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Daunte Culpepper
John,
I have a link below that takes you to an interesting article about Daunte Culpepper. It's astonishing to me that Culpepper holds all of these records and the record for most yards from scrimmage is 1st all time with 5,123. The talent he had in the incredible 2004 season was miniscule w/o Moss and the best reciever was Nate Burelson. Culpepper seemed to be a top-5 QB before that major injury,maybe now that he is healthy and confident maybe he really will return to form. This article is old but interesting,tell me what you think John. (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=316)
Does anybody think that Culpepper still has it or is it over for him?
Week 1
Hi John,
Call it--who will start in Detroit's secondary during the first regular season game? Obviously Delmas and Buchanon are locks, I think Bullocks has the edge as safety #2 (though I like Schweigert to push him), but I'm pretty torn on the other CB...
R U
Ready for some Canadian Football ?
Argos hammer Ti-Cats in CFL opener
bitter rivals, those two
walter payton's kid playing for the Argos, too, I think
R U
Ready for some football!!!!It seems a year ago you were kind of pressed into this forum in August, right after the Red Wings Stanley Cup and the Olympics. Here's hoping you are ready to bring us an up to date, up close look at OUR Detroit Lions.
yes, no more rookie excuses once i'm back on full-time duty with training camp (actually back to work in about 10 days but will take a few-day break for 20-yr h.s. reunion opening wkd of camp) ... just wrote a leftover story from last week's camp on the safety battle that'll run one of these days when there's space
Sportswriter question
Why do columnists always write about the bad vibes between coaches and players after the coach gets fired and not while he is coaching? I don't seem to remember reading any of this stuff between Curry and his players during the season.
the Pistons, in my humble opinion, are masters of the post-firing character assassination -- Doug Collins, L.B., Flip, now Curry -- just to name a few. Doesn't mean the stories aren't true -- I just find it to be unnecessary scapegoating.
Tour Michigan
The Tigers and Red Wings have select visits around Michigan in the off season and/or pre-season. Any chance the Lions might out-reach their players around the State of Michigan?
That's a good question. I'll ask about any plans they might have. I know that'd be part of the allure to their anticipated training camp move (partial or full) beginning as early as next summer. I'll say this: It's probably a bit harder to pull off given the offseason CBA/player restrictions -- everything's "voluntary" except for one (or two) mandatory minicamps -- and then the urgency of training camp. Still, it'd only make sense for them to try to do more outreach like that.
Lions and trade
Hey John, well I'm sure u heard the news. Alexander for Northcutt. Good trade or bad trade? Is this another wasted 2nd rounder by Millen? Whose next, Drew Stanton? I always thought Alexander showed some flashes in his rookie year, especially being after to blitz from the safety spot. I thought he was better than Bullocks. How many draft picks are left from this Millen debacle? Do you expect Northcutt to compete with Derrick Williams for punt/kick return duties?
thanks
I'm mildly surprised, but less so after Delmas draft pick and the Marquand pickup. Never sensed much excitement from Schwartz or Mayhew regarding Alexander's future prospects, either. Bullocks is going to be one of the key players to watch in camp, though -- wrote about that looming "battle" for tomorrow (or whenever the story runs). He was running with the 3s behind Delmas-Pearson and Alexander-Marquand last week, though that doesn't mean much.
As for Northcutt, I think it's probably a sign that R. Curry hasn't impressed and that there's concern/impatience with D. Williams, who missed minicamp with hamstring and wasn't particularly sharp in rookie camp, either. Shack Harris knows him pretty well and right now you'd have to think Northcutt's the likely slot guy if he can pick things up quickly enough. We'll see what it means for PR duties -- Buchanon was lobbying as well.
WCF
Is a fool
From John Niyo
FYI, I'll get back in here tonight or tomorrow to catch up. Was headed to the airport last Wednesday in a mad dash after Ford Sr. decided to break his silence. Been out of touch up in the U.P. ever since.
Quotes
Good afternoon John, For what it is worth (probably not much...) I just caught up on my Sports reading from last week. I see that Cotsonika, other paper, had a decent size article this past Saturday, June 27th regarding the Mini-Camp from last week and the attempt by the Lions to win some of us "former" Season Ticket holders back. I asked you a question regarding that last week. It appears that some of my quotes take up a good part of the 2nd page of his 3 page (on line) story, pretty neat! Just give me a call anytime you want John if you want some good quotes! Have a good one! Thanks
So you were one of the brave souls in the heat? Send me an email. I'm sure we'll be doing a story about ticket sales and Lions fans when we get closer to the start of the season.
In response to the Lions
DT1970,
I think both positions are suspect,however,good teams have a way of making average players seem like pro-bowlers. If the Lions become contenders I still think both positions won't be a strength,at least not this year. Sammie Lee Hill is an interesting prospect,has the size and power but it is too raw. If Coach Karm and Gunter Cunningham can figure out how to utilize him he may be a force in just his rookie year. The LG spot is a perennial revolving door but if either Loper,Jansen,Rameirez,Salaam,etc can step it up there then Backus alongside Pettigrew can have pretty good seasons. Backus is not a pro-bowler but he is a decent player and is hard working. That offensive line could be a strength if they put it all together but I doubt they will. The strengths on this team are LB,RB,WR,K,P. All the rest is questionable...
jdavis
still disagree, but nice to hear other point of view. what do you think of left guard and defensive tackle? not sold on lopier or any of the d tackles, and could use another solid cb. im wondering if keith smith comes through this year.
In response to the Lions
Dt1970,
The other good safetys are Anthony Henry the cb/safety player and blitz specialist/special teamer Kelvin Pearson the 4th safety. Gerald Alexander couldn't play special teams very well and the Lions only plan on keeping 3 safetys with Anthony Henry possibly moving to safety if some of the other CBs we have step up. Gerald Alexander is a injury risk over paid gamble with the other safetys we got he was the most expendable. I understand why you think this but the Lions seem to have legit reasons for the trade.
jdavis
jdaivs, still think it is a stupid move. they just signed 3 guys in the offseason to play opposite of calvin, he is old and on the downside of career and always complaining about his contract and playing time. remember, the defense has been dead last two years straight,he has been practicing with,according to him, no restrictions and if they wanted to dump salary, millen and marenelli handed a career special teamer,undrafted free agent a huge contract at about 5-8 and 190 hardly makes a reciever think twice about going over the middle. and who are these other great safeties we have? pearson? schweigert? hicks? manuel? there is now no depth behind probale starters bullocks and delmas.i just think mayhew would rather take a 8 year veteran on the downside of his career because of "savy or experience" than a second year player with upside, same as marenelli.(i.e. darby,kelly,dsmith,nece,lenon)
In response to Lions
DT1970,
The reasoning for trading Gerald Alexander isn't just to get another slot reciever. Because Derrick Williams has been hurt all camp and has not practiced the Lions are just being cautious and bringing in a WR anyway because injuries are unpredictiable in the NFL and they need 2 good slot recievers to help with mis-matches with Pettigrew and Calvin Johnson. Linehan's scheme has a wide variety of looks and is very deceptive incorporating a balanced attack. Secondly,with Gerald Alexander's neck injury,the other good safeties we already have,the size of Alexander's contract,and limitations he has I wouldn't be surprised if they cut Northcutt at some point and free up some cap space. Either way,I understand the logic behind the trade,trading a severely injured high round safety for a 4th WR for depth and possibly saving some cap room. Good job Mayhew
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