No homo, I wanted to deflect a little of the anti-Suh movement and found something I think should appease everyone.

http://www.lflus.com    <---someone make that clickable?

Talk about an "expansion" league...right? Guys? High Five!

But seriously it's all about the tight end isn't it?

I wonder how much penetration the Oline allows in their backfield?

Haven't been able to find a game replay online yet.

And QB#7 from the Miami Caliente gets my vote

Credit to RalphGoBlue for this: http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2010/3/8/1362354/if-lions-had-mayhew-instead-of

It provided a doorway that opened onto the path I have traversed for the what may be the last of my conscious efforts in this life. Who knows what lies at the end of this journey for only 52 minutes into my efforts I have already developed a twitch in my eye when forced to look upon this ghastly site.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=2009&round=round1

Credit to Lovecraft for the prose of the first paragraph. It's a boring day...

I guess this is the burning of an effigy for me. Because I'm just kind of sippin on kool-aid today. Someone posted a line up of a likely defense and it looked like a real NFL team. Wowwy

I went and did it. I looked at each round of the last 8 years. The dark years.Here are some highlights from my descent, for those of you who aren't, like, into self torture...me either. But it was like Event Horizon at one point. I hate that movie, but I have to watch it when it's on.

2001- I knew big Jeff was the first pick of the Dark Times, and looking at the first round didn't really bother me, Casey Hampton has been successful, but there wasn't a lot jumping out, til someone remember that Drew Brees is the the first pick of Rd. 2. and having him might have spared us...

2002- Joey "Ballgame" Harrington....let it sink in...OK we missed out on the likes of Albert Haynesworth and Ed "Snoop Dog" Reed. Really 2nd round...Clinton Portis went after Kalimba Edwards. My stomach turns slightly as I think of Sundays gone by without Ed Reed and Clinton Portis in their primes. 

2003- Fuck. Charles Rogers ahead of Andre Johnson. Yeah...wait for it, Boss Bailey and Cory Redding ahead of Osi and and Jason Witten respectively.   I know, these aren't highlights,this is the entire account. This is one man's scream from the depths of Hell.

2004- It burns! Roy, Lehman and Kevin Jones...vs....just so frackin many big names. All the people excited about Delmas and Berry...think Ed Reed and Bob Sanders

2005 I get it! 3 wide receivers!! Sounds cool. What? What do you mean bend over? What are those hot coals for? I don't like this anymore! Bye Mr.'s Ware and Merriman. Also bye Mr. Justin Tuck. We'll be sitting next to Stanley Wilson for the duration of this Mephistophalean nightmare.

2006 You know how when you get into a hot tub and it's really super hot and you think you're skin is being seared right the spliff off? Only it's not, you get used to things. This year was maybe like that. Ernie Sims fans are sitting on the jet stream taking the blunt of it.

2007 Calvin "Jules Winfield" Johnson. Someone grabbed the wheel of this Satan driven busride. And then Drew Stanton made Lamarr Woodley and David Harris go to the back of it. See cuz in Hell it's still racism every-gosh damn-where.

2008 Dominque Rodgers Cromartie or Gosder Cherilus is the seventh seal. This is Daunte Culpepper's Inferno

2009 I'm alive! Praise be to the Saints and Martyrs, was it all a dream? The dark times might be over. Things look so...Shiny

I just have a good feeling about this year. And wanted to write after work.

links aren't working...lame

This offseason is going to be a tricky one with the uncapped season, teams will be able to hold on to players a little bit easier than they normally would. However some will find new locker rooms to hang their jersey's in.

My information comes from the KFFL site here's the link  http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=LB&y=2010

Some of the players I think the Lions should try to sign/deal for by position.

DLine: Vince Wilfork, Aaron Kampman, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ray Edwards. These are the big name guys who would probably cost the most cash/more likely to be held onto demanding some kind of compensation.

Lesser names. Justin Bannan, Reggie Hayward, Daryl Tapp, Tank Tyler and Gabe Watson.

Linebackers. I know that we have 3 to 5 capable linebackers on the team. But think of the possibility of signing these guys: Shawne Merriman, Demarcus Ware, DJ Williams, Demeco Ryans. I'm aware that most of these guys aren't going anywhere, with the exception of Merriman. He's simply too good not to consider and could play between DE/OLB creating pressure, playing the run and generating havoc. He has a skill set uncomparable to anything the Lions have seen in years. And to think he could have been ours for the price of a 380 pound reciever.

Lesser names: Thomas Howard, Matt Roth, Antwan Barnes, Kirk Morrison.  A lot of the talent at the LB spot is going to be kept on by their respective teams and I'm not holding my breath for them. This is the pipe dream category.

Secondary. Obviously a glaring need on Detroit's defense. However most of the available players are safeties and not cornerbacks. I'm on the Eric Berry wagon for the upcoming draft, but if there's some info I don't have and the Lions are looking at an insider track on Suh, or plan on grabbing McCoy instead of Berry there are some contributors available in the secondary.

Melvin Bullitt, Nick Collins, Antoine Bethea, Marlin Jackson, Ellis Hobbs, Dawan Landry.  The Colts have a bevy of secondary players and I don't see them holding on to all 3 of their free agents. Bethea is the one I think they're most likly to resign but Sanders spent a lot of time on the injury report this season so maybe they're looking to hold onto more guys. Bullitt is behind both Sanders and Bethea on the depth charts though, and Jackson might be shown the door after the play of the Colts young corners.  Collins and Landry are more than likely returning to their teams and Ellis Hobbs is an unknown situation to me.

All of these players could step in as starters for more than 3/4 of the league so it's an a crap shoot. The Lions have said they're not looking to break the bank in FA, but this front office is playing everything close to the chest, so there's no guarantee in anything they say publicly.

And since I like team building and looking at results...here's a sample of what the defense could look like with the offseason moves.

                        Louis Delmas

                                                        Eric Berry

Ellis Hobbs                                                       Marlin Jackson

                                     Larry Foote

           Ernie Sims                             Julian Peterson

Shawne Merriman

                            MT Cody Sammie Lee Hill Jason Hunter

Not too shabby, But not real likely I'm sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uHCcaqLUmM&feature=player_embedded

Just got this on facebook. Gotta share it with the PoD. Maybe it was supposed to be a fanpost, maybe not but 75 words is harder to get to when there's nothing you can add to the content. I won't even try. Except to get to 75 words. Which I will try to do, because I have to. I've GOT TO MISTER!! Boo ya

Going to keep this to the starters of what is more than likely our base defense (4-3)

D line: White, Jackson, ??, Avril

leaving in the ?? because I think it's up in the air. This could be the rookie Hill, could be Fluellen if he's improved, Darby? I hope the young guys can outplay him. Avril seems to have a lot of love on this board. I remember someone throwing a virtual punch in the mouth at me when I suggested trading him for Julius Peppers. Based on some of the arguments I got then, he's got some potential. His numbers in limited time show this. White is a bit of a dark horse at this stage. He's getting older, but that doesn't always mean worse. He had a decent season when Big Baby was lined up next to him and has a strong motor. Be interesting to see what he can do this season. And Jackson everyone knows is just a big ole fat guy with over a decade in the league. Won't play as much as we'd like but he's a talent if he holds form.  imho D-Line = C+

Linebackers: Sims, Foote, Peterson

I'm really happy with the addition of former Wolverine Larry Foote. He's had a solid career in one of the league's best defenses. Sure tackler, strong against the run. Genuinely seems to want to play for the Lions and help his hometown squad. Instant starter in the middle. Lining up on his sides will be another MI college alum, Julian Peterson who's been all-pro caliber for most of his career. Hopefully he's got 3-4 years left in him which isn't unreasonable for his position, and Ernie Sims, a hometown hero for the most part but a legit NFL talent by many accounts. I like some things I've seen but his Millen Mold linebacker size is one thing that concerns me. He's a little small and seems to rely on speed over power. Not always a bad thing but hasn't been so far for the Lions.  imho LB Corps= B/B+

Secondary:  Buchanon, Delmas, ??, ??

This is a tricky spot because I really don't know who's going to win out over who in the position battles between King and Henry, Henry and Bullocks, or Bullocks and Alexander, hell the kid from MSU could step in.

This is one of the spots where I'm going to show a little lack of knowledge and delight some people who always knew I didn't know everything. Here's a virtual middle finger for you guys    ,.i.. 

I like Buchanon's speed and track record. and Delmas seems to be gathering nothing but praise. I think this is going to be one of the things that decide if the Lions defense gets into the middle of the pack and starts to force some turnovers. The new front 7 can only help things back there along with the pressure rush our new D cordinator favors. imho 2ndary = C+

There ya go James L.

Tuned into my 2nd team blog and found this link

[url ] http://www.kffl.com/team/16/nfl [ url ]

first time posting a link I think...moving up Ma!

That's the Lions action page

[ url ] http://www.kffl.com/hotw/NFL?page=0 [ url ]

here's all the action going on in the rest of the league...

I'm kinda hoping that we can get on this boat a little quickly especially with some of the percieved misses on need in the draft...granted these are all guys that every team passed on multiple times, but since there's a lot of signings going on for other teams I'd think the Lions would be getting on board just as quick

If someone has another link with some moves by our squad I'd like seeing it, all I see for us is The Schwartz saying they would have considered Beanie Wells if he hadn't gotten snatched up two picks before we took Delmas.

I've taken my share of criticism on my thoughts about selecting Shiny as the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. I'll go into it one more time for the sake of anyone who doesn't want to re-read or look over my comment list.

I think he lacks the intangibles that make for a great NFL QB.  The confidence factor that points to him being the reason his team wins games. In control of the game at all points and literally willing his team to win. His one dominant perfomance this year came against Georgia Tech, statistically the 35th best D in the nation. They lost this game 45-42. Staff passed for 407 yards and 5 scores with one pick. This was one of three games this season that he threw for more than 300 yards. I think that a great NFL QB should be a little more dominant in college where he is playing against lesser talent than he will see anywhere in the NFL.

The Bulldogs were the #1 team in pre-season polls and managed to hold onto that ranking for 4 weeks before losing to Alabama. A team who finished 3rd in ypg allowed. Matt was 24 for 42 with 274 yards 2 scores and his first pick of the year.  The two scores came in the 4th quarter when the game was decided. Georgia did not score in the first half.

He followed that performance with a slightly better 25 of 36. With 310 yards against the Tennessee Vols one TD and two picks. Tenn was ranked 4th at years end for total D. Final Score 24-14.

Against the Florida Gators (10th in total D) the Bulldogs lost 49-10 at home. Matt seemed to be MIA most of the game despite throwing for 265 yards. He had 0 scores and 3 picks. These are the only three teams that Georgia faced in the top 10 for total defense.  His lack of good numbers against the top defenses in college make me wary that he has the ability to hang with quality defensive schemes and players.  All 10 of his interceptions happened in SEC play. Which is arguably the best conference in college football.

Despite winning all three bowl games in his college career he did not lead the team to those victories. Knowshon Moreno had far superior numbers in those outings. Shiny did not throw for more than 250 yards in any of the bowl games despite playing sub-par defenses. His best bowl game came against perennial powerhouse Hawaii ranked #10 in the nation during Colt Brennan's record breaking season. 

It's been argued that he had an inferior offensive line. despite only being sacked 44 times in his collegiate career and Knowshon Moreno garnering attention as the best HB in the nation. 17 of those sacks happened this year.

Career total of 51 TDs to 33 interceptions. a completion percentage less than 55% and failing to show up in the BIG games doesn't sit well with me no matter what the draftniks say about having to select a QB during a rebuilding phase.

A couple of side notes: Stafford's biggest fan Mel Kiper declared him a future #1 pick in the draft before he'd played a single down of college football. Or took the practice field...

His junior year of HS he passed for 1054 yards, 10 TD's and 39 picks. I did a quadruple take on that one and despite very strong search-fu, I was unable to find another article stating this. 

I won't be arguing my point anymore. I truly think at this point it's like arguing drug reform with my great grandpa. Who passed over 2 decades ago and hated the grass. I could be very wrong, I could be dead on. I love the site and I am a Lions fan til I join Papa.  Grats to me and you if you made it this far. I welcome more critics and anyone who shares this opinion but I don't want to argue the point anymore.

Everyone needs a JAM to really truly state who they are and what they're about

Remember the Final Countdown from the Pistons 89-90 teams. That was goosebump inducing good times. And When Buddha started throwing high fives we knew it was game time.

So I'm going to nominate a few I think are really going to make a statement about who the Lions are.

If The Lions draft Matthew Stafford and Andre Smith at 1 and 20: Britney Spears timeless classic, Oops I did it again. Acceptable variations being a WR, a 220 lbs LB or QB no one is looking at until round 5

If a rookie QB's first pass is completed for a touchdown: It's only just begun by (I think) the Carpenters

Jeff Backus starting at LT: Yellow as sung by Coldplay

Expecting to pull a Dolphins and make the playoffs? Dream On by Aerosmith

Win Game One: Detroit Rock City. Cuz you know this place is gonna blow up.

However...for this to be truly effective, we're gonna need some damn cheerleaders, a little bit of spandix and rhinestones and a lot of skin can't hurt in trying to regain some fans lost last season. And if WCF doesn't like it, well...we all know how his decisions have panned out over the last decade

Or we could just talk about who the Lions might draft #1 some more

The Lions who I will call We for most of this post, becasuse we are part of this team to waste this much time thinking them over, are now sitting in an offensive minefield in the NFC North. We have to look at some of the best young players in the league. Cutler, Forte, Rodgers, Grant, Peterson, and Sage rosenfelds being the only other exception at 32. Even Devin Hester running back kicks.
We went 0-16 last year and have a couple building blocks. Could say our offense was getting better towards the end of the whole mess.
We've made a few pick up towards the D this offseason. We need to get a few more or we won't be competing for a long time. The offense is going to have to score a few points but the Defense is where we need to go right now if we want to attract any free agents for the next 3-5 years.
That said here's the draft. Including my blockbuster.
1. Jason Smith. except for  Curry he's the only other cant miss in this draft.
2. Best USC linebacker available. Matthews Mauluaga, Cushing. I'd even go Laurinitis here
3. Trade this pick along with Cliff Avril to the Panthers for Julius Peppers.

The Schwartz has said he would switch to the 3-4 if he had the players. He likes it better. Give the guy what he really wants.
The patriots were only fishing with the pick they got from KC.
We give them one better and Avril. Should be a done deal.
We start White, Jackson, Alama Francis with our new Linebackers. Peppers, USC, Sims, Peterson.
Secondary: Buchanon. Henry, Alexander, King (maybe)
Because there are 3rd rounders waiting  fill in the secondary and the D line. Maybe a guard or whatever thrown in to improve the O a lil bit more.
I think the only way to take the chains is to ambush the hell out of the Division. Come sick with it.