Chargers CB Cromartie may be sent to Detroit

Although it is still a rumor-like message on a reporter’s Twitter page, it just sounds likely that the San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie will soon put on the Detroit Lions jersey.


The Chargers have a lot of tough monetary decisions to make before the 2010 season. Releasing running back LaDainian Tomlinson was just the first step. And it’s already no surprise that the Chargers decided not to offer tender to No. 2 running back Darren Sproles. So it may shock us even less if the Chargers really decide to send Cromartie to Lions for some good draft pick.

Without Cromartie, the Chargers still have Antoine Cason to do the starting job well. Getting rid of all those causing financial concerns, the Chargers will feel better while making their effort to bring back offensive tackle Marcus McNeil, wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd and outside linebacker Shawne Merriman.

2-13 Lions actually sold out their season finale

Despite losing all of the last five games and totally having won only two games for the whole season, the Detroit Lions actually sold out the tickets for their season finale! But I guess most of the audience will be wearing Chicago Bears jerseys as fans for a team who sent the Minnesota Vikings their third loss of the season.


The Lions sold out three of its first seven games at Ford Field this season, but seemingly all sellouts were not good signs. The Lions are 0-3 in the sellouts—losing to the Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. Or perhaps, the Lions were able to sell out the game simply because the game was against the team they were anyhow unable to win over.

The Lions will have Daunte Culpepper to start at quarterback against the Bears. Previous starter Drew Stanton has lost the advantage of keeping the starting job after led the team to a 6-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

Lions had second win of season by beating Browns 38-37

The worst two teams of the league finished Sunday’s game with the Detroit Lions’ narrow 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns. And now the previously 1-8 Lions are 2-8 while 1-8 Browns fell to 1-9 and remains the lowest in team ranks.


The Browns performed so badly that they allowed Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford to throw five touchdown passes in one game and become the first rookie to do so since Ray Buivid did it in 1937 for the Chicago Bears, even if the quarterback in Lions jersey was injured on the shoulder.

Stafford was hit by Browns safety Hank Poteat, who passed interference in the end zone when Stafford heaved a desperation attempt to throw. The quarterback was replaced by Daunte Culpepper for a while and returned to field as the Browns stopped the game with their timeout to get the team ready for the play.

According to Lions Coach Jim Schwartz, X-rays showed Stafford’s collarbone wasn’t broken and more tests are still needed to determine the quarterback’s playing status for next games.

Stafford practiced with Lions after bye week

As the Detroit Lions returned to practice Tuesday after their bye week, quarterback Matt Stafford also took part in some individual drills. Good signs for the Lions and the St. Louis Rams have to get ready for facing best weapon in Lions jersey in Sunday’s game.


Coach Jim Schwartz refused to reveal about Stafford’s participation in Tuesday’s practice. But he said “I do think the bye came at a good time for getting people healthier, and everyone was able to at least do something, but that’s as far as I will go.”

While taking part in the individual drills that are open to the media, Stafford acknowledged that he wasn’t fully involved in the full-team portion of the session. Backup Daunte Culpepper was also less than 100 percent, but is also hopefully to come back and play with third-stringer Drew Stanton.

Two Lions starters are questionable for Sunday game against Packers

The Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson are questionable for Sunday’s game against the Packers at Green Bay, after both missed the team’s practice on Friday.


Stafford has missed four of five practices this week. He suffered a right knee injury on Oct. 8 while playing against the Bears at Chicago. But it seemed that the Lions have not been ready to play without the No. 1 overall draft pick, and Coach Jim Schwartz has said he won’t decide until Sunday morning whether Stafford will be wearing his Lions jersey to play against the Packers.

As for receiver Johnson, he injured his right knee in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and skipped Friday’s practice because of the knee injury. As the Detroit’s leading receiver, Johnson is also listed questionable for Sunday’s game.

Lions found replacer of injured DeVries

Soon after they lost Jared DeVries for injured tendon, the Detroit Lions signed veteran defensive lineman Shaun Smith with a $1 million, one-year deal Monday to bolster their injury-depleted defensive line.


DeVries started 29 games the past three seasons while playing for the Lions. He had to undergo surgery after he ruptured his Achilles' tendon, so it becomes impossible for him to play for the team this season.

Smith was released by the Cleveland Browns Saturday suddenly and the reason was said to be talking freely and involved in a weight-room fight with quarterback Brady Quinn. He was signed by the Browns in 2007 with a four-year deal worth $8.6 million after playing three seasons with Cincinnati. While playing for the Browns, Smith started totally 20 games in two seasons.

Lions DE DeVries needs season-ending surgery

The Detroit Lions will have go through this season without defensive end Jared DeVries, who left the practice field on a cart Monday with a ruptured tendon. He will have to undergo a season-ending surgery to repair the tendon.


DeVries has been with the Lions for 10 years since he was drafted out of Iowa in 1999. He has played in 120 games for the Lions and started 29 games the past three seasons for them. He was also the pupil of the late Ed Thomas, who was shot to death y a former player in June, at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Iowa.

The Lions currently held receiver Calvin Johnson out of practice for precautionary reasons after Johnson had jammed his thumb. Rookie safety Louis Delmas has been back after missing several practices with a sore knee.

Lions WR Johnson will have breakout year

Known as Megatron by Detroit Lions fans, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was one of the very few bright spots during the Lions’ 0-16 season a year ago. This year he is most likely to make a breakout year among Lions players.


Last season, the 6-foot-5 Johnson started all 16 games and finished with 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns, matching Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald for the most scoring catches in the league and becoming second in yards per catch (17.1). He was also chose as a Pro Bowl alternate. During his first three season, he had already piled up 126 catches and 2,087 yards.

Johnson is also praised by coaches and teammates for his humility and talent. He said that he did not set numbers for himself and just wanted to better in every category than he did before. He is belived by many people to be the next superstar of the Lions.