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    Bly participates in practice

    Bly participates in practice
    Cornerback expects to return for Sunday's game against Packers
    By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

    ALLEN PARK — The Lions are losing one of their biggest cheerleaders but gaining a top defensive player. It’s a trade they’ll make every game.

    Cornerback Dre’ Bly returned to practice Wednesday and expects to start Sunday’s game against the Packers at Ford Field.

    Bly missed the last three games because of strained ligaments in his left knee. He was hurt in the first quarter of the opening game. Bly was close to playing against Atlanta Sunday, but Coach Steve Mariucci decided to hold him out for another week. Bly worked out the morning of the game.

    “I was real close,” Bly said. “If it was left up to me, I would have played. It was Coach’s decision. He was thinking about the final 12 games — me being available for my teammates at the end of the year, not going out and re-injuring it and making it worse.

    “He was looking at the bigger picture — that’s being healthy for a division game and having a chance to play here at home.”

    Bly led the Lions with six interceptions last year and was voted to start in the Pro Bowl. He also recovered three fumbles and had two returns for touchdowns — on an interception and a fumble recovery.

    Bly said he hasn’t missed any of the fun of the Lions’ 3-1 start.

    “I’ve been experiencing everything with the guys,” Bly said. “I just haven’t been out on the field. I’m the first cheerleader on the field, whenever a guy scores or a guy makes a big play.”

    Injuries / personnel

    Wide receiver Roy Williams did not practice because of a sprained left ankle. He was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday’s 17-10 victory at Atlanta.

    Mariucci reiterated after Wednesday that if Williams is healthy, he will play Sunday, even if he has not practiced.

    Tailback Kevin Jones (right ankle) returned to practice in full pads but did not participate in the team portion of practice.

    Bly, Jones and Williams all are listed as questionable, which means there is a 50-50 chance that they will play. Bly’s listing probably is a precaution. It’s likely he will be upgraded to probable if he does not encounter a setback before game day.

    Fullback Cory Schlesinger is doubtful with an injured left hamstring. He was hurt in the first quarter of Game 3 against Philadelphia and aggravated the injury in the second half against Atlanta.

    Andre’ Goodman, who hasn’t played since the opener, is doubtful with an injured left hamstring.

    Honors

    Defensive end James Hall was named NFC defensive player of the week for his performance against the Falcons.

    Hall led the charge that resulted in six sacks and four turnovers. He had a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

    “It was unexpected,” Hall said. “It’s definitely a team award because it was a great team effort on the game.”

    Rice report

    The trade deadline is Tuesday, and questions keep coming up concerning any interest the Lions might have in acquiring Raiders receiver Jerry Rice.

    Raiders management has said the Lions have not shown any interest in Rice, and Mariucci made it clear Wednesday — again — that the Lions are committed to going with their young receivers.

    “We haven’t given it a lot of serious consideration,” Mariucci said. “We’re sort of committed to our guys right now and headed in a certain direction, where guys are going to be here for several years.

    “Right now, our receivers are a young bunch, and we like our group of receivers.”
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  • r8rh8rmike
    Stafford Practices With Lions Tuesday
    by r8rh8rmike
    Stafford practices with Lions Tuesday
    1 hour, 15 minutes ago

    ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)—Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wasn’t about to tip his hand about the recovery of quarterback Matt Stafford.

    Stafford wasn’t much more forthcoming himself as the Lions returned to practice Tuesday after their bye week.

    The rookie quarterback has missed the last two games with a knee injury, and with backup Daunte Culpepper (hamstring) also at less than 100 percent, Schwartz is going to make the St. Louis Rams try to prepare for Stafford, Culpepper and third-stringer Drew Stanton.

    “Absolutely nothing,” said Schwartz, when asked what he would reveal about Stafford’s participation in Tuesday’s practice. “I do think the bye came at a good time for getting people healthier, and everyone was able to at least do something, but that’s as far as I will go.”

    Stafford took part in the individual drills that are open to the media, but acknowledged that he wasn’t fully involved in the full-team portion of the session.

    “I was limited,” he said. “I didn’t get all the reps, but I took a few. This is the most I’ve done on it, and it felt pretty good.”

    Stafford, though, knows that he’s been down this road before. The last time he tried to go through most of a practice, the knee swelled and he had to have a second MRI.

    Stafford’s biggest target, Calvin Johnson, is also recovering from a knee injury. He was limited to playing catch on the sidelines with a Lions staffer during the early portion of practice.

    “I did exactly as much as coach said I did,” Johnson said. “I feel a lot better than I did a week ago, so I’m definitely optimistic, but I’m not positive. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow.”

    Schwartz was equally close-mouthed about the left guard position, which was being manned by longtime tackle Jon Jansen in early drills Tuesday. Daniel Loper and Manny Ramirez have split time at the position in Detroit’s first six games.

    “I’ve never played anything but tackle in an NFL game, but I’ve practiced all over the line,” said Jansen, an 11-year veteran. “I’m anxious to take any opportunity I can to get on the field.”

    The move puts Jansen next to left tackle Jeff Backus, his college teammate at Michigan.

    “It’s great playing next to Jeff, because I know him so well and we’ve worked together,” Jansen said.

    The pair played together until Jansen finished his college career in 1998.

    “I’m excited to be out there next to Jon,” Backus said. “The last time we played on an offensive line was 10 or 11 years at Michigan. I know what kind of player he was then, and I know he wants to show people that he can still be that type of player now.”
    -10-27-2009, 04:32 PM
  • Nick
    Mooch Ponders Lions QB Change
    by Nick
    Mooch Ponders Lions QB Change

    ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Joey Harrington kept his job for at least another day.

    Detroit coach Steve Mariucci said Monday he had not decided whether to bench Harrington this week against Minnesota in favor of backup quarterback Mike McMahon.

    Harrington has struggled as the Lions (5-8) have lost six of their last seven games and he might be coming off the worst outing in his three-season career.

    He was 5-of-22 for 47 yards in a 16-13 loss at Green Bay, which overcame a 13-0 deficit in the second half.

    "We haven't made any decisions, but we are evaluating our passing game," Mariucci said.

    Harrington said Mariucci did not talk to him about a possible change on Monday, but is well aware that his coach was peppered with questions about it.

    "If there's anything it's going to do, it's going to make me work harder," he said. "I'm not going to go home and cry about it."

    McMahon said he would be surprised if Mariucci made a move to make him the starter Sunday at home against the Vikings (7-6).

    "When there's been opportunities to make a change, he hasn't," McMahon said.

    Not long ago, Harrington was credited for helping the Lions turn it around after winning an NFL-low 10 games over the previous three seasons.

    When the Lions were 4-2, Harrington had thrown 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. In the last seven games, he's thrown as many TDs (five) as interceptions.

    "I'm not worried about making plays to keep the job," Harrington said. "I'm worried about making plays to win a football game."

    Mariucci didn't praise Harrington in many ways, but did compliment his work ethic.

    "He's bound and determined to be as good as he possibly can be," Mariucci said. "He's here late, he's here on days off, he's studying film. He really works at it. I'll give him that.

    "I have confidence in Joey. I have faith in Joey. Would I like him to play better? You bet."

    The Lions have lost 19 games and won 10 since Mariucci returned to his home state after being fired in San Francisco with a 60-43 mark over six seasons.

    Despite the lack of success with the Lions, Mariucci has remained upbeat and enthusiastic in front of cameras and reporters. That wasn't the case Sunday at Green Bay, where he looked very glum.

    Did the loss bother him more than any other the past two seasons?

    "Yeah, it did," Mariucci acknowledged softly.

    Detroit not only lost a game on Sunday, it lost a great opportunity to make the playoffs in the muddled and mediocre NFC with its first win in Wisconsin since 1991.

    Roy Williams said the Lions should have won and anybody who saw the game knew...
    -12-13-2004, 09:38 PM
  • eldfan
    Rams Team Report
    by eldfan
    USA Today


    The Rams were starting to feel good about themselves after victories I two successive weeks. There had been big plays on offense, excellent defense and solid special teams play.
    But all the good feelings evaporated quickly in Detroit Sunday, as the Rams were walloped 44-6. They now look ahead to San Diego, hoping that another home game will help erase the stench from their trip into the Lions' den.

    Asked what was most disappointing Sunday, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "Well, both sides of the ball didn't do real well in the red zone. We know that we didn't play well in some areas on defense that we had. We didn't finish things in the red zone on offense. It's a lot. (On) special teams, you can't give up a kickoff return for a touchdown. I mean, all three phases had a hand in the disappointment of getting beat. Usually when that happens, in all three phases, the score is lopsided and it was."

    The Rams outgained the Lions in the first half, 199-192, but trailed 24-6. Three red-zone trips that resulted in just those six points were the main culprit. As was a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Detroit's Stefan Logan, and two second-quarter touchdown drives by the Lions that used a total of 25 plays and covered 81 and 80 yards.

    The epitome of the first half came when the Rams, trailing 17-3, drove from their own 22-yard line to a first down at the Detroit 12, the third red-zone penetration of the half. A touchdown would have made it a one-score game, with the Rams receiving the ball to start the second half. But the drive stalled and after a Josh Brown 28-yard field goal, the Lions needed only 87 seconds to effortlessly move 80 yards in 12 plays for another touchdown.

    Quarterback Sam Bradford completed just 12 of 26 passes for 79 yards in the second half with two interceptions, one of which was return for a touchdown.

    Said Bradford, "There's going to be a lot of things that we're going to have to look for on tape to make sure that this doesn't happen again. I don't know if I've ever been a part of a loss like this before. I don't think this is what this team's about. I think we're better than what we showed today, so we're going to have to bounce back, learn from our mistakes and get ready for San Diego next week."

    Added running back Steven Jackson, "Sometimes you need a butt whipping to let you know where you are. I don't think guys came in overlooking Detroit at 0-4. Heck, we've been in that situation a lot, so that I'm not worried about. It's eye-opening; it's a wakeup call. Once we get back on another winning streak, and I believe that will happen again, we won't take anything for granted."

    NOTES, QUOTES

    LINEUP WATCH

    The Rams' offense suffered a crushing blow on their fifth play from scrimmage when wide receiver Mark Clayton suffered a serious...
    -10-11-2010, 05:30 AM
  • Nick
    Lions' Marion, Bryant, Babers injured
    by Nick
    DETROIT (AP) -- Steve Mariucci struggled to get too excited about a preseason victory because a handful of Detroit Lions went down with injuries.

    On the opening drive, the Buffalo Bills got exactly what they wanted, while the Lions couldn't avoid their worst fear in the final exhibition for both teams.

    Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo's first-string offense to its only touchdown of the preseason, three Detroit defensive backs were hurt and the Lions went on to beat the Bills 20-17 Thursday night.

    "It's nice to get out with a win -- I suppose," said Mariucci, in his second season with the Lions. "But that first series was crazy. I didn't know what to do."

    Lions safety Brock Marion (bruised right knee), cornerback Fernando Bryant (neck stinger) and cornerback Rod Babers (shoulder) all left the game with injuries.

    Bryant was hurt on the second play from scrimmage, Marion went down three plays later and Babers was also hurt during the first possession.

    "I said, 'You've got to be kidding me," Lions president and general manager Matt Millen said.

    Marion was later carted away from the sideline with an ice pack strapped to his knee, but X-rays were negative. He was to have a follow-up MRI exam.

    Bryant is a starter, and Babers is competing for a roster spot.

    "I didn't know what was happening at first, because my arm went completely numb," Bryant said. "But after a minute, I knew it was just a stinger. I've had stingers before. It's nothing. It's part of football."

    Starting linebacker Donte Curry (left thigh) also left the game in the first quarter, but said the injury wasn't serious.

    Last year, Detroit lost James Stewart for the season with a shoulder injury in the first quarter of the final preseason game against Buffalo.

    The Lions (2-2) went ahead for good late in the third quarter when Rick Mirer lobbed a 26-yard TD to David Kircus, giving them a 20-17 lead.

    Bledsoe was 4-of-6 for 62 yards on his only possession, a 16-play, 90-yard drive. He threw a perfect 21-yard deep out to Eric Moulds against Dre' Bly to set up a TD.

    "I think we finally finished (a drive)," Bledsoe said. "Prior to that drive, we'd done some good things and moved the ball a little bit. But we always had that one thing that stopped us."

    Willis McGahee, still looking tentative coming off his knee injury, gained just 24 yards on 11 carries, but put Buffalo ahead 7-0 with a 2-yard run. Travis Henry missed the game with bruised ribs, but is expected to start the opener against Jacksonville.

    Most importantly, the Bills (1-3) got out of the game healthy after losing two backup quarterbacks to injury last week.

    "You want to come out of this thing for the real deal," Bills...
    -09-02-2004, 09:50 PM
  • Nick
    0-4 Lions thump Rams 44-6
    by Nick
    0-4 Lions thump Rams 44-6
    ASSOCIATED PRESS | Posted: Sunday, October 10, 2010 3:55 pm

    DETROIT --The Detroit Lions moved a step closer toward putting their miserable past behind them, winning for the first time this season and by their largest margin in 15 years.

    Stefan Logan's 105-yard kickoff return broke a tie in the second quarter and Detroit rolled to a 44-6 rout of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

    "It feels good to get this one so we can move on," center Dominic Raiola said.

    Detroit (1-4) hadn't won since Nov. 22, 2009, when Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes against Cleveland after getting briefly knocked out of the game.

    The Lions, who had the NFL's first 0-16 season two years ago, had won just three of their previous 44 games. They had a shot to win three of their first four games - losing by five, three and two points - after their 14 losses last season were by at least a TD and several were very lopsided.

    "Our players understood how close we were," second-year coach Jim Schwartz said. "But you need validation."

    The Lions won by more than a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 4, 2007, when they beat Denver 44-7.

    The Rams (2-3) lost standout receiver Mark Clayton with an injured right knee in the first quarter and that limited rookie Sam Bradford's passing options.

    Clayton, whose injury appears serious, fell to the ground while running a pattern and stayed down until he was carted off the field.

    "It doesn't look good," St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

    Bradford, coming off his best game, had one of his worst. He was 23 of 45 for 215 yards with two interceptions, one that was batted into the air and caught by Ndamukong Suh and one directly to Alphonso Smith, who returned it for the final score.

    "There are going to be a lot of things that we have to find on the film and fix because we have to make sure this never happens again," said Bradford, who was drafted this year No. 1 overall just ahead of Suh. "I don't think I've ever been part of a loss like this."

    Playing again in place of last year's No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill threw for 227 yards and connected with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Nate Burleson for touchdowns. Hill has started since Stafford separated his right shoulder in Week 1.

    "Even though we don't have Matt, we have somebody who can hold down the fort," said Burleson, who was flagged for punting the football into the stands after his TD.

    The Lions got off to a good start because a risky move backfired for St. Louis, which started game with a failed onside kick.

    "Maybe the biggest play that gets overlooked was the opening kickoff," Schwartz said.

    Logan's return...
    -10-10-2010, 08:46 PM
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