I think this last problem with Nick Fairley goes deeper than just this DUI and might be the straw that broke the camels back.

Put your self in the Fords shoes for a minute: First they are in charge of one of the leading manufacturing companies in the world. With that, they deal with very talented people every day. When I say talented people, I mean people that have skill sets that set them apart from most people in the world. If a Mgr at Ford Motor incurred Nick Fairley's issues they would be shown the door. Talented or not. To complicate things even more is that Ford, more than most companies, have a heritage of 'controlling social behavior".

Now, you have another company the Detroit Lions. In that entity you now have the President of the company with a DUI, you have a coach that displayed an improper emotional outbreak on national TV, you have 2 players that have run afoul of the law for drug problems on 2 separate incidents, and a third with an additional drug related problem. Not to mention that all of these incidents have come in a very short time frame. Your team has a reputation of being one of the most immature teams fielded in the NFL, so much so, that I truly believe that I believe they have prompted unwarranted penalties by the referees though out the year.

You have to also believe that somewhere in the recent past, there has been a "come to Jesus" meeting with players and management alike. Something like....guys we have to get our shit together, and any more such action by this team will not be tolerated. Given the recent history of this team you gotta believe this message had been sent loud and clear by management and the Ford's.

Now you got Fairley. A first round draft pick with physical dimensions and skills that separate him form most people on this planet. You have just re emphasis what you believe the conduct level of this team should be, and had it slapped back in your face....again!

My real concern is not SHOULD the Lions mgt send a hard message to this team, my question is what if they don't. What if they let Fairley slide. How the heck are you going to control this young team if there is no real punishment. As all of you mentioned the NFL has hard and fast rules of what you can do and can't do as far as discipline. With that you really are limited to monetary actions.....not that it matters much to a multi-millionaire. You can see that your words alone play no heed not only to Fairley but to your organization as a whole. How do you govern a bunch of grown men with a penchant for destruction?

In addition, if your the Ford's and do nothing, what type of effect would it have on all your companies...Ford Motor in general.

I know Fariley is a first rounder. but if I'm running things he's gone.....gone fast.....gone quick......sent to the worst team or organizations I could find..... a message sent so loud and clear that no other player on this team dare screw up.

I would also send a message to Mayhew. Your golden status is now over. You and you alone are accountable to the types of people you bring in here. You're not are only expected to win (which is you job) but bring in people which at vary least have the ability to learn from there mistakes .

Fairley was a stupid pick. He's a cancer to a young organization in there formidable years. He'll end up being a great player in the NFL, but I hope it will not be with the Detroit Lions

Guy your thoughts on something here. Is it just me, or are the Lions becoming fast, I mean real fast. I know in toays NFL 4.4 40 speed is becoming common place, but the lions are aquiring a whole bunch of them. Again, speed does not nessisarily mean a good player, but it is a heck of a lot better than a slow bad player. The following is a list of play that I had ID at 4.4, there may be others.

Jonte Green 4.45

Chris Greenwood 4.42

Bentley 4.43

Green, Stephon 4.46

Burrell 4.42

ewards 4.48

Karsetter, Jared 4.49

arron berry 4.48

best 4.34

Logan 4.38

kevin smith 4.43

johnson 4.38

young 4.49

Burrellson 4.50

houston 4.32

delmas 4.51

speivey 4.47

ryan broyles 4.50 ran it injured

Again there may also be others, but man this is a whole lot a speed all of a sudden. Is this coincidence or trend?

First off, I'd like to say I am happy with the Lions first pick. A OT isn't sexy, but I kind of feel like the guy who didn't get the drunk blonde at the party last night, but rather met someone really nice. I feel better about myself in the morning.

Anyway, with that said, in addition to thinking about drunk blondes, I was wondering:

" What If the lions would acquire a veteran Corner either through FA or trade, would it effect the Lions second pick?

I think I would feel a lot better knowing we had someone like Otogwee for 2 years, and drafting a CB in the third that could be developed? At that point take a WR, Lb,or other need........ or dow we still get a CB in the 2nd that could be developed.

Your thoughts

In some of my responses to recent posting, I have suggested that the Lions trade some current talent's in order to stock pile draft choices. We know that Martin Mayhew has been aggressive in Free Agent acquisition, but now it't time for him to work a little bit more of his trade magic in the way of Cliff Avril. I view Cliff Avril as the following: a good pass rusher (11 sacks), in a very good scheme for pass rushers (wide 9), but with limited run stopping ability. In my mind this makes him a good, but not great talent. Further, if we do keep ol' Cliffy, it will be at a high cap expense, which means we if we do sign him it will be for a 1 year deal, and he will probably be gone in free agency next year.

Complicating things a bit more is the wide 9 defensive scheme the lions run. While Cliff gets blamed for not being a run oriented DE, the wide 9 does not help him much. The run stopper in the wide 9 is the OLB, and the problem the lions have with the run is that they do not have exceptional talent with their OLB's this coupled with Cliff's deficiencies really have hurt our defense against the run.

Further rounding out the Lions problems are they have an ageing O=Line, a very "thin" D Secondary, a need for depth at RB, and a need for a speed receiver (someone to eventually replace Burrelson). To me the best way to fill these deficiencies to start to bundle trades.

The difference in this years draft over the last couple of years is the Lions can make do with their stating lineup as is . They have enough"A" players in place to now compete. This year what they need to do is stack pile "B+" talent, and the best way I can see us doing that is to trade.

By now you probably have figured I would like to trade Avril. i think we can honestly get a high 2nd and 3rd round draft choice for him. If he would go, we have Young, VBG, Jacson and Everett at DE. Even though I think by playing a combination of these DE would be good enough for this year, I would agree we would probably need acquire another run stopping DE to complement willlie Young. So on the 2nd round we could get our DE (Branch, Jones, Curry or Crick) and a run oriented OLB (Brown, David or Lewis). In the third, we could pick up our OL (probably a G ....Salato, Brooks or Brown or Center....Jones Brewster or Monk). Additionally, we could probably get Keshawn Martin or like receiver in the 3rd. This would leave the Lions with 5 additional picks to gain additional special teams depth.

My draft dream.....Your thoughts

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When I seen the Tulloch signing I couldn't help but think of the movie Cool Hand Luke, and how those comment corresponded to Mayhews comments over the last week

cool hand luke:  I'm shake'n it here boss

Mayhew: we are now out of the running for Shephen tulloch

Cool hand Luke: Well sometimes nothin can be a real cool hand

Mayhew: We will have a meeting with Nick Barnett on Sunday

Cool hand Luke: What we have here is a failure to communicate

Mayhew: Never denying the 6 million dollar offer for Tulloch...keeping many out of the game

My new name for consideration:  Martain "Cool hand" Mayhewwwwww!!!!!!

Guys I think with the signing of Durant, the lions are now out of the running for Tulloch.

I look at it this way:  If they sign Tulloch, they move Levy to the weak side LB,put Tulloch in the middle and Durant to the strong side. The problem is, in the 4-3 that strong side LB beomes a 2 down player, leaving the field in a nichol situation. 

So the question becomes, did they get a real good deal on Durant....good enough to sign Tulloch and a corner.  I think not.  I think the question became Tullock is wavering, we better get a LB NOW, and/or We think we can get Joseph but it will cost us a bit more, let's Get durant and go after a teir 1 corner....either way I don't think we'll see tulloh as a lion

The call on the final catch was on thing, but what I did not understand was why the Lions got soooooo Conservative when Hill came in the game.  I know they had bad field possession, but my gosh why trade for the guy, give him so much preseason time, and get so Conservative.  He really is not a bad QB and did a real nice job on the last drive.  One other play (other than 'Johnson's controversial call) still burns in my gut.  The dropped pass with 2:30 left in Q4 by Burelson on 3rd and 6 was a killer.  We get a first down and we really had a chance to run out the clock.  Another comment; the lions on occation really hit the Bears, espeically the receivers.  CC Brown did show grit on a couple of big hit......and Oh my God... vandenBosch......he was really something to watch......We get over this week....not right away...but we will get over it......

guys, I need some help here.  Because of the lions record they are in the second best position to add released players to there roster this week.  We all agreed that Mayhew would use this last chance (assuming they will be better this year and in a lesser possition to add next year) to gain some roster depth.  And what did we get Spencer Havner and Stephen Logan.  Don't know too much about these guy and no doubt they may help, but this was not what I was expecting ??????   Young LB's like Carpenter and Grable all got gobbled up in a hurry.  Housh gone quickly......I really thought the Lions would use this position to add depth?  I just don't get it.  Were these two guys the ONLY BEST Two available to add depth to the roster

There have been a lot of rumors this off season about the Lions interest in the free agent /trade market.  Several have come to fruition, some have evaporated into thin air.  All in all, I think the lions have done a GREAT job separating the pepper from the #$%%, and getting a good mix of veterans and young player to help the team.  However, as a typical Lion fan, and am never quite satisfied.  The two hanging out there that keep me very intregued are Keith Bulluck LB and most recently Jarred Page safety.  In the Page deal the Lions would give up a 5th, 6th or 7th round pick, and get Bulluck as a UFA.  I can't for the life of me understand why the Lions aren't pulling the trigger on both of these.  I know of Bulluck's knee, but all seems to be back to normal, and Page for a late round pick is  robbery.........Does anyone know more........your thoughts

After all the talk,and after all the hype, I think the Lionsdraft strategy is starting to unfold.  There will be no magic wand, no crazy trades for haynesworth.   The Lions are going to forsake filling all the holes in their roster by  trading down and recruiting "many" mediocre players,  and rather maintaining a smaller number of picks but getting quality.  They are going to address the depth issue by bringing in players though lower level trades, and free agency.....they'll have them compete like hell and let the best emerge, and cut the rest.  The prime example of this is CB  We all know we need at least one more starting corner.  You watch, the Lions are not going to address the corner high in the Draft (3-4).  They'll sign Pacman, and let everyone compete like hell for the open position.  They have already brought in several "second tier CB's that are excited to compete for a starting job, but if they don't start, they will be happy to contribute on special teams.  I think this is the template for this draft.   If I am right, what I expect to see is the Lion's bundling the 4th and 7th, or the 3rd and 7th, to move up in the draft or trade for a real talent.  I do not see them drafting a CB (as mentioned above), but I think that there is "one" LB they like out there, and if he's still available they'll bundle to get him. They'll then sign Bulluk and others and let them compete like hell...etc etc

Another hole in the defense.....At LB.....WOW.   Not that Sims was the end all....he wasn't ....but he was a good fill for a year until we could upgrade....but now.....another hole? I just felt like if we used the number 2 pick for a defensive player we were going to be ok.  But just when I thought we had stopped the big leaks.....Bam.....another leak.  The best I can see we have major holes at LB, CB, S, and RB.  We have huge upgrade needs AT OL, DL.  I really do not see the strategy with this trade.  I realize the need for a TE, but my first reaction is; "we're spending our resources for another receiver!!!!!!  God bless Mayhew, but this one is beyond my comprehension??????
Can anyone help me here

Just some thoughts. 

One of the big knocks on drafting Suh is paying so much for a D-tackle at number 2. The big hold up with the Skins trading Hayneworth is the $21M signing bonus he just received. What if the lions traded down from the 2 pick to the 4 pick in the first round, and agreed to pay the Skins some of the Haynesworth money.  The money they spend for  the Haynesworth Bonus would correlate to the money they could save by moving down to number 4, with his future salary more in line of what a D-tackle is paid (cost savings)

With the number 4 pick this would leave Okung or Berry.   If the lions gave up a the 33 pick and got LT Jared Gaither from the Ravens, they would then be free to get Berry at safety with the number 4 pick.  So you get Haynesworth for the price of moving down 2 picks in the first round. (you could get his replacement in future years with a more reasonable pick for a D-linemen).   Pick up Gaither for the price of a second round pick (he would be here for years to come), and fill a huge hole at Saftey with the first pick (bookend safeties for years).  Things would now look like this:

D backfield:

Houston, Delomus, Berry, Pacman Jones (tbd)

D-line:

VandenBosch, Haynesworth, Williams, Hunter/Avril

O-line"

Gaither, Sims, Riola, Peterman/ Backus, Backus/cherlus

Round 3: Pick up Best running back avalable

your thoughts

Ernie and Rob Sims are half brothers (Same father Ernie Sr, different mothers).  They were born almost 1 year apart, Rob the elder and raised in Ohio. Ernie the younger born in December almost 1 year later raised in Florida.  My question is are these two brother close?

I know it has be reported that the two are 1/2 brothers, but I have yet to hear anything from either Ernie or Rob endorsing the trade.    It just seems odd that the reporters were not all over this angle, and it seems odd that they were both born so close together but yet were raised in two different parts of the country, and no one is talking about the connection.  It would be just the lions luck to enter into a family feud.

Anthoney Hargrove just signed with the Saints....this probably accelerated the Sims deal.......but with these two transactions I say Suh is the lions first pick.   But ,before we all say Ho..Hum......I bet the next 5 lions picks are going to be crazy, with plenty of moves, and some picks that are going to make our hair stand on end.  Sing Packman, Trade down on the second round pick, let's take some advantage of some of the depth in this draft

buck is starting to beleive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert Sims is no Berry Sanders, he's no Matthew Stafford, he's no Billy Sims, but he is a very important piece of the puzzle the lions are starting to put together.  In fact, I believe this is the piece of the puzzle that will put the lions in as a real  contender not a pretender.  I think this is THE trade that will NOW allow the Lions to have some real fun come draft day.  Some of the holes are "temporarily" filled, it will allow them to get am immediate impact player (rather than a player to fill a needed position), it will allow them to gain some needed depth in the later rounds.  If all this works out as good as it looks on paper, I say we impeach Bing as mayor and appoint Mayhew.  Quite honestly, win lose or draw on these recent picks, you have got to give it to Mayhew for really giving this a shot......it's making all of us beleivers, and after the last 7 years, that is saying a mouthful.....Way to go Lions, Way to go Schwartz and Mayhew, Way to go to all of the people who have spent countless ours behind these trades.....

 I beleive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wholly cow, did M. Mayhew ever put out a lot of smoke yesterday regarding the Lions 2010 off-season moves.  It kind of looked like devils night in Detroit 10 years ago.  I like to offer up some thoughts on Mayhew' s latest comments regarding players and positions:

1) DB's.....looks to me like they are going to bring Pacaman Jones to Allen Park, and unless something bad surfaces or Jones gets greedy on money or terms, the lions will probably sign him on that visit.  So that would mean the lions would have brought in 3 DB's  (o, Houston, Wade) through free agency or trades during the off season.  The question remains is : "are these moves looked at to gain "depth at the position", or do the lions feel that this D backfield is good enough to compete this year?"  This plays right into the Berry draft scenario. By the way Berry was the only top draft prospects not addressed by Mayhew....Smoke????   If these choices were for depth only, then based on need, how high should the lions pick a db in the draft?   I can't believe they will make this many DB moves only to chose a DB  high in the draft. So to me the Berry first choice scenario is gone. 

2) O-lineman.  Mayhew seemed to think that there was more than one "elite" OL in the draft.  Is this really true,or is Mayhew really fueling the theory that the Lions may be willing to move way down (around 10) because there is more than one linemen that they like.  Or, is this a signal that they might not be willing to spend a first round choice on a linemen.  Or does he really want Okungand is screwing with every ones mind and by indicating more than one OL choice whereby making the likes of Washington at #4 a bit jittery, and intice them to offer more in the way of a trade. I still think an OL of some sort is the frist round  pick either at #2 or further down in the draft.

3) Hargrove.  As most of you are aware, I am for this choice.  Mayhew seemed to indicate so as well.  However, this is really uncharacteristic of the Lions to say so much about an unrestricted free agent right before they sign him.  Is Mayhews comments smoke, or do they have no intentions of signing him.  If they don't sign Hargrove, than are we back to the Suh/McCory scenarios as the #2 pick, or do the lions feel that the aquisitons of  two D-linemen (Vandenbosch and Williams) give them enough to compete here, and indicate they will pick another position in the Draft.?  If they feel they still need D-lineman, then why resign Hunter.  Does the signing of Hunter really mean that the lions have lost interest in Hargrove( it gives them a lot of depth at DE with Hunter and Avril there)? One question I have had lately is:  "could someone like Hunter, or even Vandenbosh,  be moved inside at tackle in third down situation," and used somewhat like the lions have described using Hargrove?  If so, how does this play into the Suh/McCoy scenario.  Again I think sign Hargrove and give up a third round draft choice.

4) Best available.  This brings me to the statements of the lions will draft best available regardless of position.  While this has been said over and over, does anyone really believe that the lions will spend dollars at one postion, only to spend a lot of money at the same position in the draft.  As much as they repeat this statement I have a hard time believing it is really true.  Smoke or reality. 

5)  And maybe, just maybe. the  Lions really do not know which way they are going yet, and all of Mayhew's comments are not smoke, but they just don't know.  By the way this is the scenario I do believe is true, and I think we'll not see the signing of any further free agents until the 12th hour on April 15th the last fay of free agent signing.  Once this is played out I think we'll have a better understanding of how the Lions will pick in the draft.  Untill then there are just too many scenarios that could be played out.

I really don't know the answer to my own questions, but one thing for sure Mayhews smoke screens have really fueled my thoughts and help me burn up some idol time.

I am sure to get blasted for this blog,  and before I do I would like to say that Jones has acted as an idiot.  He showed no respect for the game, his abilities to play the game, women in general, nor the respect of other who put faith in him.  Guilty, guilty, guilty.

But I would like to say a couple of things in Packmans defense anyway.

First his lack of success in Dallas. For onet hing he really did not play in Dallas long enough to learn the cowboy's defensive schemes.  It takes a while to jell into a cohesive backfield, and learn a new system.  He wasn't real successful, but that may not nessisarily have been because of attitude or ability, but rather the length of time he was in the system......All I am saying here is that because he did not play well in Dallas doesn't mean he has no juice left.

Second, While Jones has been an idiot, the trouble that he was found guilty of 5-10 years ago would not even have made the papers.  He kind of couldn't have picked a worst time to be an ass.  He has been an idiot, but there have been a lot of idiots in the NFL.  The worst of his crimes, (or at least the best I can tell) is he got drunk at a strip bar in Veges, got PO'd at a stripper, and trouble insued.  That's really a day to day event in Vegas, and if everyone lost there job for being an idiot there, well let's just say he would not be alone.  Again, all of his troubles really seemed to be "strip clubs while drunk.  Hell, have him piss into a bottle daily.....put some verbage in a contract if he's seen near the parking lot of a strip club he's gone.  Any trouble with women he's gone.  Any trouble he's gone

His real problem is "respect" and especialy respect for women.  That really can't be tolorated.  That's tends to be indicitive of lack of respect for himself, and is somewhat indicitive of an age group.  Again, I have done somethings, espeicially at 21-22 yrs of age, that I am not very proud of, ( a lot of us have) but it's a phase some grow out of, and maybe it's the time for the Pacman.

Hell give him a chance, it's the Lions, it's Detriot....how much damage could he really do???????

I'd like to offer up what I would do if I were in the lions front office, and why. 

1) I would sign Pacman Jones.  Put him at corner and coach the hell out of him.  There simply is not anyone available with more potential.  If he fails, then we are really in the same position as now.  Next year looks like a strike year, draft a corner next year.  We may have two years to get him ready, and maybe two drafts to get the defensive backfield right.  Pacman is a good fix with upside at both DB and as a return man this year.

The Defensive backfield would looks somthing like this:

SS Delmus

C: Pacman, Houston

S: up for grabs, but probobly the less of the positions, and have several candidates that can revolve

Really this isn't a bad 1 year fix.  The only way out of the DB problem this year is to draft Berry in the first round, but he would be a safety, and I do not thing that's the best bang for the buck.  Or, draft a DB in the 2nd or third round, and I do think this might be as much of a gamble as signing Pacman in the first place.  Or we can sign Pacman and draft a DB in the later round to hedge the failing of Pacman scenario. .

 2) I'd sign Hargrove.  Sure we give up a third round choice.  Given.  But  it fits what Schwartz likes to do.  That is move people around given different scenarios.  When Schwartz had Carter in Tennessee, he moved him inside on pass situations, that gave him and addtional pass rusher.  Plus we would have Avril there in a pass rush as well.  Hargrove is both fast ,physical, and is NFL proven. I don't think either combination of Suh/McCoy gives us that versatility.  And, possibly the best reason to sign Hargrove is that we do not have to "spend" a first round #2 pick on a DT.  This is possibly the worst positon to Draft with the #2 pick.  Not enough bang for the buck, The real question is "are we willing to spend 50 million for a DT."

The defensive line would look like this with Hargrove:

RE: Hargrove/Avril

RT: Sammie lee  Hill (let's not forget him, even though the DL sucked last  year he played real well)

Lt : Williams/Hargrove

LE: vandenbosch

We can then add depth to this in the later rounds.  This draft is suppose to be heavy in DL this year.

3. Draft Okung.   We spend the first round money on a LT that will anchor the line for the next 10 years.  We move Bakus to gaurd, and draft OL lower in the draft.  Again,  with the strike we could have two years to get the OL right .  The line would look like this (really not a bad start)

TE: Pettigrew (young)

Lt Okung (young)

Lt Bakus (Vet)

C Riola (Vet)

RT: Loper/Rameriezor others (vet

Lt Cherlis (young)

Really on paper not bad.

4) I would then draft a Running back in round two. Probably Best out of California would be there or maybe even better.  This would give us at least 3 backs with pretty fresh legs.

5) to round things out the LB's and receivers look like this

LB's:  Peterson, Levy, Sims.  Get depth with depth in the lower round draft

Receivers: Johnson, Burelson, Johnson.  Again get depth in lower round draft

I know there has been a lot of scenarios going around, but to me this is the best short term gain, with long term benifits.

Your thoughts?????

My second post on this topic, sorry.    But, why is noone ( the press) reporting on the results of the Pitt,s and Hargrove visits.  Did I miss something?  Did anyone hear any concrete feedback.  If either one of these guys are signed it will really tip the lions hand to the draft.  That's probobly why we have heard much out of Allen Park.  But, this info would be nice to know, and isn't finding out this kind of information the job of the press.  Again, that would mean someone (the press) would have to do some real reporting, rather than acting as a secretary informing us who will show up in camp today.  What does it matter unless we hear "some" feedack as to the results.  Frustrating as hell!!!!

Any word yet on what the Lions did with Anthony Hargrove?  Did they meet, lose interest?  Is he still in town negotiating.  This looks like a great pick up to me.  It really opens up a whole lot on field and draft situations.  They could play him at end and still draft Suh/Mccoy.  They could play him at DT and Draft a OL, (this would be great if they could move down.)

Anyway, for good or bad, I scan't seem to find out what, if anything, the  Lions did????Any help anyone??