Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril has been quite talkative in recent weeks, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio that hometown discounts don't exist in the NFL and hinting at a holdout should he receive the franchise tag. In a chat with MLive.com, the defensive end said he hopes to remain a part of the franchise's turnaround. "I want to be with Detroit. I want to be a part of the reason why we're winning. Also, people have to understand it is a business," Avril wrote. "When you're not producing, they... [Read More]
Once the go-to guy for reporters looking for some high jinx and hilarity in the Lions locker room, Louis Delmas stopped talking last season after he injured his knee on Thanksgiving Day. He explained his media silence Saturday. "Any time you can't go out and support your teammates physically, it's very frustrating," he said. "I am an athlete, but most importantly I am a competitor. Not being able to go to war with my teammates was very frustrating. I did my best to keep my head on straight." Delmas... [Read More]
The Detroit Lions will reportedly place the franchise tag on defensive end Cliff Avril if they can't reach an agreement before the March 5th deadline to apply the tag. With that in mind Avril was asekd by Chris McCosky of the Detroit News if he would miss camp if he was tagged and Avril said, "Probably." According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free-Press, Avril said at the Super Bowl this month that he does not want to be tagged and would prefer to sign a long-term deal with the Lions.
Lions defensive end Cliff Avril today clarified comments he made about potential tampering by other NFL teams in a radio interview according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free-Press. Avril, who will become a coveted free agent next month, if the Lions don't sign him to a long-term deal or put the franchise tag on him, he told Sirius radio Thursday that other teams have expressed interest him. No other teams can have contact with Avril until free agency begins March 13. Avril said today that he only meant he has... [Read More]
After 27 years and nine different coaching regimes, longtime Lions defensive assistant coach Don Clemons, 58, is calling it a career. Clemons served on the staffs of Jim Schwartz, Rod Marinelli, Dick Jauron, Steve Mariucci, Marty Mornhinweg, Gary Moeller, Bobby Ross, Wayne Fontes and Darryl Rodgers over his nearly three decades with the organization. "Don Clemons has been one of the great contributors to the Lions organization," said team president Tom Lewand. "He has served nine head coaches, and... [Read More]
The Detroit Lions don’t want to lose defensive end Cliff Avril and are prepared to use the franchise tag to keep him off the open market. While two people familiar with the negotiations stopped short of saying Avril definitely will be tagged, both said that’s the likely outcome if the two sides don’t agree on a long-term deal before March 5, the deadline for applying the tag. “This is new to me,” Avril said today. “My agent hasn’t called me and told me anything. I mean, we’ll see. We’ll see how it goes. If they... [Read More]
Soon-to-be free agent Cliff Avril was on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, and two things were abundantly clear: He wants to say with the Detroit Lions and he wants to get paid. The defensive end will become a free agent next month, unless the Lions can lock him up first. He's expected to be one of the higher-profile players available and could command more money than the Lions are willing to spend. "I just want to be paid as one of the guys that's helping the team grow," Avril said. "I want to be there. We have... [Read More]
Lions running backs Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure are both on track to participate in the team's offseason program after season-ending injuries in 2011. Best was placed on season-ending injured reserve in November after he couldn't shake the lingering effects from a concussion he sustained Oct. 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. Leshoure, the team's second-round pick who was expected to compliment Best, missed the entire season after tearing his Achilles' tendon during training camp. Lions president Tom Lewand told a... [Read More]
Dave Brikett of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Detroit Lions have already told Shaun Hill that they intend to re-sign him during the offseason and apparently, Hill would like to remain in Detroit. Brikett even mentions that Hill may be willing to offer them a bit of a discount to stay on as Matthew Stafford‘s backup. “I hope things work out here and I’m able to come back,” said Hill. “I have to go and kind of weigh all the options and see what’s even going to be available. But I know I’m very happy here. I’m... [Read More]
The Detroit Lions have hired former NFL safety Marcus Robertson to be their assistant defensive backs coach, Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports. A two-time All-Pro safety who spent ten seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans before returning as an assistant secondary coach in 2007, Robertson spent 19 seasons with the organization prior to his dismissal after the 2011 season. Robertson coached on the same Titans staff as Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, who was the Titans defensive coordinator from 2001-08. The... [Read More]
Running back Kevin Smith was out of football until the Lions brought him back in the middle of the 2011 season. Finally healthy, he resumed his career with a few carries against the Chicago Bears and then put together an amazing game against the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately, he dealt with injuries again later in the season, but when healthy he provided a nice boost to the Lions' running game. With Smith set to become a free agent again this offseason, it's unclear if he will be back with the Lions in 2012 but if it... [Read More]
A Michigan man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge he phoned in a bomb threat to the Superdome during the New Orleans Saints' playoff win over the Detroit Lions on Jan. 7. The charge brought Friday against 34-year-old Shawn H. Payton, of Jackson, Mich., carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI arrested Payton last month on a criminal complaint. He was freed on bond. Payton, who is charged with sending threatening communications, is scheduled to make his initial... [Read More]
Matthew Stafford wasn't the only Detroit Lions player to win an award at the NFL Honors show on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Teammate Calvin Johnson was also recognized. Specifically, he was named the NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year for 2011, which, as explained by the Lions' official Twitter account, is based on two major criteria: Award based on points and the number of championship teams he was on. The award was accepted on Johnson's behalf by Alec Baldwin, who hosted the show. Joel McHale, who said Johnson... [Read More]
After missing most of the 2010 season, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was voted the Associated Press NFL comeback player of the year Saturday at the inaugural NFL Honors awards ceremony in Indianapolis. Stafford completed 421 of 663 passes for 5,038 yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season. He played only three games in 2010 because of a shoulder injury, completing 57 of 96 passes for 535 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
Coming off their best season in more than a decade, the Detroit Lions have decided to raise ticket prices for the first time in five years. Team president Tom Lewand said today that the average price of season tickets next year will go up an average of just under 8 percent. The highest non-premium seat package will increase from $90 to $99 dollars, and the lowest will go from $30 to $35. Lewand said he expects the Lions' average ticket price next year to be the 23rd or 24th lowest in the league.
