The Deroit Lions will...

[BackHerUp]

...Manning asked to come out because his arm was sore!

Both Marvin Harrison and Brandon Stokley had to come out due to aggravated rotator cuffs from spiking the ball too many times in one game, this according to team physicians...

[BackHerUp]

Buzzsaw writes:

"...I don't think I can give you a hard time about the Lions anymore, they're just falling off too fast..."

But yet, he does anyway...

"P.S. Didn't Manning take a seat when they were up like 41-9 and two minutes were left in the third qtr?? Imagine how many more points they would have scored on the Kitties... scary eh?!"

---

Well, here goes and you asked for it. Yeah, we lost by 32 points on national television...but still it was Thanksgiving. Your Vikings lost on national television by 41 points (41-0 to the NY Giants, need I remind you!))...AND IT WAS A PLAYOFF GAME!!!

So please...don't act as if you're immune to sucking scum...you know darn well how it tastes, Jenna "Buzzsaw" Jameson...

[vikingtom]

Ya, back that was 3 years ago. We're talking now. We.re not playing in the pass. Lion's are at 5 losses in arow now right . Vikes win again today.

[buzzsaw]

yes it was a playoff game... oh what Detroit fans would give to ATLEAST get to that point again. It's just not happening anytime soon.

When was the last time the kitties made the playoffs? Better yet, how many playoff games and division titles have the kitties won in say the last twenty years?? Help us understand your mental state of mind.... and then break down the Tigers last .......... oh forget it.

I had fun watching the MN Gopher hockey team dismantle the Wolverines and Spartans this past weekend... who else does Michigan have as sacraficial lambs?

[mnvikingsfreak]

the last time the lions won anything important was back in the 40's and 50's and when they wore leather helmets

[buzzsaw]

WAIT GUYS...... NEWS FLASH..... A GREAT QUOTE BY BACKHERUP HAS BEEN SPOTTED AND IT GOES LIKE THIS!

win 10 games this year, which will be good enough to win the division and put Steve Mariucci ahead of schedule in his re-building process. The Lions won't advance past the conference Championship (this year), but will win the Super Bowl in 2005!!.

Just admit that the Kitties are and always will just be the Kitties!

[BackHerUp]

Well...I'm back! I see you guys missed me. A couple wins for your Vikes and you guys walk bow-legged (the tough-guy walk) again! You guys make me laugh! You're still gonna lose, especially when it counts. Playoffs! PLAYOFFS!! We (insert the word Vikings here) ain't going to no stinkin' playoffs!!...and this brings me great joy. The Packers are the team to watch. They lose their starting running back only to get 179 yards out of their back-up fullback!? On Monday Night Football?! That's getting it done, baby. The Vikings are barely winning games they could have easily lost and Randy Moss hasn't brought a Super Bowl to Minnesota yet...and he's still hobbling...so I know they won't get it this year...AGAIN!!!

As far as my Lions go...yeah, they got spanked on Thanksgiving, but they lost 2 of their previous 4 games in overtime (only losing to the Vikes by a field goal!). So they could just as easily be where the Vikes are. Still, that Thanksgiving game hurt to watch...especially when we outgained them in the first half and matched them drive-for-drive (ending in field goals instead of TD's!!). I've been listening to Mariucci's press conference interviews (off detroitlions.com) and he's just an (Contact US Regarding This Word: "boo-boo-poo-poo"). I was too harsh about some things I said about Joey Harrington earlier...I got too emotional. After all, he can't catch the passes he throws (his receivers have dropped a lot of catchable passes this season), but he still needs to improve at an accelerated pace. I just hate the "West Coast Offense" which is designed to "nibble away" at opponents, small pieces of yardage at-a-time. I much prefer to dismantle opponents like Peyton Manning did!! I think if they (the Lions "offensive minds at work") let Joey stretch the field like he did against Atlanta and the NY Giants...then he can be effective with the "new found" running game. Kevin Jones (who missed 2 games this year) has gained 280 yards in his last 3 games and has 507 yards now with 5 games left...I say he gets his 1,000 yards (the way he's running now), and that would only help Harrington if his coaches would help him!!

Oh well, if I could only coach the Lions!!

[buzzsaw]

We did miss you! I thought you drove your semi truck into a lake after the latest debacle in Detroit (and I'm not referring to the Malice at the Palace) I'll give the Lions credit, when they take the pipe, they take the pipe. Two more thoughts you can try and dismiss the Vikings the same way you did the Twins on your baseball thread... I see a pattern of when your team gets out of position for postseason possibilities.. you turn up the negative propaganda machine against other competition in the division... thats fine, you can hop on the Packers bandwagon...after all they are hot right... they beat the Texans by a FG as time expired in a game they "should" have lost. and last but not least... your running back is OK, but I doubt he will get enough carries in the last five games to get that 500 yards to go over 1,000 for the year... you see when your losing games by double digits week in and week out you tend to toss the rock, not run the ball... yes I'm saying you will continue your losing ways. Do you still hold onto your statement to start this thread that the Kitties will finish 10-6 and make the playoffs??? If the Vikes win 10 games does this mean we will make the playoffs? Please tell me oh wise man tell the answers to these questions. I heard Marriucci made his team see a shrink to try and get that Thanksgiving performance out of there heads, any truth to this rumor?

[BackHerUp]

Well, an hour until gametime...enough time to answer your inane and predictable posts (you have a fetish for my Tigers, do you? Where did your Twins end up? Same place the Tigers did, on the golf course! So you've got nothing on me there).

When the Lions win against Arizona, they will embark upon a journey that has been done most recently. Need I remind you you (I guess I do...), the Carolina Panthers were 4-7 last year when they proceeded to win 5 in-a-row, win the 1st round and second round playoff games and enter the Super Bowl. So, the Lions are still "right in the thick of it", much to your amusement I'm sure. Yes they did lose badly on Thanksgiving (at least we got our blowout out of the way during the regular season) and yes they have lost 5 straight (2 in OT), but have also beaten both Atlanta and the New York Giants (which your Vikings were incapable of doing), which bodes well, come tie-breaker time. I'll admit, it will be difficult, but not impossible.

Rest assured, however, I won't be as devastated as you will when your fantasies become another relived nightmare because I obviously know (and came to terms with) something you don't.

Randy Moss won't get you to the Super Bowl. I know this because the Lions had the greatest running back of all-time and that didn't get them to a Super Bowl. I've come to realize this...and until you do, you're really no better off than you were before Randy Moss arrived. One man does not a Super Bowl make. Just look at all the recent Super Bowl games...all played by teams that had either a great defense or an extremely balanced team. Granted my Lions don't have that now, but neither do the Vikings.

I know I amended a 10-6 prediction earlier to 9-7, then back to 10-6, but 9-7 isn't impossible since the Lions ended (if memory serves me right) the '97 season with 5 wins out of the last 6, ended the '95 season with 7 straight wins, and ended the '91 season with 6 straight wins, all culminating in playoff appearances with one NFC Championship game ('91).

So, I will watch closely and enjoy whatever happens, knowing that the next few years are really going to be fun with the young team (Roy Williams, Charles and Shaun Rogers, Kevin Jones, Joey Harrington, Boss Bailey, Eddie Drummond, Andre Goodman, Chris Cash, Alex Lewis, Corey Redding, etc.) developing and Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper and the rest of the Vikings getting older (with Moss probably leaving Minnesota in quest of a Super Bowl ring)...

Oh, by the way if you don't remember Corey Redding, here he is sacking Daunte for a safety:

and here are more photos of what you'll have to get used to:

P.S: I won't be on this thread as much during the next few weekends due to work volume increases and change in schedule (running night/linehaul out of state), but I'll be watching from afar..."enjoy the season".

Man, I'm a grammatical genius, I'm so glad I went to school in 7 different states and 3 countries. I learned how to spell and compose effective dialogue and engage people gracefully, yet forcefully in verbal combat, and I can do it in 3 different languages...entienden, o sea necesario que te lo explique, vous et tres embeciles!!!...oh and I learned Minnesotan too..."ya, Sven...demVikes, a guynose deyainta goinanywheres, likea guynose winterz gonnagetcold, you betcha'der..."

[buzzsaw]

Oh my gosh are you self obsorbed! So I see you didn't really address a few of my questions but thats OK... I like how in one thread you can bash Harrington and in another you can annoint him one of your young guns. You should beat Arizona today however.... and that will make your two week hiatus a happy one. Did you actually call Culpepper and Moss old??? oh boy are you hurting for material... My prediction - Detroit wins no more than 6 games this year and another high draft pick.

on a side note... I work for a trading company and contract with local truckers ie... sonny peterson, CH Robinson... and nat'l truck lines like FFE/AMCAN, Ristow and fifty others... do you work for any of these guys?

[BackHerUp]

I'm really not self-absorbed...just confident and proud of who I am and where I've been (around the world 5 times over, Travel: the greatest education anyone can buy) Someone else paid for it in my case.

As far as your trucking question goes...my profile says it right there...I drive for Conway Central Express (CCX). Our industry is LTL. You contract out long-haul "Truckload". That's what those companies you mentioned do. They also aren't as large as we are. We're number one in the LTL industry for the 5th consecutive year.

In reference to your questions, I answered the one regarding the season record. As far as the Vikings going to the playoffs...they have to beat Chicago first....and that probably won't happen, so going to the playoffs probably won't happen either (tie-breaker rule will come into effect: the Packers and Lions will have the advantage, especially when the Lions beat Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago in the next 3 weeks;))! What other questions did you have? Oh...the Lions were in the playoffs 8 times in the last 20 years, advancing to one NFC Championship Game by beating Dallas 38-6 in 1991. They lost to Washington that year . The Lions have won as many Super Bowls as the Vikings have. Zero! I do believe as long as it may take Detroit to win a Super Bowl, it will still happen before the Vikings do!!

FYI: Kevin Jones had 105 yards in the first half and currently has 166 yards with 5 minutes left. Detroit leads 26-12. What's the score in the Vikings game? Oh yeah, 24-14 with 3 minutes left! What a great day for Detroit Lions fans...

[BackHerUp]

Hey buzz...don't you have another thread you can visit? People are beginning to wonder. I know you love me but we need to see other people...(ha-ha-haaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!)

I'm sorry...I get excited over Lion wins and Viking losses! Looks like you lost Antoine Winfield too.

The Lions, in their game had 4 interceptions and Dre Bly had 2 of 'em. Kevin Jones rushed 196 yards (he only needs 297 now for 1000 with 4 games left) and Roy Williams had 4 grabs for 76 yds...

[buzzsaw]

The Vikings stunk so bad today!! My team is so unpredictable that it may drive me to drink! The kitties looked good I hear... Arizona has been playing better so that will go down as a good win for your squad. Your division champion pick Packers are only down 41-3 as of right now and just missed another TD pass. I don't have faith in that pick of yours... oh and I do LTL business (Less than load) only with refer units. dohhh 44-3 now!! The whiskey is being consumed in large amounts in Wisconsin right about now. Anyways a dissapointing sunday for purple fans... atleast my Gopher Hockey squad is still ranked #1 in the country... blah blah blah right?!

[BackHerUp]

Man, the Packers getting spanked like that has Mariucci all fired up...http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=382841

It was nice to see the Pack implode like that, especially since we have to play them Sunday (it's on Fox 9, 3pm, right after the Vikings game). Problem is, they usually rise to the occasion...and it's a huge game for Green Bay, but that said, it's even a bigger game for Detroit. Their playoff hopes (at 5-7, their hope's are mathematical, not logical!) ride on each and every game left this season, and they control their destiny. Nice to see the running game has come around...finally. Mariucci stopped messing around with running-back rotations and let Kevin Jones loose. He's gained 476 yards on 76 carries in the last 4 games for an average of 6.3 a carry. That's a first down every 2 touches! If this were just one flashy game, Id be skeptical. But Jones has been hinting at this breakout for a month.

If there was just one flashy run, I'd also be skeptical. But it wasn't the 74-yard run (against the Cardinals) that sticks. It was a third-and-3 catch in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was still in doubt. Jones was about to be tackled short but shook the defender and lunged for the first down.

It wasn't a huge play, but it was a winning play. It was good to see for a change.

That's helping Harrington a lot...and his offensive line. Arizona blitzed Detroit 38 times and only got to Harrington twice. A great job by the offensive line. These are the games we were supposed to win, and the ones against Dallas and Washington too, but still it was Arizona, not Indianapolis. That's why next week's game against Green Bay should be a better barometer of where the Lions are at after this win. They are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when it comes to game time. You never know which Lions team will show up. Gosh, I hope I'm home for the game Sunday!

[buzzsaw]

And I hope you bet the Packers like a drum! The Vikes need all the help they can get right now and that would help. I may be wrong on my statement about K. Jones NOT getting to 1,000 yards on the season... only time will tell but I'm looking at eating a crow sandwich.

[BackHerUp]

Quote:

---

I won't be on this thread as much during the next few weekends due to work volume increases and change in schedule (running night/linehaul out of state), but I'll be watching from afar...

"enjoy the season".

---

"I'll be home for the game...I'll be home for the game!!"

"C'mon Joey, don't let me down...again..."

[buzzsaw]

Randy Moss takes the reverse and........... throws into triple coverage!! Yeah my vikes lose ANOTHER heartbreaker....

Then I'm routing for the Kitties to beat the cheese and I checked a TV at the mall and it was 10-0 for the boys in blue... I'm going cool! I get home and Longwell is setting upo for a FG to win the game... arghhhh nothing went right today!

[swampman]

Nice picture Andy cute kid. The worst part of the nfc north is that somebody actually gets to win it this year, we all stink! Hopefully nobody gets lucky and knocks of the eagles in the playoffs so the nfc can send a decent team.

[BackHerUp]

Quote:

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"C'mon Joey, don't let me down...again..."

---

Unbelievable! The Lions defense stood up this time...they made some bonehead plays but they kept Favre and the Packers out of the end zone (but once).

Kevin Jones provided another stellar peformance (33 for 156 yds./4.7 a carry and a TD)...but then Harrington's numbers were pathetic. 5 of 22 for 47 yards and he gets sacked twice because he can't see the field fast enough.

I believe we were a "Mike McMahon" away from winning this one. That first drive (that culminated in a Jason Hanson field goal) should've been a TD. To get to the 2 yard line then; 1) take an offsides penalty, 2) TE-Alexander couldn't make a catch on a poorly thrown pass from Harrington and, 3) Joey gets sacked and the Lions settle for the field goal. That, right there, would have been enough to have won the game, as it turns out.

But there were 3 more drives that ended in the red zone (1 TD, 1 FG, and 1 ended up backing out of field goal range!), that could've "sealed the deal" as well.

Some of them passes Harrington makes are just horrendous. I know the wind was a huge factor but to throw 7 yards downfield and still throw at the receiver's feet? C'mon! If Kurt Warner gets benched after leading his team and winning a Super Bowl, why can't you bench a Joey Harrington? I just don't get it. What are Millen and Mariucci thinking? My wish, is that McMahon would get a fair shot at starting next year based on Harrington's drive stumping performances this year, but geez? Granted, Tai Streets dropped 2 passes, one 3rd down pass that would've gotten the 1st in the 4th quarter and kept a drive alive.

Other stats showed how evenly played the game was:

1st Downs: Lions 17 - Packers 20

Third Down Efficiency: Lions 5-16-31% Packers 4-14-29%

Net Yards Rushing: Lions 193 - Packers 116

but here's the one that killed us...

Net Yards Passing: Lions 35 - Packers 185

Penalties were pretty even: Lions 10 for 85 to Packers 9/94

...and here's the kicker! The Lions are mathematically still alive! I just assume give up, if Joey Harrington continues playing like that. He's holding the team back at this point...and yes, I'm convinced (again!) that he is the problem...

Kevin Jones with his TD run

[BackHerUp]

Has anyone had problems accessing these forums/HSOforum this week? It's happened to me twice in the last couple weeks (both times on Mondays)...

[BackHerUp]

Finally...there may be a change at QB (vs. the Vikings):

Quote:

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Lions are unsettled at QB

Mariucci unsure if he'll start Harrington or McMahon against Vikings on Sunday

By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

Brandy Baker / The Detroit News

ALLEN PARK -- Joey Harrington's status as the Lions' starting quarterback for this season -- and the future -- is up in the air because of a series of subpar performances.

Coach Steve Mariucci said Monday he has not decided whether to start Harrington or backup Mike McMahon on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field.

That doesn't mean a change is coming, but the fact that any doubt exists is a sign that Harrington's position has weakened.

"That's fair to say," said Mariucci, referring to the possibility that Harrington still must prove he is the long-term answer for the Lions.

"There's more proving to do. You bet."

Harrington completed 5 of 22 passes for 47 yards Sunday in a 16-13 loss at Green Bay. He has thrown three touchdown passes in the last six games, and the offense has been unproductive despite the emergence of a strong running game led by rookie tailback Kevin Jones.

"We haven't made any decisions on any of that just yet," Mariucci said at his weekly news conference.

---

[buzzsaw]

If they don't start McMahon, will you look at Marriucci in a different light?? I say bench Harrington just to send a message! It should be an interesting game at Pontiac this weekend. Whats your prediction?

[BackHerUp]

Now I come to find (reading into Mariucci's words) that the Lions probably won't re-sign McMahon next year...to me, that would be like losing a Steve Young. He's that good in my mind. He hasn't had the chance to get his rhythm going, but he's a playmaker with more athletism than Joey. He gets the team fired up with his play. He also would a serious threat, now that the running game is going, because he has some wheels of his own (ala Vick)...gosh I hope they keep him and start him next year!! It may not happen.

Quote:

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Issues beyond this season influence a decision involving the Lions' quarterbacks.

Harrington is in the third year of a six-year, $36.5 million rookie contract signed in 2002. It included a signing bonus of $13 million. His base salary jumps to $4.95 million next year.

McMahon will be a free agent after this season, having signed a one year deal for this season at $1.4 million.

Mariucci indicated again Monday there might not be any benefit to giving experience to a player who probably won't be on the roster next year.

"We know that Mike is not under contract for next year," Mariucci said. "Does that play into our minds once in a while? I suppose it does. In order to take a look at Mike and have him play this year, we have to take that into consideration."

Harrington and McMahon said later that neither had been told if a change will be made.

"I'm not worried about making plays to keep the job," Harrington said. "I'm worried about making plays to win a football game. We obviously didn't win yesterday (Sunday vs. Green Bay)."

McMahon has played in one game this season. He relieved Harrington in the second half of a loss to Indianapolis on Thanksgiving Day.

But McMahon said a change would surprise him.

"When there's been opportunities to make a change, he (Mariucci) hasn't," McMahon said. "I'd be a little surprised."

Mariucci gave no clue about which way he is leaning. He admitted Sunday's loss bothered him more than any other this season. One way to give a team a lift is to change quarterbacks.

The Lions are 5-8, with only a slight mathematical chance to make the NFC playoffs as a wild card.

In the last five games, Harrington has passed for 611 yards. The inability to have any semblance of a proficient passing game hurt badly in the loss to Green Bay.

"Our passing game has not been what it needs to be in order for us to win, for a variety of reasons," Mariucci said.

"Are we happy with the passing game? No, we're not."

Harrington has been the Lions' full-time starter since the third game of 2002, the year the Lions selected him third overall in the draft.

Until recently, there had been little serious doubt about Harrington's status. But the 2004 season has been a struggle for him, and it has gotten worse the last two months.

After a bright start, in which the Lions went 4-2 and were in contention in the NFC North, Harrington and the offense have slumped. He has completed 54.9 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

---

[BackHerUp]

Ok...decision's been made:

Quote:

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Harrington to start against Minnesota

By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

ALLEN PARK -- The Lions' quarterback controversy appears to be a dead issue -- again -- as Joey Harrington began practice Wednesday by running the No. 1 offense.

Coach Steve Mariucci was expected to make an announcement after practice.

Mariucci left open the possibility of replacing Harrington with Mike McMahon in his news conference Monday because of Harrington's subpar play in recent games. Harrington completed five of 22 passes in Sunday's 16-13 loss at Green Bay.

Mariucci did not say he would make a change for Sunday's home game against Minnesota, but he did not endorse Harrington as his starter for this season or the future.

Harrington has started 29 straight games. McMahon has played in only one game this season. He has not started a game since 2002.

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[BackHerUp]

Any Which Way...But Loose

Lions' Defense Determined To Befuddle Vikings' Playmakers In Rematch

By Jay Clemons

DetroitLions.com

http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=386181