December

Dec. 29, 2008   

Lions not expected to flirt with Pioli, Parcells; head-coaching search will start soon

Rod Marinelli

After the Monday firing of head coach Rod Marinelli, the Lions desperately need to give something to the fans to be excited about following the NFL’s first 0-16 season, but a rock-star general manager doesn’t appear to be on the holiday shopping list. By promoting Tom Lewand to CEO and Martin Mayhew to general manager, owner William Clay Ford has sent a clear message that he ... More>

November

Nov. 10, 2008   

Lions’ defense suffers injuries, insult in Jaguars loss

Statistically, the Chiefs and Lions are battling for a dubious honor: worst defense in the NFL. The Lions might have pulled ahead with a few injuries in Sunday’s horrible 38-14 loss to the Jaguars. It appears that DE Jared DeVries could be out for an extended period of time, possibly the season, with a broken hand, and fellow starting DE Dewayne White could miss time with a calf injury. Plus, nickel cornerback Keith Smith, who is ... More>

Nov. 3, 2008   

Orlovsky injury could make things sticky for Lions

There’s a report that Lions QB Dan Orlovsky has a sprained thumb and that he could miss multiple games. Orlovsky had taken over for starter Jon Kitna, who was placed on injured reserve. The Lions have not announced it yet, but they will sign QB Daunte Culpepper to a two-year deal, pending the results of a physical. The starter next week, assuming Orlovsky can’t go, would be Drew Stanton, last year’s second-round pick, who has yet ... More>

October

Oct. 14, 2008   

Lions lose Kitna, Williams in same day, but team is set up for future

The 0-5 Lions will look very different for the rest of the season. On the same day the team placed starting QB Jon Kitna on injured reserve, ending his season, the Lions traded WR Roy Williams to the Cowboys for first-, third- and sixth-round draft picks in 2009. The Lions also will send Dallas a seventh-rounder in ’09. Williams was second on the team with 17 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown.

The PFW spin

The ... More>

September

Sept. 22, 2008   

Lions don’t appear to have faith in new offense

It’s fair to say that the Lions’ defense, which has allowed 113 points and is on pace to allow an NFL-record worst 603, is a major concern. But it’s not as if the offense is helping out much. Sure, the team has scored 59 points in three games, a modest but not offensive total, but the team’s slow starts have allowed opponents to build leads each week of 21-0, 21-0 and 28-6 in the three losses. ... More>

Sept. 8, 2008   

Lions’ run defense faces serious issues to improve

The Lions allowed Falcons RB Michael Turner to run for a club-record 220 yards on 22 carries on Sunday in a 34-21 loss in Atlanta. It carries over a theme from the second half of last season, when the run defense struggled badly. “It’s tackling,” Lions head coach Rod Marinelli said after the game. “It comes down to that. Anybody can see that. The (run) fits are OK, but we’ve got to wrap him up and get more hats ... More>