Wednesday 12-22-11 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

Johnson and Stafford are good by themselves, but they make each other even better:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Johnson-and-Stafford-are-good-by-themselves-but-they-make-each-other-even-better/fad4e7a9-e747-4b50-af9e-e057675d227b

Coming through in the clutch is common for rookie WR Titus Young:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Coming-through-in-the-clutch-is-common-for-rookie-WR-Titus-Young/2cf97062-196a-42f4-9dde-df8f4cb4836d

Secondary will face a team of Calvin Johnson sized receivers:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Secondary-will-face-a-team-of-Calvin-Johnson-sized-receivers-this-week/8c2a8122-341e-47bd-af97-fcaf9e734daa

Johnson - I believe this is one of those games where the crowd could be a big factor especially if come out hot like we need to:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/21/johnson-i-believe-this-is-one-of-those-games-where-the-crowd-could-be-a-big-factor-especially-if-we-come-out-hot-like-we-need-to/

Lions injury report - 4 starters missing:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/21/lions-injury-report-four-starters-missing/

Detroit News:

Lions self proclaimed grinch Hanson says nothing won yet:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111222/SPORTS0101/112220366/1126/Lions-self-proclaimed-Grinch-Jason-Hanson-says-nothing-won-yet

Lions improving health encouraging to Schwartz:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111222/SPORTS0101/112220364/1126/Lions-improving-health-encouraging-Jim-Schwartz

Free Press:

Hanson ready for return from decade of oblivion:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/SPORTS01/112220515/Lions-Jason-Hanson-ready-for-return-from-decade-of-oblivion

CJ's breakthrough performance doesn't shock Lions:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/SPORTS01/112220533/Calvin-Johnson-s-breakthrough-performance-doesn-t-shock-Lions

Barry Sanders chime in on Lions mock draft:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111222/SPORTS01/111222001/Barry-Sanders-chimes-in-on-Lions-mock-draft

Suh edged, but CJ racks up huge pro bowl voting numbers:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111221/SPORTS01/111221040/pro-bowl-voting-detroit-lions

CJ named NFC offensive player of the week:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111221/SPORTS01/111221017/Lions-Calvin-Johnson-named-NFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week

Fairely, Williams and five others sit out at practice:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111221/SPORTS01/111221022/Detroit-Lions-Fairley-Williams-injuries

Oakland Press:

It's appalling that Lions QB Stafford has turned his back on tradition:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/22/sports/doc4ef27bc87afa3619889429.txt

Lions lost a shot at playoffs 11 years ago and it changed everything:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/22/sports/doc4ef259c728d9c608424919.txt

Lions notebook - Johnson soars, Stafford assaults record book:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/22/sports/doc4ef26b2814737338317439.txt

Foxsports Detroit:

Stafford-Johnson city's next great sports combo:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/12/21/11/Stafford-Johnson-citys-next-great-sports/landing_lions.html?blockID=631246&feedID=3862

WXYZ 7:

Lions win would do more than clinch a playoff berth:  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/lions-win-would-do-more-than-clinch-a-playoff-berth

CBS Local Detroit:

No Suh on the show today:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/12/21/terry-foster-suh-bows-out-no-hard-feelings/

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

ESPN:

Hot button - which non-QB has had the best season (Clayton picks Calvin Johnson):  http://espn.go.com/nfl/hot?id=7371857

MVP Poll - Calvin Johnson or Matt Stafford:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/36266/poll-calvin-johnson-or-matthew-stafford-for-mvp

Clayton's Mailbag (there's a question on Stafford in there):  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7375868/nfl-late-season-divisional-schedule-worked-season

MVP Watch (CJ is #4 and Stafford is #8):  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/54987/mike-sandos-mvp-watch-50

Foxsports:

Lions Team Report:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/detroit-lions/teamreport/67045?q=detroit-lions

NFP:

Making a list of best and worst contracts of 2011 (Tulloch is picked as the 4th best bargain):  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Making-a-List-best-and-worst-of-2011-contracts.html

PFF:

All PFF Team, week 15 (Calvin Johnson made this team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/21/all-pff-team-week-15/

All had a bad day team (KVB, Eric Wright and John Wendling made this team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/21/all-had-a-bad-day-team-week-15/

Five analysts, five questions (CJ's performance was picked by one analyst as best performance of the week): http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/21/five-analysts-five-questions-week-15/

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

Detroit Lions - A drive that defined a season:  http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/12/21/sports/doc4eef5853cb3af292768773.txt?viewmode=default

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Conference call - Johnson and Schwartz:  http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Conference-call-Johnson-and-Schwartz/7e05ac40-1ef7-4319-b4c4-f40c6d916b12

Ridiculous is ordinary for Lions' Calvin Johnson:  http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/21/calvin-johnson-now-chargers-big-challenge/

Chargers notes - More physical Lions' defense awaits:  http://www.nctimes.com/sports/football/professional/nfl/chargers/chargers-notes-more-physical-lions-defense-awaits/article_575a2d10-ec3c-5769-81d3-3b8cc38dda10.html

Week 16 Power Rankings, Predictions and Previews:

Power Rankings:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-16-power-rankings.html

Predictions:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-16-predictions.html

Previews:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-16-previews.html

2012 Draft Articles:

SN's Mock Draft (Lions take CB Brandon Boykin with the 26 pick):  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-12-21/mock-draft-browns-in-position-to-grab-a-special-qb

McShay's mock 1.0 (He has the Lions taking RB David Wilson):  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/36259/inspecting-mcshay-mock-1-0

Video:

Schwartz post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Jim-Schwartz-12-21-11/9d802b4d-54c6-451f-8123-200b1a1d5350

Linehan post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Scott-Linehan-12-21-11/5e72903d-6b23-4a79-b62b-789d368765d1

Hanson locker room video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Locker-Room-Video-Jason-Hanson-12-21-11/8f6d16d9-7c55-41f4-a095-7b874d085973

This day in football - Sanders gets 2,000 yds:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/This-Day-in-Football-Sanders-gets-2000-yards/ef8cb391-044a-43c6-b643-7449e30b5c2a

Epic Achievements - Lions comeback win:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d82548558/Epic-Achievements-Lions-comeback-win

One win and in:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d82548083/One-win-and-in

Countdown Daily accuscore - Det/SD:  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7375907

Audio:

Schwartz post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Jim-Schwartz-12-21-11/4a90512d-790e-44c5-8582-f8e6fad361bd

Linehan post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Scott-Linehan-12-21-11/587bff35-d442-4926-83bc-037b9b44b4d3

Outside the lines (they discuss the Lions and their resurgence):  http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7376938

Stafford on the Colin Cowherd show:  http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7376417