue reading “Calvin Johnson Appears as Guest on Jim Rome”

If you had no interest in watching the 2012 Pro Bowl (like me) you may not have seen the new equipment Nike introduced. But fear not, I have pictures.

Nike released photos of the Vapor Jet Gloves for all 32 teams, which features the team’s logo when both hands are placed together. Here’s a photo of the Lions’ gloves:

» Continue reading “Nike Releases Vapor Jet Gloves for all 32 Teams”

While the actual Senior Bowl game is today, the players have spent the week preparing and talking to NFL coaches about their future.

And the Detroit Lions staff had the opportunity to interview several players this week.

So far, the Lions have talked to:

• RB Dan Herron (Ohio State)
• RB Doug Martin (Boise State)
• OT Zebrie Sanders (Florida State)
• OT Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
• C Ben Jones (Georgia) » Continue reading “Detroit Lions Make the Most of the Senior Bowl”

Shortly after the end of the 2011 season, the Lions quickly got to work on re-signing valuable aspects of the team — including the entire coordinating crew.

Earlier today, Detroit finished the job when they gave receivers coach Shawn Jefferson a new deal. » Continue reading “Shawn Jefferson, Tim Walton Re-Sign as Detroit Lions Coaches”

On an interview with 97.1 The Ticket this week, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz gave his thoughts on Matthew Stafford not being selected for this year’s Pro Bowl.

“I made one of my five-minute trips on the treadmill today and I had the TV on and I saw the Pro Bowl from Hawaii. I was a little bit disappointed for him and for us that (after) the great year he had, and all the things he did, he’s here at a Pistons game rather than being at the Pro Bowl,” Schwartz said in an interview on 97.1 Thursday night when host Bob Wojnowski informed Schwartz that Stafford was at the Pistons vs. Heat game at the Palace of Auburn Hills Wednesday night.

“But there’s going to be a lot of (Pro Bowls) in his future.”

Schwartz went on to give this very insightful fact: » Continue reading “Jim Schwartz Addresses Stafford Snub of the Pro Bowl”

Things can only stay quiet in the offseason for so long. And then you start getting stories like this. Sigh.

The Lions backup offensive tackle, Johnny Culbreath, was arrested Monday in Orangeburg County, S.C.  for possession of an illegal substance — in this case, Marijuana.

According to the report, Culbreath was staying at the Country Inn and Suites, where a hotel clerk called the police to report that a guest was using marijuana. Surveillance videos had shown Culbreath putting something in a hallway drawer, and when the police asked him what he put in there, he answered, “two blunts.” Police then found what they described as “a small plastic bag with plant material” in the table.

He has since paid the $412 fine to end the case. » Continue reading “Lions Offensive Tackle Arrested for Marijuana Possession”

Picture via @Nate13Burleson

It pays to know people. Or in the case of Nate Burleson, Stefan Logan and Maurice Stovall, it pays to be a teammate of Calvin Johnson.

As a way to say “thanks” to his fellow WRs for the support they gave him throughout the season, Johnson took them to Hawaii. He also brought along practice-squad receivers Marcus Harris and Nate Hughes, and others.

Coincidentally, the Pro Bowl takes place Sunday, but Johnson will not be participating due to a sore Achilles. I’m glad to see he wasn’t going to let a little injury ruin a good trip to the islands!

And according to Burleson’s Twitter (see picture at left), they are flying private jet style. Niiiiiice.

I, for one, think this is awesome. Total class move on Johnson’s part. How often do you see superstars who are as humble and clearly grateful as Johnson is. Let’s hope that new contract is in the works.

Fnd me on Twitter @MelissaHeyboer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrysandersmemorialblog.

TE Brandon Pettigrew gets penalized for "shoving" ref during Saints game.

General Manager Martin Mayhew doesn’t seem to think so.

“Maybe I’m by myself on that,” Mayhew said.

Yep. You are.

“I think we had a problem in that particular game, in the Saints game. I think it was addressed appropriately by Jim (Schwartz) and by some of the leaders on our team, and after that we didn’t really have a problem. I don’t know if that’s really an issue.”

In today’s edition of least surprising news ever, the Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was given the Bobby Layne Offensive MVP Award.

With the kind of season Matthew Stafford had, he could have easily been the recipient of the award as well, but I don’t think anyone’s going to have too many bones to pick with Johnson, who was far and away the best receiver on in the NFL.

“This kid has an affection and a deep love for wanting to be the best,” said Lions receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. “He’s the first one in the classroom, the first one to ask questions, he’s one of the last guys to leave off the field and he’s first in every drill at practice. He sets the tempo each and every day and when the rest of the guys see that from a Pro Bowl player, they fall into line.” » Continue reading “Calvin Johnson Named Offensive MVP”