Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz isn’t second-guessing his decision to start Matthew Stafford.


“No second thoughts at all,” Schwartz said Friday, a day after his rookie quarterback threw four interceptions in a 34-12 loss to Green Bay. “Him throwing the interceptions had nothing to do with his shoulder.”

Stafford separated his left, non-throwing shoulder at the end of a Nov. 22 game against Cleveland, but after a penalty returned to throw a touchdown pass with no time on the clock to secure a 38-37 win over the Browns.

It was one of five touchdowns for the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft, who became the second rookie quarterback to do so.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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Brandon Pettigrew concedes he hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being the 20th selection in the draft — not yet.

The Lions could use more.

Pettigrew has 14 catches for 169 yards with no touchdowns through seven games. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but surely not the numbers expected from the first tight end taken in the draft and a player who has started every game this season.

Those numbers look a bit shoddier considering the tight end position has become more involved in the passing game.

In 2009, tight ends are on pace to set the season record for the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches for the position. Through Week 8, tight ends have totaled 1,018 receptions, 11,280 receiving yards and 87 touchdown receptions.


Click here to read the full article – By Allen Park of The Detroit News

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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford practiced for the second straight day today — a good sign, considering he couldn’t practice after he last tested his injured right knee two weeks ago. He was listed officially as limited.

The Lions will continue to monitor Stafford’s progress day to day before deciding whether he will play Sunday against St. Louis. Stafford, who has missed the last two games, declined to comment.

“We’ll wait and see,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “There’s still a long way to go until Sunday, and there’s a lot of hurdles we need to cross before then.”

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who has missed one game with an injured right knee, did not practice for the second straight day. But he worked out on his own and said he was still optimistic he could play. He does not need a full week of practice.


Click here to read the full article – By NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA of Detroit Free Press

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Matthew Stafford didn’t practice for the second straight day Thursday because of the partially dislocated right kneecap he suffered in last week’s loss at Chicago.

The Lions rookie quarterback also missed Wednesday’s practice, making it unlikely he’ll start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

“I don’t know, we’ll see,” Stafford said when asked if he’d play. “Whatever coach’s policy is as far as guys missing practice and still being able to play.

“Obviously, anytime you tweak something it’s scary. I mean an ankle, knee, shoulder, whatever it is. I just wanted to make sure everything was structurally all right, and it was, so that was a good thing.”

Stafford confirmed the injured knee was the same he hurt in high school.


Click here to read the full article – By Tim Twentyman of The Detroit News

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Lions rookie linebacker DeAndre Levy drew high praise from defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham on Wednesday after making his first NFL start against Washington.

Levy, who subbed for injured veteran Ernie Sims on Sunday, helped stuff the Redskins during a goal-line stand in the first quarter. The Lions won, 19-14.

“He played as good as anybody I’ve seen in their first game to start,” Cunningham said. “I had a guy in Kansas City named Donnie Edwards, the irony is he played against the Lions on Thanksgiving and was AFC player of the week in 1996, and Levy had that kind of game.”

The Chiefs selected Edwards in the fourth round of the 1996 draft. The Chiefs beat the Lions, 28-24, that year. Edwards went on to have a long, successful career with the Chiefs and Chargers. He made 1,000 tackles, 23 1/2 sacks and 28 interceptions in his career, which ended with the Chiefs last season.


Click here to read the full article – By GEORGE SIPPLE of freep.com

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Matthew Stafford won the Lions’ quarterback derby. Daunte Culpepper didn’t lose the job. That’s what Detroit’s new coach, Jim Schwartz, emphasized Monday when he made the No. 1 overall draft pick the starter for Sunday in New Orleans, when the Lions try to win for the first time in 21 months.

“I’ve had a lot of very tough decisions in the last few days — guys making the 53-man roster or not making it — but none more difficult than at quarterback,” he said. “We announced to our team this morning that Matt Stafford is going to be our starting quarterback.”

Schwartz felt Stafford and Culpepper played well in training camp and the preseason, as did third-stringer Drew Stanton before sustaining a knee injury.

“I’m very, very comfortable with the quarterback position here, not just one and two, but also three,” Schwartz said. “What made this decision difficult was that I think we can win with Daunte Culpepper, I think we can with Matt Stafford, and I think we can win with Drew Stanton.”


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of NFL.com

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Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says he hopes to know soon what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decides to do about defensive tackle Grady Jackson’s playing status

Mayhew says Friday that Goodell had indicated he would make a decision about Jackson “well before” the season starts next month. Jackson was on a list of players last season accused of using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids. He wasn’t suspended. The NFL Players Association has a federal appeal pending in an attempt to aid Kevin and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and three other players suspended for the same alleged violation. The other players are New Orleans defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of NFL.com

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To Detroit Lions fans, he’s just Calvin. Maybe this year the rest of the NFL will know him that way, too.

Receiver Calvin Johnson was one of the very few bright spots during the Lions’ 0-16 season a year ago. The 6-foot-5 Johnson started all 16 games and finished with 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He matched Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald for the most scoring catches in the league and was second in yards per catch (17.1) before being chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate. Entering his third season, he’s already piled up 126 catches and 2,087 yards despite making just 48 receptions his rookie season.

Click here to read the full article – By The Associated Press of mlive.com

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