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Browns Injuries For Saturday vs Lions
Wednesday 08-20-2008 7:07pm ET
Derek Anderson (concussion) will miss the Browns' third exhibition game. Brady Quinn will make his first pro start, but won't have Jamal Lewis (hamstring), Braylon Edwards (foot), or Josh Cribbs (ankle). Anderson should be ready before Week 1. He should be rooting for a poor showing from Quinn Otto Calls In
Wednesday 08-20-2008 2:14pm ET
Rob just called in from Lions to say that both Shawn McDonald and Daniel Bullocks will play saturday in the Lions preseason game against Cleveland. Both will make their preseason debuts since coming off the PUP list. TE Dan Campbell will not play.
Lions Moves
Tuesday 08-19-2008 6:07pm ET
Young Guys Lead the Way
Monday 08-18-2008 6:05am ET
The Lions topped the Bengals 271-0 Sunday night in theri second pre-season game. Here's the story from our Insider Tom Kowalski on M-Live: CINCINNATI -- There were two rookies in the starting lineup Sunday and, by the end of training camp, there might be four -- the first time that could happen with the Detroit Lions in the last 30 years.
Rookie running back Kevin Smith, a third-round draft pick, and fullback Jerome Felton, a fifth-rounder, were starters in Detroit's 27-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
Marinelli said there was no significance to Smith getting the start over veteran Tatum Bell, who replaced Smith in the first half.
"We let both guys work and we'll let guys compete,'' Marinelli said.
The other two rookies who could crack the starting lineup by opening day are first-round right tackle Gosder Cherilus and second-round linebacker Jordon Dizon.
Cherilus appears to be winning his battle with veteran George Foster while the race is much tighter with Dizon and veteran Paris Lenon.
It's also possible that the Lions could move either linebacker to the strong side so they'd both be in the starting lineup.
It's not unusual for Marinelli to delay putting rookies at the top of the depth chart until later in preseason when they've "earned'' the starting job.
During Sunday's game, Cherilus played right tackle with the second unit against the Bengals but, in the second half, Cherilus moved over to left tackle. The Lions might be making that move in the advent that Foster wins the backup tackle job over Jonathan Scott.
While Scott can play both tackle positions, Foster is only a right tackle.
"That was the plan, to get (Cherilus) a lot of work,'' Marinelli said. "He's got to learn to play some of that left, one of those guys has to be a swing guy. The best way to do it is game day. He got a lot of good work in.''
The battle that's still up in the air is with Dizon, who is trying to replace Paris Lenon as the starter at middle linebacker.
The Lions had three rookies in the starting lineup as recently as 2004 when receiver Roy Williams, running back Kevin Jones and linebacker Teddy Lehman all were starters. Williams and Jones were first-round picks while Lehman was as second rounder.
The only time the Lions had four rookies in the lineup for opening day was in 1978 when cornerback Luther Bradley (first round), defensive end Al "Bubba'' Baker (second round), tackle Bill Fifer (fourth round) and guard Homer Elias (fourth round).
Standeford stands out
Free agent receiver John Standeford, who is a long shot to make the final roster, led Detroit with four catches for 85 yards. Standeford has been bouncing around the league, trying to find a job. He was an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2004 and has been in a couple of camps (and on the practice squad) with the Indianapolis Colts.
"There are a lot of guys on this team who were late draft picks or not drafted -- Jon Kitna, Chuck Darby, Paris Lenon, guys like that,'' Marinelli said. "Every man has a chance to audition and he's having a good audition.''
Things Get Chippy at Practice
Wednesday 08-13-2008 11:57am ET
Here's the Wednesday morning practice breakdown from our Lions Insider Tom Kowalski at M-Live. It started during the team drill in the red zone with safety Dwight Smith barking at an offensive player to keep his mouth shut. Smith was a little more colorful with his language. A few plays later, linebacker Buster Davis had a big collision in the end zone with tight end Dan Campbell. Three plays later, Davis again had a collision -- again, arriving a split second after the ball arrived -- and whacked tight end John Owens.
And that's when it really started.
Quarterback Jon Kitna was furious. "Keep hitting'em, Buster, keep hitting 'em,'' Kitna said as he stalked after Davis. Players and coaches held Kitna back, but that didn't stop his verbal barrage.
The pad-popping kept up at an intense pace throughout practice.
"I'm not going to get into specifics, that's how competitors are,'' Kitna said. "Today's really the last day and we're ready to start seeing other people on a weekly basis. You usually don't go more than seven days without a game in preseason and this is our seventh day -- and we've still got three more days until we play. The guys are just ready to hit somebody else.''
Lions head coach Rod Marinelli didn't mind the intensity and the chatter -- as long as it doesn't escalate into activity that can draw a penalty.
The Lions aren't expected to be back in pads until they travel to Cincinnati on Sunday to play the Bengals in a 7p.m. game at Paul Brown Stadium.
Bentley Here says Killer
Tuesday 08-12-2008 1:05pm ET
The once-great center LeCharles Bentley was at Allen Park today to visit with Detroit Lions officials and even came out to watch a little bit of the morning workout. Before undergoing four surgeries on his leg in the last two years, Bentley was considered one of the most dominant centers in the NFL. Bentley, who recently asked for his release from the Cleveland Browns (which was granted), is trying to make a comeback. A source close to the situation said the Lions had a good visit with Bentley, but the team is not interested in signing him. Fan Issue At Practice
Monday 08-11-2008 4:17pm ET
Security escorted a fan out of Lions practice this morning after he got into a verbal altercation with wide receiver Roy Williams. It was the first such incident since the Lions started opening training camp to the general public again last year. Mike Lazzara, 42, of Novi stood on the top step of the bleachers amid a sparse, mostly quiet crowd. He repeatedly shouted to Williams about taking plays off. “I didn’t use any profanity to him,” Lazzara said. “I wanted just to be constructive and tell the guy, ‘You know, I’m not making $20 million a season.’ The guy takes plays off. You guys look at the tape.” Williams heard Lazzara as he went back to the huddle, then walked over to the fence separating the fans from the field. Williams suggested they switch jobs, as some of his teammates yelled. “It just came out of nowhere, and I was like, ‘Huh?’ ” Williams said. “And he said it again, and I was just like, ‘What?’ And he said it again.” Asked why he confronted Lazzara instead of ignoring him, Williams said: “I just wanted to know, ‘Where is he getting that from?’ And he said, ‘You take plays off in the season.’ And I said, ‘Well, why don’t you come and do my job and I’ll do your job and let’s see how it works.’ He said it again, and I said, ‘Yes, sir. All right.’ And I walked off.” Surrounding fans shouted down Lazzara and cheered Williams. Security brought Lazzara down from the stands and after a lengthy conversation escorted him off the property. “There’s no signs that say you’ve got to stay positive,” Lazzara said. “I wasn’t yelling and screaming and using profanity and all this at Roy. I was just being constructive, and they boot me out. I mean, what in the world? Don’t even open it.’ Lazzara said he also yelled at rookie fullback Jerome Felton to pick up his feet during a drill earlier. He said the Lions booted him even though he would have kept quiet to stay, but the Lions had a different version. The Lions released a statement that said in part: “Following complaints from fans in the immediate area, members of our security team discussed the situation with the gentleman and explained the appropriate expected fan code of conduct, as set forth by our organization and the NFL. The gentleman declined to modify his behavior and was asked to leave the morning session.” Williams has been the most fan friendly Lion during training camp. He has often pulled kids out of the stands wearing his No. 11 jersey and made them his personal assistant for practice. “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion,” Williams said. “He voiced his opinion, I voiced my opinion and that was that. … “I would have climbed over the fence and climbed up in the stands, if I had a problem. I didn’t have a problem with the dude. I like to interact with the fans. He had a little problem with me. I had no problem with him. I just wanted to hear his opinion. “So it wasn’t a big deal to me. I’m sorry the guy got kicked out. But he did that. Not me.” Lions Getting Healthy
Monday 08-11-2008 11:36am ET
 Plenty of players got back to work for the Lions at Monday morning's practice including Daniel Bullocks. Here's the update from our Insider Tom Kowalski on M-Live. The Detroit Lions got healthy this morning.
In addition to the return of receiver Calvin Johnson (leg bruise) and defensive tackles Cory Redding (groin) and Langston Moore (shoulder), all three players on the Physically Unable to Perform list have been activated.
Tight end Dan Campbell (elbow), safety Daniel Bullocks (knee) and receiver Shaun McDonald (knee) were in pads and practicing during the morning workout. Bullocks had been out for nearly a full year after suffering a knee injury in the preseason last season. Campbell and McDonald were coming off off-season surgeries.
Fullback Jon Bradley (shoulder) and receiver Taye Biddle, who has an undisclosed injury, did not participate in practice.
Lions saturday News
Saturday 08-09-2008 8:18pm ET
Kicker Jason Hanson suffered a mild left thigh strain and will miss at least one week of preseason and possibly two. The Lions waived kicker Eddie Johnson, who was to be used more for punting and kickoffs, and signed veteran free agent Dave Rayner who will handle the field goal kicking duties until Hanson returns.
The Lions also said cornerback Stanley Wilson, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot, will be lost for the year. Wilson will undergo surgery next week and his recovery time is expected to be between 10 months and a year. The Lions signed free agent cornerback/nickel back Kiwaukee Thomas to replace Wilson on the roster. The Lions also waived center Nick Jones and signed free agent tackle Damion Cook.
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© 2008