ICYMI: Ndamukong Suh Wins Appeal Will Play Sunday

Detroit Lions walking fine Ndamukong Suh somehow got his one game suspension for stepping on Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers overturned Tuesday evening.

Suh had appealed the suspension, which would have kept him out of the Lions wild-card game vs. Dallas. In his appeal he claimed his feet were "Numb from the Cold" and he couldn't tell if he was on the frozen turf in Green Bay or not. In lieu of the suspension, he will pay a $70,000 fine.

Uh...yeah.

Suh has a history of after the fact silly things like this. Yes, he made it through the 2014 season without incident but he's been fined and/or suspended several times for offenses similar to this one.

The move will help the Lions as they face the powerful Cowboys offense led by the NFL's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray on Sunday.

Sunday Morning NFL: Falcons Snatch Defeat From Jaws of Victory

So...NFL fans got a rare treat on October 26th, a 9:30 a.m wakeup football game featuring the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions playing in London.

And...well, suffice to say at least the Lions fans were happy about it.

Detroit got a last second, 2nd attempt at a game-winning field goal by Matt Prater to squeak out a 22-21 win over Atlanta.

Somehow after a penalty, the Lions lined up for a 42-yard attempt by Prater for the win. As he went to kick it, a delay of game penalty was called. Prater missed that kick.

But another chance, with :02, from 47 yards...that was all the former Broncos All-Pro needed.

Now, mind you, the Falcons looked nearly unbeatable in the 1st half, storming out to a 21-0 lead.

But that would be all the scoring they could muster against the top ranked Lions Defense.

Matthew Stafford threw for 325 yards and 2 TD's, and Golden Tate made up for the absence of Calvin Johnson by catching 7 balls for 151 yards and a score.

But outside 60 yards running and a TD by Steven Jackson, the Falcons struggled yet again, losing their 5th straight game.

We feel for the Falcons and coach Mike Smith. Having covered them for years. We grew to respect what both he and G.M Thomas Dimitroff did, turning possibly one of the worst teams in NFL history back in 2007 into a perennial winner.

But that was a bit of smoke and mirrors. The Falcons were beneficiaries of easy schedules and quite a few lucky breaks that bounced their way. Which masked their weaknesses on both sides of the line.

Smitty and Dimitroff are two of the good guys in Football, well liked and well respected. But it's probably time to make a change as the team is not going to be any better than they are in the near future. The foundation isn't bad, but it's time.

As for Falcons fans--write this year off, you aren't going to get better than this.

The Lions, well, after come from behind wins the past couple weeks with their best player out. The future is bright. Jim Caldwell has brought new energy to the team and may very well be the coach who finally gets a team loaded with #1 draft picks to reach their potential and get in the playoffs.

Highlights to come later today--when the NFL allows them to be online...

The anaylsts at CBSSports.com discuss:

Bill Murray Intros Sunday Morning NFL Because Of Course He Does

Bill Murray is awesome.

Granted we don't know him personally, but he just exists on this alternate, dry humor plane where everything is living life to it's fullest, doing what you want to do kind of dali-lama-ish existence where he just drops wisdom upon us all.

Check out the intro he did Sunday morning to kick off FOXSports's coverage of the Atlanta Falcons/Detroit Lions game in London.

All we can say is that it's "So Very Bill Murray"

Enjoy:

MLB Looking Into Ump-Torii Hunter Incident

((HT: Vine via Lydia Virzi))

The Orioles Bud Norris gave up a home run ball to Ian Kinsler last night and, then, Torii Hunter was the next batter.

He got plunked in the ribs, the benches emptied, and then there was a moment with umpire Paul Nauert


Torii sloughed it off saying that Nauert was just getting him to focus- the two knew each other way too long for anything malicious to be thought of it...

But MLB will look into it, anyway...

A Final Tour Of The Pontiac Silverdome

((HT: WDIV-TV Detroit))

The "assets" are what we call them these days...

Could be anything from a seat to a toilet seat... you name it, if it can be sold it will be sold...

And this month is the auction for all the items from the inside of the Pontiac Silverdome

The folks in the "D" took a tour of the old building as it sits before she gets parceled for parts...

Alex Atwell got a nice tour... and the HQ may bid on some seats...

Matthew Stafford With the Full Court Swish

((ht: cbssports.com))

You think quarterbacks aren't accurate throwing the ball?

Even one with sometimes debatable accuracy like Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions?

Stafford, owner of one of the strongest throwing arms in football was playing around on a basketball court the other day with his girlfriend Kelly Hall.

That's when he decided to try and go for it all.

Hall provides the Instagram Video:

Jahvid Best Suing Helmet Makers And NFL Over Concussions

((HT: ESPN))

Jahvid Best had concussion issues during his time in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and started as far back as his time at Cal
((HT: FS West))


So, now with Best released and not employed by an NFL team, he is now suing helmets makers Riddell and Easton-Bell over his concussions that he suffered. He is, obviously, looking for some amount of financial pound-of-flesh, but his lawyer doesn't have an immediate amount handy...

He is filing out of the Wayne County (MI) Circuit Court and his lawyer, Bret Schnitzer, is ready for what happens next:

"As I am sure you are probably aware through various media and the 'Frontline' program and so on, the brain injuries with concussion syndrome does not necessarily manifest itself completely immediately, as you can see from the other cases. Sometimes it is 10, 20 years where the brain injury process takes to develop and it's not necessarily going to show itself in a 24-, 25-year-old football player to the extent that it might 10, 15, 20 years down the road.

"So one of the goals of the litigation is to protect Mr. Best down the road in terms of his medical condition and problems that he may have in the future."

The 85-page filing says also that the NFL is just as responsible.
The suit alleges Best was at risk by being put in the draft- despite his concussion history...

Here's Prim Siripipat discussing with Michael Rothstein

Black Monday: Lions Fire Jim Schwartz

Jim Schwartz (Daniel Mears/The Detroit News)

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the Detroit Lions have fired Jim Schwartz.

Lions let go of Jim Schwartz.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2013

Following Detroit's 14-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Schwartz told the assembled media he wanted to keep his job.

"I’d certainly like to be back. I think we have unfinished business here. We’ve come a long way in these years here, but we still have some ground that we can make. And I’m anxious to have a chance to be able to do that.” 

Schwartz won't have that opportunity but we will cash some large checks.  Schwartz is owed more than $12 million with two years remaining on his contract.


Here's the presser from Detroit
((HT: WXYZ-TV))

Detroit Lions Bungled Attempt at Playoff Tickets

Nothing like sending your fans tickets they've purchased in advance of your hope at making the NFL playoffs….the day after you are eliminated from them.

That's exactly what the masters of timing in the Detroit Lions ticketing department did Monday.



Yeah…

It appears the team decided to start selling playoff tickets when they were 7-5 and leading the NFC North.

The problem, the Lions have lost their last three games, falling to 7-8 and after Sunday's ugly loss to the New York Giants, saw their post season hopes disappear.

Reportedly the team is crediting ticket holders towards their 2014 season tickets. Of course they are making the assumption that the same ticket holds will actually purchase 2014 season tickets. The team later added that those who don't renew will get refunds.

Tucker Sends Lions Into Playoff Mix Backwards

((HT: ESPN))

Justin Tucker seemed to be the only offense the Baltimore Ravens needed Monday with 6 field goals as they knocked off the Detroit Lions 18-16 in the Monday game of the week...

Here's the highlights of the Ravens winning ugly and not caring...


Harbaugh chose to let Tucker try the longest kick of his career -- by 5 yards -- instead of going for it on a 4th down and 8 from the Detroit 43.

"If they send me out there, they have reason to," Tucker said. "It's because they think I can make the kick."
Tucker told Harbaugh he was good from that distance after hitting from 53 earlier in the evening...and earlier in the quarter...

Detroit, now 7-7, has lost four of five, and are now third in the NFC North behind the Bears and Green Bay.

Matt Stafford Did Say "Clock It!"

((HT: NFL Films))

The Detroit Lions QB was mic'ed up for the Dallas game Sunday...

Here's a sneak preview of the last drive where everyone in a Cowboys uniform thought he was going to do what he was yelling that he was going to do...


That's what we get for listening to him, right...???

Unless, of course, you're "Shea In Irving..."
((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Audience Network))

Remember When Dez Bryant Said He Could Do What Calvin Johnson Does...???

The HQ staunchly laughed and disagreed since we've covered him since his days at Sandy Creek High School in suburban Atlanta...

Today, pretty much, put that laughter over the top...

Compare...
((HT: NFL on FOX))


Contrast...


Which should render this debate, like all the others they have on a daily basis...
Moot...
((HT: ESPN))


And what, exactly, does Dez Bryant do... other than what is contained in the video above in clutch time...???

Jus' axin'...

Lions Nate Burleson Breaks Arm Trying to Catch Pizza

((ht: freep.com))

Yes, it's another in the ongoing saga known as "Things We Can't Make Up".

In today's edition, Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson breaks his arm in an early Tuesday morning, single vehicle crash in a Detroit suburb.

Burleson was on his way home after doing a personal appearance at West Bloomfield, Michigan pizza place with teammate Stephen Tulloch. He had a fresh, hot pizza on the passenger seat of his GMC Yukon and when the pizza began sliding off the seat, Burleson tried to catch it.

He ended up in the median on Interstate 695 in Farmington Hills, his arm broken and emergency crews en route.

He was taken to an area hospital and according to Lions coach Jim Schwartz, will have surgery Wednesday to repair the damage.

And note---Police say in no uncertain terms, there was NO alcohol involved in the incident.

You can read more from the Detroit Free-Press RIGHT HERE

Ooof.

This isn't even one of those "How do you explain that?" kinda things. You have to feel bad for Burleson for doing what probably any one of us would have done in that situation, more out of instinct rather than it being the right thing to do.

Schwartz did add his receiver won't be going on the Injured Reserve list and expects to be back before the season is out.

But man, what kind of jokes is he gonna get when he gets back in the locker room?

Here's Schwartz addressing the accident in his press conference:

Just Stop: Ndamukong Suh in more trouble for driving

((ht: detroitnews.com))

Really? Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh is in MORE trouble for his either LACK of driving skill or LACK of concern over driving's "Rules of the Road"?

The answer is apparently yes. Or maybe no

Suh, according to a report from WJBK-TV in Detroit, was pulled over and ticketed Nov. 15th for Aggressive Driving in the Lathrup Village neighborhood.

But....the ticket is under review, because the station says Lathrup Village's police chief is reviewing the language in the ticket and is concerned because the officer involved is an "Aggressive Ticket Writer".

Seriously? He said that? On the record?

Read the WJBK story RIGHT HERE

This is nowhere near Suh's first brush with Johnny Law when it comes to his driving. He was involved in an October crash on his way to practice and accused of leaving the scene of said crash. Dearborn Police say they investigated and couldn't determine who was at fault. No charges were filed.

In 2011 he was involved in a crash in Portland, Oregon, where he lives. In 2010, someone allegedly crashed into him in a Detroit area neighborhood. In 2009, while still at the University of Nebraska, he hit some parked cars before crashing into a building. He was only charged with negligent driving.

Maybe we are being judgmental, or as Suh said on Twitter this morning, it could just be that we are "Being Haters", but there sure seems to be a bit of a pattern here. Someone making $12 million a year like him could certainly afford to have a driver, because it appears he's struggling with the concept.

And while we won't say he is getting a lot of slack cut to him, it makes you wonder how someone could have so many incidents...and every one of them seem to be either someone else's fault or there's "Not enough evidence to charge".

Yeah right.

Oh, Mr. Suh isn't exactly loved ON the football field either. This past Sunday a wild, wayward kick from him caught Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub right in the family jewels. Schaub isn't happy about it and the league is investigating, but thus far haven't commented.

Suh To Schaub: Rack Me...

And we're going through the whole thing again...

Last year after Ndamukong Suh decided to do some damage to a rival player on Thanksgiving... he apparently did the same thing to a quarterback again this year...

Damage... not an identical injury...

Here's what happened this year- intentional or otherwise...
((HT: NFL on CBS))


"I really don't have anything to say about that play or that person," Schaub said in a postgame scrum.

Last year on Thanksgiving, Suh was ejected for stomping on Green Bay OL Evan Dietrich-Smith and got suspended for two games for that act.

Suh has been fined for damaging Andy Dalton, Jay Cutler and Jake Delhomme in the past...

No word if anything will happen this time...
The HQ thinks it looks a little circumstantial...

Ndamukong Suh has driving issues--Again

Perhaps someone needs to enroll Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in a drivers ed course. Because apparently, Mr. Suh has no idea how to (a) drive a car or (b) how to avoid hitting other cars.

This statement comes on the heels of Suh being involved in what Dearborn, Michigan police term a "Minor Fender Bender" Wednesday.

Suh allegedly sideswiped someone's Ford Escort on a highway while heading to practice and according to the victim, didn't stop. The victim told the Detroit Free-Press that Suh yelled at him after the incident and after the victim called 9-1-1, scared him off after following him to the Lions practice facility down the street.

Read more from Freep.com RIGHT HERE

In case you are wondering, Suh has a history of car issues. He was ticketed during his senior year at the University of Nebraska after sideswiping 3 parked cars and running into a building. And while that is extremely hard to do sober, he was never tested for "you know what".

Early in 2010, he was a part of a wreck when a Honda Civic hit his Land Rover, the driver of the Civic was ticketed.

In December, he was sued by a passenger in his car in Oregon when he "Lost Control" of his car, hit a tree, light pole and fountain. Again, no impairment charges, but it really makes ya wonder, doesn't it?

Oh, we almost forgot, Suh got a speeding ticket in March for doing 91 in a 55 zone.

Maybe we are being presumptuous here, but it sure sounds like Mr. Suh has a bit of a problem. Or at least needs some instruction. And as a note to drivers in the Dearborn, Michigan area, you might want to keep an eye out for an overly large, Thai-american athlete driving down your street, there's a real possibility that he may run into you.

WXYZ-TV brings us the TV version of this story:

Matthew Stafford does a good, good thing

((ht: detroitnews.com))

Sometimes NFL Football players do things to remind you that they aren't all getting arrested, in trouble or using drugs.

A story in today's Detroit News detailed a gesture that Detroit Lions and former University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford recently made to a patient at the University of Michigan's Mott Children's hospital and her family.

Stafford was at a benefit put on by Michigan football alums Brian Griese, Charles Woodson and Steve Hutchinson. He attended the events charity auction and ended up bidding on a gift he himself donated to the auction. Tickets to a Lions game.

He bid $15,000 for the package and won...then immediately Stafford and his girlfriend turned to the family of Faith Falzone who is soon going to be having surgery at the hospital...and gave them the tickets/prize.

As the story goes, Stafford spent a good chunk of the event with Falzone's brother Will and asked him what prize he thought would he'd like. He mentioned the tickets. The rest is....well...a great story.

Read more from the Detroit News RIGHT HERE

We applaud young Mr. Stafford whom we've known since covering him at the University of Georgia. Over the years, we've probably interviewed him 25-30 times. He's a very, very sharp kid and to quote friend of the OSG Gil Tyree "He Gets It".

We hope that Falzone and her family enjoy the "Monday Night Football" package and something tells us there will be more than just game tickets waiting for this one.

Nick Fairley: Busted for pot

Nick Fairley/Courtesy: al.com-mobile county sheriffs dept.

((al.com))

This is kind of silly. Except he's a professional athlete who is on his offseason, so it's not as crazy as it kind of sounds.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested and charged with 2nd degree Marijuana possession Tuesday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama.

Before you ask what he was doing in Mobile, it's the Auburn graduate's hometown.

According to Al.com, Fairley was arrested after he was seen speeding through a Mobile neighborhood. And yes, that's when the pot was found.

Read more from Al.com RIGHT HERE

Not to slough this off, but Fairley will probably be fined and may be put on probation for this, but that will be all. Yes, its incredibly stupid on his part, but keep in mind, he's still a relative youngster who's now got a ton of money. And it seems like quite frequently, that is a recipe for idiocy. Perhaps we need to come up with a professional version of the Fulmer Cup.

**((Note--We forgot to mention, this comes on the heel of Fairley's teammate, Mikel Leshoure getting busted for pot on Monday. Detroit Lions= your early leaders???))

Any thoughts?

A Man Named Suh... Is He Dirty Now...???

((HT: FoxSports/NFL))

The HQ thinks that the Lions lineman-extraordinaire won't get to shake that label now after the wrestle, emphasis, and stomping of Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith in the 27-15 loss Thursday.

Here's the play that got him tossed...


And his response in the presser...
((HT: NFLNetwork/youtube))


Suh texter and self-acknowledged boy Dat Dude discusses... and agrees with the rest of us...
((HT: ESPN))


There is no dispute that Suh is ridiculously talented, but unles he can control the anger on the edge of the genius he holds in Detroit... "dirty" will be the only adjective that comes t mind in the short-term...

Can't Wait For The Sequel: Harbaugh Versus Schwartz

If the first post-game meeting was like this, who wants another one...???
((HT: NFL on FOX/youtube))


The answer...??? WE ALL DO!!!
Enjoy until it gets pulled...

The HQ tends to side on the Lions' side here...
Game over... act like you've done it before...

Early returns from Albert Breer's Twitter feed and Rich Eisen's Twitter feed...
Harbaugh on confrontation: "I was really revved up. That wasn't me, just shook his hand too hard. ... That's on me. Handshake was too hard."

Schwartz said he "didn't expect an obsenity" at the end and "there's a certain protocol in this league" and left it at that.