Detroit Lions on the Prowl in Free Agency

The Detroit Lions are on the move in free agency so far this off season signing back-up running back Maurice Morris yesterday, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks to help carry the load with Kevin Smith in the backfield. Additionally, today they have also signed former San Francisco 49er wide receiver Bryant Johnson to a 3 year, $8 million dollar deal to be their #2 receiver behind Calvin Johnson.

Lastly, it also has been reported the Lions have traded veteran back-up QB Jon Kitna to the Dallas Cowboys for what has been described as "late round picks".

So far so good for Detroit's new front office regime in off season acquisitions.

Nationally Ranked Detroit Country Day High Drops First Game

The Detroit Country Day Yellow Jackets of Birmingham, Michigan had their 18 game wining streak snapped last week in Bloomington, Ind.

DCD lost to ESPN RISE ranked Bloomington South, 73-67. Jordan Dumars scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers against South. The Yellow Jackets were previously ESPN RISE ranked 15th and have now fell to 21st. Bloomington was previously ranked 19th and have now jumped up to 15th after the win.

Greatest Basketball Players from the State of Michigan

Great State Debate: Michigan
From ESPN.com

This is a video from ESPN.com that discusses the greatest basketball players to ever grow up in the state of Michigan: Magic Johnson, Chris Webber, Shane Battier and Jason Richardson.

No You Dih-Int Cleveland!!!

Has Shaun Rogers already worn out his welcome with the Browns? Apparently he's asking to be released due to multiple acts of "disrespect" by new coach Eric Mangini.

From nfl.com

"Browns Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is so disgruntled with new coach Eric "Mangini and the new regime that he’s asked the team not to pay his guaranteed $6 million option bonus next month, nfl.com’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday night.[...]

Rogers is reportedly miffed about two off-season incidents in which he feels Mangini snubbed him. The first time, Mangini walked into the Browns’ training room and didn’t say hello to Rogers, the source said. The second time, Mangini and Rogers were together in the media room at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Jan. 23 and neither acknowledged the other."

Fab 5 to Reunite

From Mlive.com
by Jeff Arnold

Jalen Rose stood at center court in Crisler Arena a year ago, vowing that he would one day reunite the Fab Five.

In time, Rose said, one of the most celebrated collections of talent in college basketball history would return to the University of Michigan to celebrate their accomplishments.

Now, 16 years after Michigan's famed fivesome helped lead the Wolverines to their second straight national title game and more than a decade after the NCAA vacated both of the seasons the Fab Five spent together, they will again come together.

Just not in Ann Arbor.

Rose, along with former teammates Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, will appear together at a charity event at the Motor City Casino in Detroit on April 4, the event's planner said Tuesday.

The event will benefit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It is part of a weekend of festivities surrounding the Final Four, which will be held at Ford Field.

Ticket prices for the event haven't yet been finalized.

The reunion will mark the first time the former Michigan starting five has been together since they all played together in 1992 and 1993.

The NCAA erased the Fab Five's achievements after learning that former Michigan booster Ed Martin gave Webber $280,000 in illicit loans and another $336,000 to three other Wolverines' players.

And, while most believe the Fab Five's legacy was forever tarnished by the controversy surrounding the group, Rose believes, in time, all will be forgiven.

King, who serves as a Michigan basketball color commentator, said Tuesday night he is helping to organize the event.

He said at last year's ceremony involving Rose that he looked forward to a time when he could once again be together with his former teammates.

"I know everybody wishes (the rest of the Fab Five) was here," King said. "Just because I'm the only brother who's here supporting (Rose), it doesn't mean that everyone else isn't here in spirit."

Ummm Why?

According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, the Detroit Lions have re-signed guard Stephen Peterman. Detroit fans, you might be asking yourself why?

Well, I don't have the answer for you. You would think the Lions would want to clear out all of the tackling dummies they called an offensive line last season, but instead have given Peterman a five-year, $15 million deal, with $5.5 million in guaranteed money.

WHYYYY???

Threet Leaving UofM

Steven Threet was the most experienced quarterback on the University of Michigan roster until he announced that yesterday that he will be once again transferring (he transferred to Michigan from Georgia Tech). Threet obviously saw the writing on the wall with the two new "mobile Quarterback recruits (Forcier and Robinson) coming to Michigan, that he would at some point be phased out, if not immediately.

Threet was quoted as saying: "I have requested and received my release. I do not yet know where I will continue my collegiate career and will have no further comment until that decision is made."

Last fall, the 6-foot, 6-inch, 230-pound Threet started eight games for the Wolverines. He completed 102 of 200 passes for 1,105 yards, with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Threet at his best was average, and when not at his best was a sub-par QB in Rich Rod's system or I would venture to guess any system.

See ya Steve, we won't miss ya.

Future of the Pistons

With the hopes of the current season quickly dissolving, Joe Dumars must quickly shift his attention to what is going to benefit this team and franchise most in the current future.
The two biggest options that need to be weighed are:

1. Stand pat, play out the season and look to rebuild soley through free agency. This option is becoming less attractive as the season goes on as well. With the Pistons continuing to struggle, the main stars of the free agent class are going to find Detroit a less attractive option for their blooming careers. It is not a big television market, the state is in economic turmoil, and the Pistons have never been an attractive landing spot for NBA players.
The Pistons without a doubt will have money to attract talent, but the best of the free agent class has been rumored to have both Miami and New York as their top landing spots. New York and Miami have two things that Detroit cannot change no matter how much money they offer. TV spotlight and terrific weather with tremendous night life.

2. Start letting it be known that both expiring contracts belonging to Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson are both open to the market in trade possibilities. If you can aquire good talent through unloading expensive contracts, I am more apt to attack this route. In a situation like this the Pistons could make a deal with a team like Washington looking to unload players like Antawn Jamison because their team is losing. Jamison is making only 9 million a year, which is far less than the almost 14 Rasheed makes or the 20 Iverson makes. The Pistons could bring in a player like Jamison for the next 3 years and still have plenty of cap space to bring in another player just below the Lebrons and Wades of the NBA.

Amare to Detroit?

It has become quite clear that Amare Stoudemire is no longer happy in Phoenix and his role with in the Phoenix Suns’ offense, especially since the arrival of Shaq. Word on the street is that Phoenix is now willing to listen to offers for the All-Star big man.

If the Suns do decide to deal Amare, it will most likely be to an Eastern Conference team as they would not want to have to play against him on a regular basis nor run into him in the playoffs if possible. One of the most likely landing spots for Amare could be right here in Detroit, as Phoenix would be interested Rasheed's expiring contract, a first round draft pick and they'd also more then likely have to throw in someone like Amir Johnson.

The other rumor coming out of Phoenix is that GM Steve Kerr has reportedly told other GM’s that everyone but Steve Nash is available on the Suns’ roster!

Pathletic Lions Really Know How to Pick'em!

Tom "Killer" Kowalski of Mlive.com is reporting that The Sporting News War Room (which employs former NFL scouts) put together their list of the top 99 available unrestricted free agents and guess what? Not a single Detroit Lion free agent made the list! That speaks volumes about the kind of talent that Millen and Marinelli were bringing into Detroit over the past couple years.

The Lions notable free agents for this offseason are QB Dan Orlovsky, LB Paris Lenon, G Stephen Peterman, WR Shaun McDonald, DT Shaun Cody and RB Rudi Johnson. And yet none of those players are projected to be better then the 99th best free agent that The Sporting News selected.

You might be asking who is this outstanding player that is ranked 99th on the list that is so much better then any Lions' free agent? That outstanding athlete is cornerback Jason Webster. Jason played in just four games over the last two years and yet he is still considered to be better then Orlovsky, Lenon or Shaun Cody! Mind you that those three Lions players I just listed were all starters for Detroit.

Good God...

MIchigan Wolverines 2009 Recruiting Class

The question wasn't IF the Wolverine football class would take a hit, but how badly it would take a hit after the disasterous season that was 2008. The perennially strong football program of Michigan ended up not taking too bad of a hit after all was said and done.

It was no secret the Wolverines were looking to upgrade their speed with this recruiting class to fit Head Coach Rich Rodriguez's style of play and they did just that, signing six players who are running backs, receivers or a combination of the two. Arguably the fastest player is quarterback Denard Robinson, who runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, according to his high school coach.

In addition to Denard Robinson, the Wolverines also landed another highly recruited dual threat quarterback in Tate Forcier. Both are expected to compete for playing time next year as freshman and best case scenario, beat out Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan for the starting position.

In addition to Robinson and Forcier, the Wolverines signed two other highly regarded players in Justin Turner and Will Campbell. Justin Turner is a cornerback from Ohio whom Secondary Coach Tony Gibson said he believes is talented enough to play during his first season. And of course big Will Campbell is arguably their best recruit. He's a defensive tackle from Cass Tech High School in Detroit who was a man amongst boys this year in the PSL, often being tripled teamed on the line of scrimmage.

Below is the remainder of this year's recruiting class for the University of Michigan

LB Isaiah Bell, 6-0/209, Youngstown, Ohio

DT William Campbell, 6-5/315, Detroit (Cass Tech)

DB Vladimir Emilien, 6-0/186, Lauderhill, Fla.

QB Tate Forcier, 6-0/184, San Diego

ATH Jeremy Gallon, 5-8/165, Apopka, Fla.

K Brendan Gibbons, 6-0/202, West Palm Beach, Fla.

WR Cameron Gordon, 6-2/211, Inkster

ATH Thomas Gordon, 5-10/199, Detroit (Cass Tech)

LB Brandin Hawthorne, 6-0/181, Pahokee, Fla.

DB Mike Jones, 6-2/200, Orlando, Fla.

RB Teric Jones, 5-8/186, Detroit (Cass Tech)

DE Anthony LaLota, 6-6/260, Princeton, N.J.

OL Taylor Lewan, 6-7/272, Scottsdale, Ariz.

QB Denard Robinson, 6-0, 179, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

DE Craig Roh, 6-5/230, Scottsdale, Ariz.

OL Michael Shofield, 6-6/272, Orland Park, Ill.

RB Vincent Smith, 5-6/159, Pahokee, Fla.

WR Je'Ron Stokes, 6-1/178, Philadelphia

RB Fitzgerald Toussain, 5-10/185, Youngstown, Ohio

DB J.T. Turner, 6-2/190, Massillon, Ohio

OL Quinton Washington, 6-3/315, St. Stephen, S.C.

DB Adrian Witty, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Larry Foote's Next Stop Detroit?

Pittsburgh Steelers' linebacker Larry Foote doesn't seem to be interested in taking a pay cut to stay in Pittsburgh, which could mean he’s played his last game for the Steelers.

One of Foote’s friends told the Detroit Free Press that the seven-year veteran and Michigan native wants to play for the Lions.

“He wants to come back here,” said Brian Blackburn, a friend of Foote’s. “This is the last year of his contract, and he wants to come back here and play for the Lions for about four years and call it quits after that.”

When asked why any player would want to play in Detroit after such a horrendous season, Blackburn pointed to Foote’s desire to work with kids in Detroit.

“He’ll take it. He wants to get something set up in the Detroit area for inner-city kids. He’s got a real desire to work with kids. As a matter of fact, I tried to get him to come to my son’s school at Warren Cousino and speak to the kids, and he said, ‘I’ve got to go in the city first and speak to them.’”

Sparty Shocked at Breslin Center by Penn State

Michigan State has won all five of their conference games on the road, but the Spartans have also now lost two consecutive games at home after being upset by Penn State on 72-68 on Sunday.

In an arena where MSU (17-4, 7-2) has easily compiled double-digit winning streaks over multiple seasons, consecutive home losses have been nonexistent for more than a decade. The last time MSU fell twice in a row at home before Sunday was in the 1997-98 season, when the Spartans dropped back-to-back games against Temple and Detroit in the fall.

"It gave Penn State confidence when Northwestern beat us," said MSU senior guard Travis Walton. "They said it in the paper. They were talking about it, saying the Spartans looked beatable right now. Different players were making comments."

"You have to come in here and make baskets if you're going to beat a great team like Michigan State," said Penn State coach Ed DeChellis. "You're just not going to line up and beat them. You've got to do something special and special tonight was making threes."

The Nittany Lions (17-5, 6-3) were 50% (10-for-20) from three-point range and shot 56.3% overall.

Cleveland Cavs Down Pistons at Palace

The Detroit Pistons put together three quarters of solid basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

That's rarely good enough to beat a top teams in the NBA, and Sunday's 90-80 loss to the Cavaliers was no exception.

Detroit went into the fourth quarter ahead by eight points, its largest lead of the game. But the Central Division-leading Cavs (37-9) countered with a blistering 15-2 run and never looked back.

Pistons coach Michael Curry was quoted as saying "We gave up a couple of open shots. They made a couple tough shots, and we gave a couple of offensive rebounds up for baskets. We never regained control after that."

Detroit finds itself just four games over .500, something that hasn't happened this late in a season for Detroit since the 2001-2002 campaign.

"If we keep playing like this, we're going to be an under-.500 team, and we'll be struggling to make the playoffs," said Pistons forward Antonio McDyess. " It's frustrating. It's a major letdown, and I can't really put my finger on it."