To all my fellow POD'ers!!

Well a lot has happened this offseason and haven't posted since we ended the season on a 4-game winning streak.  Got married, moved, new job, etc..............BUT I am back now!!!  I just wanted to say whats up to all my old pals including Northleft, Profler, Enforcer, Joshsun, Det32, KDawg, and all the others (too many to recall)

Just a quick hello and I look forward to an awesome season!!!!!

Either the best RB of all time retires on the eve of training camp, draft busts, injuries (some serious ie: Reggie Brown and Mike Utley) horrible coaching, running out of the endzone and losing by 2, pass interference calls, non-existent face mask calls, putrid special teams play, epic defensive collapses and now this????  This may top them all!!!  I have never seen a worse call in my life. 

HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE TAKE?????

Respecfully yours but unbelievably pissed off,

NYCLionsfan

Dear POD'ers,

Greetings from steamy and ultra-humid NYC.  I for one am so sick and tired of the LeBron/Wade/Bosh NBA stories that I pulled out my Lions books and re-read stories of old.  I cannot wait for training camp and pre-season to start, although I have been finding the World Cup highly entertaining.

Anyway, I thought I would post a trivia question (before my weekly questions during the season) to break up both the monotony of the summer (waiting for football) and in acknowledgement that I could give a shit where LeBron ends up playing.  On to the question and I hope to meet a lot of you guys for the POD game this year at Ford Field!

Dear POD'ers:

Haven't been posting much but I did need to keep a promise.  You see back at the end of the season I swore up and down that there would be NO WAY the Rams pass on N. Suh - no way!!!  One POD'er - Footstock - accurately predicted that the Rams would take Bradford #1 overall, which at the time I thought was insane.  I bet Footstock that if the Rams took Bradford #1 (remember this was back in early January when the Suh-express was really rolling) I would admit Footstock to be correct and me wrong.  With that CONGRATULATIONS Footstock.  I never would have guessed it - you were right after all!!!

A little trivia for you guys as well (just warming up before the regular season starts!!) 

Whats up POD???

I have a lot of catching up to do on POD - have been in Las Vegas for a week for the Superbowl.  Wanted to quickly share some thoughts on my trip:

Saw a lot of Lions fans out there and, having my Billy Sims jersey on talked to just about everyone of them.  The OVERWHELMING concensus is that Schwartz and Mayhew have this team headed in the right direction.  Even some Bears and Packers fans say they are scared to see what we will look like in 2012 if things go the way they went in 2009 with the right drafting and signing talented players, particularly on defense. 

Most Lions fans also say they really want us to load up on 1.) defense and 2.) protect Staff through the draft and FA over the next 2 seasons - those should be our priorities.  One dude from Michigan even said he would see me again in 2 years when the Lions will be there!!!  I don't know about that but I loved his enthusiasm.

Sorry this post is long but I rushed back from JKF to post this information.  Even met into Jeff Backus' best friend!!!  Apparently Backus is a really good guy and does a lot of charity in the Detroit area (makes it harder for me to hate the guy now!!!)  Got to read and see what has been going on here the last 10 days or so but I really wanted to share the optimism that Lions fans all over the country are feeling so we, on POD, are definitly not the only ones out there!!!  Also, look for some new members over the next week or so - I told everyone about POD and they all said they would join.

GO LIONS!!!!!!!!

Dear POD'ers,

This fanpost will not include the following:

1.)  Discussions about St, Louis taking a QB #1 overall

2.)  Grading 2009's draft picks

3.)  Creating a 2010 mock draft

No..............there are enough of those on POD to last a lifetime and we are still >4 months away until the ACTUAL draft.  What I am interested in is everyone's thoughts on our OC and DC and how they did this year.  Its obvious to me that there are some very smart people on this board so I look forward to some feedback.  The following assumptions are being made:

1.)  We all want Schwartz back in 2010

2.)  We all want Kwan fired before 2010

To start off I will give my grades on Linny and Gunny:

A.  Scott Linehan - OC Detroit Lions 2009:  B+  I really think he did a good job this year.  I liked the commitment to the run, the newly installed screen passing game and the willingness to try different players on offense.  We can all argue that some play calls were baffling (a shuffle pass to Jerome Felton on 4th and 2???) but overall I really like what he brings.  I hope he comes back in 2010.

B. Gunther Cunningham - DC Detroit Lions 2009:  B+  Given what Gunny had to work with I was pretty impressed.  I liked the accountability aspect of his coaching and, although he wasn't able to stop the big plays which haunted us in 2008 I don't think they were scheme related, as was the case when Joe Barry was around (GAG).  I hope he comes back in 2010.

PLEASE DISCUSS................................... 

Dear POD'ers:

Another year gone by in what could only be classified as a downright horrnedous decade for our beloved Lions.  No, I won't waste any time with a mock draft or conversations about Suh being the #1 overall pick since it's a long way until April comes around.  What do I do in my spare time until April??  I read a ton of books - that seems to occupy my time until draft day then until the NFL preseason starts up in August.  Anyway, this week's trivia question (and last of the 2009 season) is:

ANSWER:  good guess det32, KDawg and everyone else who voted CHARLES BUKOWSKI. 

Dear POD'ers,

Well there is only 2 more weeks left to another  miserable season - but there is hope.  I think the next decade will be good for the organization (can it get worse??)  There has been a lot of chatter on POD this week about the draft, the FA market and the hopes we all have for roster moves in the offseason.  That brings me to this week's trivia question about my favorite Lions running back ever - the great Billy Sims and the controversy he caused back in the early 1980's (I don't recall the specific year):

ANSWER:  Billy Sims signed a USFL contract close to home with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL while under contract with the Lions.  Merry Christmas everyone!! 

Dear POD'ers:

NO!!!  Not another mock draft!!!!!  PLEASE!!!!!  With all this draft talk I was thinking back to some of the drafts I remember.  I will never forget the Aaron Gibson draft (for some reason I LOVED that pick.  He's about 3 lbs heavier than CPep) of course the Harrington 2002 draft (that was Millen's second draft and his first was actually pretty good so I was still optimistic back then) and of course the Staff draft of 2009.  I also remember this draft combination especially, the year before and the year I graduated high school (insert old joke).  I thought it was going to be the start of a great run for the Lions.  I was so high on these successive draft classes (high on other things as well mind you).  This brings me to this weeks trivia question:

Dear POD'ers:

This week all the talk has been focused on Staff's injury and whether or not to shelf him for a game, 2 games, rest of the season or play him despite his injured shoulder.  That got me to thinking about memorable Lions injuries.  We cannot forget Reggie or Utley for sure or the fact that Charlie Batch ALWAYS seemed to be playing hurt.  I remember Mike Cofer playing with a cast on his hand.  The injury I remember most (on Thanksgiving I think) was when Barry injured his leg.  

ANSWER:  Of course Barry had 1,000 yards, in fact he had over 1,100 yards when he was injured in 1993.

Dear POD'ers:

Visiting my parents in Utica, NY this holiday my father remarked how truly amazed he is that I have stuck with our beloved Lions after all these dreadful years (I had worn all my Lions gear, as I do every Thanksgiving, for the game against the hated Packers).  After all, it was he who took me to a Detroit Lions training camp in the summer of 1977 looking to entertain a needy, bratty, highly energetic young kid (my father was in the Air Force and travelled quite a bit).  Needless to say I fell in love immediately, the players, the uniforms, the colors, the Lions logo, etc.

Anyway, I have always had a fondness for the 1977 Detroit Lions team - I think of it as my base year for my fandom (I was 4 years old at the time). 

ANSWER:  The placekicker was Steve Mike-Mayer.  He also had a brother who had a more succesful career in the NFL as a kicker Nick Mike-Mayer.  Doug English was a Lions DE, Dexter Bussey was a Lions RB and Leonard Thompson was a WR with the Lions (remember him and Freddie Scott??   LOL)

Dear POD'ers,

It's Thanksgiving and that means only one thing - Lions football.  Come to think of it two things:  Turkey and Lions football (sort of sad not having Madden call the games though).  As I make my way up to Utica, NY to visit the family, my girlfriend and I have all of our Lions gear packed and ready to wear PROUDLY on Thursday (well me anyway, not convinced she's fully on board yet).  Anyway, I hope everyone on POD has a happy Thanksgiving!!  I hope to talk to some of you guys during halftime of the game on POD.  I'm hoping for a miracle here but a Win would be HUGE!!!!    GO LIONS!!!!

ANSWER:  Alas, as our wonderful moderator Sean pointed out the Lions certainly didn't go 3 - 10 in the 1990's on Thanksgiving!!  LOL.  I meant 3 -  7 (sorry mistype).  The answer is the Lions actually went 7 - 3 during the 1990's on Thanksgiving.  Not a bad record.  Some great games were included - the smackdown Barry put on the Bears, the "Coin Toss" game vs. the Steelers, the dismantling of the Patriors (pre-Brady of course), etc..  Let's hope for some more great memories tomorrow!!!

Another week of licking our wounds fellow POD'ers as we got physically outmuscled by the Vikes.  Here's to a W this week (hopefully) against a team (Cleveland) who is almost as inept as our beloved Lions.

Anyway, I usually think of the 1990's as good, solid years for the Lions.  They were consistent playoff threats and always seemed to be on the brink of exploding, but never reached those anticipated heights (we were sort of like the Texans over the past several years).  Anyway, sandwiched in between playoff appearances in 1995 and 1997 was 1996.   I remember this season in particular because I felt hopeless as the Lions found unbeleivable ways to lose games during the season (sound familiar??)  All of this losing, of course, after starting the season strongly, entering the bye week at 4-3 (I think) and posting impressive offensive statistics. 

However, coming off the bye we lost every game the rest of the season except one (the only reason I remember this is my brother was living in this city at the time and he called me to congratulate me). 

Well it's been a long week thus far as the Lions lose another one.  For sure the recent loss at Seattle can be pinned on Staff's 5 interception game.  Staff's forgettable performance has invariably led to comparisons to Joey "Blue Skies" Harrington and his awful tenure as a Lions QB and subsequent draft bust status (however unwarranted the similarities may be they're their).  Nonetheless, this got me thinking back to the 2002 draft.  At the time many of the pundits were saying the Lions were better off picking this player instead of Harrington.  I was pulling for Millen to pick this player too (I was never a Harrington pick fan) but, alas, Millen took Blue Skies and the rest is horrific history. 

ANSWER:  Quentin Jammer out of Texas.  There was much debate surrounding the Lions 3rd overall pick and it centered around Blue Skies and Jammer.  I was desperately pulling for Jammer but Millen took Blue Skies and essentially ruined the next 5 years of Lions football.

Dear POD'ers:

Well its clear that we are all a pissed of bunch of fans due to this weekends loss to the Rams.  Some on the site are losing faith in this season and frankly so am I.  In fact I was gonna call this a loss to the "lowly Rams" but that would evince that we (the Lions) are truly beneath lowly and I honestly don't think we are (but unfortunately the W/L record proves otherwise). 

ANSWER:  the Lions last won the Central in 1993, just 2 years removed from going to the NFC Championship game.  In 1993 they hosted the NFC Wild Card and lost on a last minute TD heave from Favre to Sharpe in the corner of the endzone.  That play broke my heart.  I can remember it to this day - I beleive it was a blown coverage by Tim McKeyer if I remember (I will have to check that though).  Also of note, 1993 was the last year that NFL teams had 2 bye weeks during the regular season.  I think we should go back to that format if that's what the Lions need!!!!

Fellow POD'ers:

Well we had a week off and I hope we get a W this week against the Rams.  I was reading some stuff on Coach Schwartz and I have to say I really like him.  I like his style, his intensity, his intelligence and his demeanor.  Like most of you I wasn't always happy with the coaches we've hired and fired.  For example, our winningest coach is also our all time losingest coach (of course W. Fontes).  However, we have had some colorful coaches during the years (NOT Marinelli) which brings me to this weeks trivia question.

ANSWER:  Bobby Ross.  Kudo's to IAmGross who not only actually got the coach right but also the game after which Ross had his tirade (after a loss to the Miami Dolphins.)  I remembered that game as well!!

POD'ers:

As we watched this week our Lions get manhandled by the Packers it became painfully obvious to me (as well as others from my readings) that without Staff and Megatron there really we really have no offensive threat (well K Smith but with 8-9 man fronts anyone can be stopped).  We're lucky to have Megatron and a QB like Staff (who likes like the real deal) to get him the ball.  We need those 2 back in a hurry!!!!  Enjoy the bye week guys and REST UP STAFF AND MEGATRON!!

ANSWER:  As most of you alluded to REGGIE BALL was indeed CJ's QB at the Wramblin' Wreck and was most atrocious.  Ironically he was picked up by the Lions as a WR (maybe CJ asked them too??) but never made an impact and was cut.

POD'ers:

Another week and another HUGE game for the Lions.  I really hope Staff plays well and we finally beat these guys at Lambeau.  That also got me thinking about how good Stafford may become given what he's done so far during the first four games of his NFL career.  Showing a lot of promise and getting all of us very excited about a FRANCHISE QB.  That got me thinking about past Lions signal callers.  Its well documented that our last QB to go to a Pro Bowl was Greg Landry (thanks Jazzy)  (although I think Scott Mitchell should have went in 1994 - CONSPIRACY!!). 

ANSWER:  All of the QB's below started at least one game for the Lions with the exception of Rick Mirer, who was a third stringer for a year on the Lions and never saw any game action.

Seeing Mike Utley on the sidelines during the Pitt-Lions game yesterday brought me back to my saved newspaper clippings of that fateful Sunday.  He was a good player and his accident seemed to be so freakish and most notably so innocent I still wonder how he was hurt so badly on the play.  Truly a sad day for him and his family, the Lions organization and the NFL as a whole. 

ANSWER:

The Lions were playing the LA Rams  when Mik Utley was paralyzed.  It seemed like the most innocent of plays when it happened.  I remember watching the replay on Sportscenter a million times.  For those that answered NY Jets  - I think thet were playing the Lions when a defensive linemen (last name Byrd??) was paralyzed.

Fellow POD'ers:

I was going through some old newspaper clippings (yes I started saving them when I was a kid in the 1980's) of the Lions and found an interview with the great Barry Sanders (circa 1998, 1999).  A reporter had asked him who was the toughest team to play against in the NFL.  Barry, in typical understated fashion, simply responded every team in the NFL was tough but did recognize one player whom he thought was the hardest hitter he ever played against.  So I thought we could have some fun today (and take our minds off the upset we're gonna pull on the Steelers this weekend) and see how many of you get this right:

ANSWER:

According to Barry he took the biggest shot of his life at the Meadowlands, while running out of bounds by Pepper Johnson.  Barry said he was the most ferocious hitter of his day.  Thanks to everyone that responded.  More trivia next week from the 1980's and 1990's Lions!!

Don't know who saw this on MSN.com in the sports section but this was a quote from Jim Schwartz after the Lions ugly loss to the Saints in New Orleans. 

"Good gracious. What wouldn't disappoint me? Points allowed, third-down defense, red zone defense, rushing. There's no silver lining in that performance."

I couldn't have said it better myself.  I know Coach really stresses 3rd down defense and I knew after yesterday's defensive performance he was going to bring that up.  I don't know the final stat but I do know the Saints converted >50% (if not 75%).  I was hugely disappointed in the defensive showing yesterday, much more so than the offensive showing (I think we all expected some growing pains with Staff Infection).  Anyway, I think with time Schwartz will get this thing turned around - but I think he knows we are still lacking talent.

Anyone have any other thoughts or quotes from Schwartz, Gunny or Linehan?  None of them can be very pleased (maybe Kwan can though)

Maybe a dumb question but does anyone know if the Lions game will be online anywhere??  My girlfiriend  is going away and I would love to watch the game and being in NYC I don't get access to them.  Any help would be appreciated.  I am dying to see, in person, the differences (stronger, tougher) between this years team and last year's utter disgrace.  Also, if anyone is going to be in the NYC area and wants to get together to watch the game at a bar hit me up. 

Here's to a great year!   Thanks!