Morning Lions Links Wednesdy 9-16-09

Team/NFL articles:
Chat with seifert (there are some Lions questions in there on Stafford, Delmas and Hill, Lions lack of blitzing, Pettigrew, etc.): http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/28307

Lions hope for more happy (kick, punt) returns: http://www.freep.com/article/20090916/SPORTS01/909160340/1049/Sports01/Lions-hope-for-more-happy-%28kick--punt%29-returns

More Blitzes might have helped Lions Vs. Saints: http://www.freep.com/article/20090916/SPORTS01/909160341/1049/Sports01/More-blitzes-might-have-helped-Lions-vs.-Saints

Kevin Smith vows to pick up the pace: http://detnews.com/article/20090916/SPORTS0101/909160334/1126/Lions-running-back-Kevin-Smith-vows-to-pick-up-the-pace

Frankly, the Lions past remains present: http://detnews.com/article/20090915/OPINION03/909150342/1126/SPORTS0101/Frankly--the-Lions--past-remains-present

One bright spot for Lions - returns: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090916/SPORTS/909160337/1019/SPORTS

NFC North recap: http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/21470/

Quick take - Lions Vs. Vikings: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009092001/2009/REG2/vikings@lions/preview

Articles from opposing team's media:
So just how historically bad are the Lions: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/59392632.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Vikings info center (Lions-Vikings info): http://www.vikings.com/news/Game-Info-Centers/rs-2-09-lions.html

Players article:

Eye catching rookies might make an impact (Stafford is discussed): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12207686

NFC North stock watch (Kevin Smith is in the falling group): http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/3299/how-i-see-it-nfc-north-stock-watch

Rookie QB remaining confident: http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2009/09/15/sports/doc4aafb053ea00a956107648.txt

Standing Tall (players from losing teams that stood out - for the Lions it was Delmas): http://profootball.scout.com/2/899283.html

Rankings:

Prisco's power rankings (Lions 32 - Notice he says a QB is what makes the top teams elite): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12211259

NFL (Fan ranking Lions 19, experts 31, community 30): http://fanrankings.nfl.com/

ESPN (Lions 31): http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2009&week=2

Foxsports (Lions ranked 30th, whatifsports has us 30th and gives us an 18% chance of beating the Vikings): http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings

Silver's 32 Questions (Lions ranked 32): http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-32questions091509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Sporting News Power Poll (Lions 31): http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2009-09-15/power-poll-injuries-put-hurt-on-top-teams

MSNBC (Lions 31): http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32865652/ns/sports-nfl/

National Football Post (Lions 29 - somehow we went up in this one): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-NFP-Power-Rankings-8997.html

TSN (Lions 30): http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/nfl-poll.htm

USA Today (Lions 30): http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-power-rankings.htm

Real GM (Lions 32): http://football.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/13690/20090915/saints_eagles_seahawks_and_jets_top_week_1_rankings/

Video/Audio:

Stafford interview on WJR: http://www.wjr.net/article.asp?id=%201501845&spid=6526

Endzone - QB debuts (they talk about Stafford and his confidence level and how they think he will end up doing - it's at the end of the video): http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/play/nfl/DlPOcA4HwZDsTT1JhAmFmsI6WvHIMAj4

MLive Lions home page: http://www.mlive.com/lions/