lions beat reporter for mlive, professional snacker, co-host of the dungeon of doom podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts and at your mom's house
Malcolm Rodriguez watched the Lions use the 18th pick to replace him in the draft. He never complained. He leaned into his expanded special teams role. And with Derrick Barnes now hurt in the NFC title game, he ran onto the field and picked off Purdy.
Great story, that guy.
I asked Jamaal Williams whether he wants to come back next season. "You said do I want to come back? Hmm, let me think about it. Spent 2 years here, doing great. Do I want to come back? Do I want to come back to more blessings? Let me think about that one. That's your answer."
Just boarded my plane to SF. Sitting by a gentleman who was at the 1957 title game, who is swapping stories with the folks on the other side of him who were also at the 1957 game. One pulled out a picture of his father, a longtime fan who died last year. “This is for dad.”
Reporter: You guys have a lot of stars ...
Jared Goff: "Thank you."
Reporter: ... but maybe not as big of stars as they do ...
Goff: "All right, never mind."
James Houston made his NFL debut just last week. He now ranks second among all rookies in sacks (3.0).
The only rookie he trails: Aidan Hutchinson (6.0)
Dan Campbell says the officials told him that Dan Skipper reported eligible, not Taylor Decker. But Decker says he reported, and Skipper says he did not. “I didn’t say a word, and I’d like to not get fucking fined.”
Former Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch on the firing of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia: "The best news I've heard all year. The city of Detroit and its fans deserve SO MUCH BETTER."
Remember that 75-yard TD run by David Montgomery? Yeah, apparently the Lions called the wrong pass play for their personnel. Amon-Ra St. Brown says he had no idea what to do, because he wasn't supposed to be on the field.
So Goff checked into a run.
75 yards. TD.
So the Lions have traded for Carlton Davis, signed Amik Robertson, re-signed Emmanuel Moseley and Kindle Vildor, then drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in Rounds 1-2
Guess Brad was sick of looking at that pass defense
I have been many places. I have been to very, very few places I’d rather live than Detroit. Read a book, man. Talk to somebody. Get a take that’s not from 2009.
Teddy Bridgewater is expected to retire this offseason, but the amazing work he's done with the Lions' young roster will go on. Hendon Hooker is expected to live with Bridgewater for parts of the offeason to prepare for the QB2 role next year
There are tears rolling down the face of Taylor Decker, who just started his 100th game at left tackle for the Lions. The longest-tenured player for Detroit has seen some depths here. Now he's clearly moved to be part of the climb back up.
Kalif Raymond signed a one-year prove-it deal with Detroit. A year later, he's a second-team All-Pro. What a find for Brad Holmes, what a season for Raymond
Jamaal Williams was asked how he feels about being on Hard Knocks. He lowered his voice to a whisper and said: "I don't give a fuck. I just want to play football."
By trading back in the first round of the draft, the Lions added:
-- Jahmyr Gibbs, who just went over 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored a TD
-- Sam LaPorta, who just set the team record for TD catches by a rookie tight end (after setting the catches and yards records too)
So for those scoring at home: Pro football players taking a knee to protest police brutality are "sons of bitches" who should be fired. But guys storming *inside* the state capitol building with rifles to protest an order designed to save lives are "very good people."
The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.
Glasgow turned down interest from SF/Carolina to come back to Lions. Why? "To play with some of my friends. To play with Taylor and Frank. It just came down to I wanted to be a part of that O-line room. I wanted to be back with my buddies. And I wanted to be back with this team."
A pretty shitty day for Detroit, so allow me to highlight once more one of the few positives about today: Adrian Peterson is donating 4,000 meals to needy families in this city (2,000 for each touchdown he scored). Good stuff from AD.
If college athletes are going to make money off their likenesses while in school, their scholarships should be treated like income. I’ll be introducing legislation that subjects scholarships given to athletes who choose to “cash in” to income taxes.
The Lions offense is finishing this game with 5 guys on the field who opened the season on practice squads. They've scored 45 points.
Such a testament to Ben Johnson.
And an indictment of this defense under Aaron Glenn, that they still trail.
Aidan Hutchinson played 958 defensive snaps this season, which was more than every defensive lineman except Maxx Crosby, and more than every rookie defensive lineman ever except DeForest Buckner
Jameson Williams says he didn't have much contact with the Lions through the pre-draft process, but was flattered by the trade up for him at 12. "It showed I'm a wanted player."
Aidan Hutchinson: "To the city, just know I'm going to give it my all. ... It was the Lions all the way. The whole draft process, I wanted them to pick me."
T.J. Hockenson was booed at the Lions' own draft day party. He suffered a brain injury. He blew out his ankle. He broke his leg.
A year later, he returned to Detroit as one of the best tight ends in the NFL:
Dan Skipper was fighting back tears while getting cut coming out of training camp. Two games into the season, he was promoted from the practice squad to start at a position he hadn't really played since college.
And they were chanting his name in the locker room after the game.
The NFL has admitted the officials blew a potential intentional grounding call against Jalen Hurts on Sunday. Detroit had filed the play for review with the league.
Watch Jameson Williams on that 75-yard TD run by David Montgomery. Outran everybody to get back into the play and delivered the final block. Helluva play
I feel like if the Lions would have taken Brian Branch and Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round, then Jack Campbell in the second round, folks would have been pretty pleased
The Lions say they're trending toward possibly having their second-highest attendance ever at Ford Field, perhaps more than 66,000 people on hand for Thanksgiving. May want to consider arriving early, having a drink, maybe three.
The Lions are replacing their slit film turf at Ford Field, which has been heavily criticized by players, with another synthetic surface called CORE monofilament field turf. That is happening this month. (1/2)
Frank Ragnow said he's going to celebrate his $70 million deal by driving to the UP to try to smash his record for small-mouth bass, which is 5.33 pounds.
CJGJ: "People thought we were going to be shitty this year. I look at my comments every day from when I first signed. 'Enjoy being a 5-win team, a 3-win team, a 4-win team.' Haha, fucker. Still on my cocky, arrogant shit. I read the Bible, too. Make sure y'all put that in there."
Darrell Bevell's phone blew up with congratulations from friends and family across the country after yesterday's win. One person who did not reach out: Matt Patricia.
Amon-Ra St. Brown said he monitors the 16 WRs who were taken before him. Noted one was at the game today
Seattle took D'Wayne Eskridge in Round 2. Eskridge caught 1 pass for 7 yards, plus had a run for 30 yds
Amon-Ra caught 8 passes for 111 yards, ran for 23 yards, scored 2 TDs
Cam Sutton on Dan Campbell: "Seeing what he's been doing around the league, it's exhilarating, man. Like, guys love this guy. Not just me speaking, but you see how far it spreads around the league. Guys want to play for him. Guys love the energy and everything he brings."
Penei Sewell was awesome again. Since allowing 4 sacks against Chicago and Minnesota, he's allowed none against Cincy and L.A., just 1 hit and was Detroit's best offensive player in both games according to PFF
I asked Isaiah Buggs why re-sign now, instead of waiting a couple more hours to see what's out there.
Buggs: I didn't want to go into free agency wondering where I was going to end up. When Detroit called, I wanted to be back. I always wanted to be back.
I've seen that Brock Wright touchdown catch so many times in my career. It's just usually going the other way. Today, it kept Detroit's playoff dreams alive. Incredible.
Aidan Hutchinson has two sacks, Billie Jean is playing over the sound system, the crowd is shrieking, unicorns are flying across the sky over downtown Detroit
All Lions so far
Penei Sewell was Detroit's third-best offensive player against San Francisco, per PFF. Allowed 6 pressures, but just 2 hits and no sacks.
Against Nick Bosa, on 2 days of practice, that's pretty damn good.
The only thing I learned from Dan Campbell today: He's over talking, and ready to play ball. Pounded the podium when two reporters talked at the same time. Gave side eye when a cameraman's cell went off (sigh). Paused a while when asked about Goff (yet again).
He's ready to go.
Jake McQuaide, a Pro Bowl long snapper, reached out to the Lions about his interest in signing with the team this offseason. They told him: You can come in, but just know if there's a tie, the job will go to Scott Daly. You gotta beat him outright.
He signed here anyway.