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”

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”

If preseason was any indication of how this year is going to go for the Detroit Lions, then last night’s 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns would mean three things:

1. We’d be 0-1,
2. Shaun Hill would be more valuable than Matthew Stafford, and
3. Our running backs more productive than our receivers.

Hello, parallel universe.

Luckily for everyone, preseason — in the grand scheme of things — means nothing. Sure, it’s important. But it in no way is it proof of what will happen for the 16 games of the 2012 regular season. The 2008 Lions are proof positive of that.

I saw positives in last night’s game. Jim Schwartz did not. Fortunately, it’s his job to be overly critical. Also, that’s just the way Schwartz is.

“Let’s be clear: Preseason games, we don’t use them as a barometer,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. “But you want to play well and I don’t think we played well on offense, defense or special teams from the beginning to the very end.” » Continue reading “Lions Drop First Preseason Game 19-17 to the Cleveland Browns”