Chugging The Kool-Aid

Howdy to all of my fellow Lions fans! Well I am sorry I have not posted sooner but life can down pour at times and my arms are tired from bailing the water. Well I am back and that’s what’s important.

There has not been much news as of late because there hasn’t been much to report and most of the sports media coverage is dedicated to the Red Wings and Tigers. Hopefully more news becomes available within in the next couple of weeks. I thought there would be some news what with OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) happening down in Allen Park. Soon it will be that time right before the season starts when the fans get really excited with Super Bowl dreams for their team. I would hope that the Lions win at least 6-7 games and at least be competitive in the losses and not get totally blown out.

I know I am the eternal optimist but here is a story from MLive by Rick Gosselin. Seems I am not the only one drinking or should I say guzzling down the kool-aid.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/rick_gosselin_with_right_moves.html

You know that one special player that fans get really fired up and excited to see play? Well the Lions drafted Louis Delmas the Safety from Western Michigan University could very well be the next Bob Sanders and for those of you who don’t know Bob Sanders is a super great Safety for the Indianapolis Colts. I feel he will truly be a motivating force not only in the locker room but for the fans to get behind. I love this kid’s work ethic and yes maybe the kool-aid is spiked a bit but I really feel this team is putting some great pieces in place.

Here is a link from the “Mike In The Morning Show” on 97.1 The WRIF with Coach Jim Schwartz as a guest in studio. A long radio segment but well worth listening too! I love our coach not only is he intelligent but he is a rocker! And how cool is that when you can say your head coach is rocker? I really don’t see Bill Belichick head-banging to Metallica
http://my.wrif.com/mim/?p=2101

Here is a link from Tom Kowalski talking about DT Sammie Hill our 4th round pick, We have been notoriously bad in drafting in the 4th round so hopefully Hill will be a reliable run-stopper.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/sammie_lee_hill_another_fourth.html

I am not sure if anyone knew of former Kansas City Chiefs Coach Frank Gansz but he died a couple of weeks ago. He used to be a Special Team coach with the Lions.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/former_lions_special_teams_coa.html

Here is a video with Tom Kowalski on NFL Network post-draft.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/tom_kowalski_on_nfl_network.html

The roster cuts have begun and the notables are QB Drew Henson, TE Michael Gaines and CB Travis Fisher. So here are those stories if you are interested.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/lions_release_qb_drew_henson.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/to_make_room_for_brandon_petti.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/purge_continues_lions_release.html

The biggest off-season edition to the Lions is signing ex-Steelers Middle Linebacker Larry Foote. I am so hyped about this edition and not only does he plug a major hole in defense but a veteran presence to help guide the rookies and other veterans to play better. Here are some interesting stories from Tom Kowalski about him.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/was_larry_foote_in_the_lions_p.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/if_lions_are_interested_larry.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/larry_foote_says_he_has_agreed.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/source_larry_foote_turned_down.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/its_official_larry_foote_joins.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_larry_foote_doesnt_belie.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/larry_foote_happy_to_back_home.html

Here are some interviews from the Huge Show with Bill Simonson, most of which are his typical Lions bashing. Also some stuff from Brian Van Ochten of the Grand Rapids Press. I will present differing opinions even the Lions bashers have a few intelligent things to say not that I really agree with their view points.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/bill_cubit_on_the_huge_show_wm.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/brian_vanochten_on_the_huge_sh_3.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/jim_miller_on_the_huge_show_co.html
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/05/twominute_drill_podcast_lions_1.html

Here are some stories from Tom Kowalski on the first mini-camp for the rookies. They are not that long so don’t feel overwhelmed like there is a lot of reading required because there is not and you guys have the freedom to choose which links you want to check out or not.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/draft_picks_look_to_impress_at.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/louis_delmas_is_the_most_impre.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_coach_jim_schwartz_matth.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/stafford_draws_praise_from_oth.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/walled_lakes_justin_goltz_does.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/rookie_brandon_pettigrew_to_be.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_deandre_levy_makes_move.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_louis_delmas_finally_cas.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/louis_delmas_among_standouts_a.html

This one has a photo-gallery from Mini-Camp.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/photo_gallery_detroit_lions_ro.html

This link has a photo-gallery from the OTA.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/photo_gallery_detroit_lions_ot.html

Here is an audio interview with Tom Kowalski talking about the second-day draft picks and like I have been saying is give this team the benefit of the doubt. We won’t know if these guys are busts for at least two years.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/tom_kowalski_on_wghn.html

Now an interesting decision is when Matthew Stafford takes over the QB spot. I believe the Lions are trying to avoid the pitfall of the Joey Harrington situation where he started right away and it was a total disaster.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_will_fight_temptation_to.html

Here are a couple of stories about QB Drew Stanton and his speculative future with the Lions.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_stanton_shrugs_off_no_3.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_qb_situation_daunte_culp.html
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/lions_qb_drew_stanton_faces_to.html

As some of you may have heard former Detroit Lions President and General Manager Matt Millen has been hired by ESPN as an analyst. Just saying his name makes we want to throw-up my dinner which wasn’t very good by the way. I was browsing through some of the comments on this story and one stuck out in particular. sweeney71 commented “for some reason i feel like a spousal abuse victim who their X lover with someone new.” Obviously not an English major but I have to agree. Bill ‘Huge’ Simonson said watching Matt Millen doing football commentary is like watching Osama Bin Laden on the Fox News Channel talking about the War On Terror. Anyways good riddance and by our pain and suffering other teams can learn from our mistakes. I wouldn’t wish this disaster of a GM or someone like him even on my most-hated foes like the Bears, Viking or Packers.
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/05/espn_hires_matt_millen_one_of.html

I am glad we picked up TE Brandon Pettigrew who is going to be a great blocking Tight End and should be a major weapon for Matthew Stafford. Here is a quick tid-bit on him.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/05/scott_linehan_brandon_pettigre.html

Here is an audio interview with Brian Van Ochten with the changes to our defense.
http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/05/twominute_drill_podcast_kudos.html

Well my fellow Lions fans that's about it for now. I will get another post out soon hopefully not as long as a wait int between like this one was. Until then GO LIONS!