Thursday 12/29/11 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

Lions wouldn't mind second chance against NFC elite teams:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-wouldnt-mind-a-second-chance-at-NFCs-elite-teams/fd48343e-d698-4911-a38b-5d6c51dd9a91

Lions have as good a chance as any team to go on a playoff run:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-have-as-good-a-chance-as-any-team-to-go-on-a-playoff-run/1c9499bb-a629-4299-95a9-5e2a1cd5e666

Lions have bigger fish to fry than worrying about pro bowl snubs:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-have-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-worrying-about-Pro-Bowl-snubs/7a0dd677-5717-4938-b2ee-6516d8c3398b

Suh - It's definitely exciting to be heading into this last game knowing we're in the playoffs:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/28/suh-its-definitely-exciting-to-be-heading-into-this-last-game-knowing-were-in-the-playoffs/

Johnson - It's cool to make the pro bowl.  I'm looking forward to going back -- unless we're playing:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/28/johnson-its-cool-to-make-the-pro-bowl-im-looking-forward-to-going-back-unless-were-playing/

Packers say they still have something to play for:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/28/packers-say-they-still-have-something-to-play-for/

Houston not worried about cast; Johnson sits with Achilles injury:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/12/28/houston-not-worried-about-cast-johnson-sits-with-achilles-injury/

Detroit News:

Pro bowl snub more inspiring than insulting:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111229/OPINION03/112290393/1126/sports0101/Lions-Pro-Bowl-snub-more-inspiring-than-insulting

Lions have alot more to gain than Packers in regular season finale:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111229/SPORTS0101/112290382/1126/sports0101/Lions-lot-more-gain-than-Packers-regular-season-finale

As rematch looms, Suh moves on from stomp vs. Packers:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111228/SPORTS0101/112280408/1126/sports0101/As-rematch-looms-Ndamukong-Suh-moves-from-stomp-vs-Packers

Houston's cast for dislocated finger:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111228/SPORTS0101/112280397/1126/sports0101/Lions-CB-Chris-Houston-s-cast-dislocated-finger

Stafford snubbed? (I definitely won't be watching it now):  http://blogs.detroitnews.com/lions/2011/12/28/stafford-snubbed/

Free Press:

Lions practice report - Houston sits out but says hand is ok:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111228/SPORTS01/111228017/Lions-practice-report-Houston-sits-out-says-hand-OK

Suh not worrying about pro bowl, Dietrich-Smith:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111228/SPORTS01/111228029/ndamukong-suh-detroit-lions

Georgia's Mark Richt happy for Stafford, Lions:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111228/SPORTS01/111228021/georgia-matthew-stafford-detroit-lions-outback-bowl

Stafford acts like a pro about pro bowl snub:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111229/SPORTS01/112290510/Matthew-Stafford-acts-like-a-pro-about-Pro-Bowl-snub

Beating Packers still first on Lions minds:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111229/SPORTS01/112290516/Beating-Packers-still-first-on-Lions-minds

Packers Dietrich-Smith - No hard feelings toward Suh:  http://www.freep.com/article/20111228/SPORTS01/111228039/evan-dietrich-smith-ndamukong-suh

Oakland Press:

Pro bowl snubs are of no concern to Lions; they are focused on Packers:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/29/sports/doc4efb9f0dcae63214419745.txt

Lions notebook - Bell doesn't expect to play at GB:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/12/29/sports/doc4efba5a73bdee126985335.txt

Foxsports Detroit:

Suh still not discussing T-Day snub:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/12/28/11/Suh-still-not-discussing-Thanksgiving-st/landing_lions.html?blockID=634888&feedID=3862

Lions focused on earning wins, not awards:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/12/28/11/Lions-focused-on-earning-wins-not-awards/landing_lions.html?blockID=634848&feedID=3862

Top 10 stories in Michigan sports - 201l:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/pages/listgallery?gid=15306&gf=629

WXYZ 7:

Stafford, playoff-bound Lions discuss pro bowl snubs:  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/stafford-lions-discuss-pro-bowl-snubs

Joique Bell excited after practice with Lions:  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/joique-bell-excited-after-first-practice-with-lions

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

ESPN:

Clayton's Mailbag (He discusses Stafford in the short takes section):  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7395860/nfc-trumped-afc-head-head-play

MVP Watch (CJ is #4 and Stafford is #5):  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/55636/mike-sandos-mvp-watch-51

Foxsports:

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

Yahoo:

The completely non-premature playoff picture (He predicts the Lions to be the sixth seed and face the Saints):  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-completely-non-premature-2012-playoff-pictur?urn=nfl-wp14816

CBS:

Stafford, Cruz highlight list of players pro bowl left behind:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16620592/stafford-cruz-highlight-list-of-players-pro-bowl-left-behind

Eye of NFL football awards, week 16 (Schwartz is picked by one of the experts as coach of the week):  http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/34069726

SI:

Pro bowl snubs - Who got left out? (He picks Stafford and Avril for the Lions):  http://nfl.si.com/2011/12/28/nfl-pro-bowl-snubs-who-got-left-out/?sct=nfl_t12_a1

Ranking the NFL's week 17 games (The Lions-Packers game is ranked 5):  http://nfl.si.com/2011/12/28/ranking-the-nfls-week-17-games/?sct=nfl_t11_a1

USA Today:

Biggest offensive pro bowl snub Poll (Stafford leads the way with 30% of the votes):  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/12/vote-biggest-offensive-pro-bowl-snub/1

PFF:

All PFF Team, weak 16 (Stafford made the team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/28/all-pff-team-week-16/

Five analysts, five questions (Stafford's performance was picked as the best performance of the week by one of the experts):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/12/28/five-analysts-five-questions-week-16/

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

Pro Bowl snub not a big deal for Stafford:  http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2011/12/29/sports/doc4efc16b3bc66b883705765.txt

Lions roar into post season picture:  http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2011/12/28/leader_and_kalkaskian/sports/doc4efb4ea02db94385432122.txt?viewmode=default

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Will Packers see a tamer Lions team on Sunday:  http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111228/PKR01/111228116/Will-Packers-see-tamer-Lions-team-Sunday-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Lions have lots of incentive to beat Packers:  http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/12/28/lions-have-lots-of-incentive-to-beat-packers/

New Lions focused on win, fifth seed:  http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article_ketchman/article-1/New-Lions-focused-on-win-fifth-seed/11d0159e-7e3b-47f0-aa30-7423429380bf

Packers - Lions week 17 dope sheet:  http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-Lions-Week-17-Dope-Sheet/f9cd9806-fd06-4ede-8975-4f861c34af00

Lions keep their cool, gain momentum:  http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/136355313.html

Packers prep for hungry Lions - video:  http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/136343338.html

NFL Week 17 Predictions and Previews:

Predictions:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-17-predictions.html

Previews:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-17-previews.html

2012 Draft Articles:

Bowl games provide a look at what top prospects offer:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8257eff2/article/bowl-games-provide-a-look-at-what-top-prospects-have-to-offer

SN Mock Draft (The Lions take CB Chase Minnifield with the 26 pick):  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-12-28/nfl-mock-draft-the-bidding-for-robert-griffin-iii-could-get-crazy

Miscellaneous:

Ex Lions QB Dan O. misses Colts practice after wife has triplets:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111228/SPORTS0101/112280412/1126/sports0101/Ex-Lions-QB-Dan-Orlovsky-misses-Colts-practice-after-wife-has-triplets

Video:

Schwartz post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Jim-Schwartz-12-28-11/de8a8535-5117-45dd-9e6e-00d5d1814bdb

Stafford post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Matthew-Stafford-12-28-11/63105460-3865-4339-b2a0-7dce5183c997

Calvin Johnson post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Calvin-Johnson-12-28-11/b58146c4-91e4-4934-8bd8-fd8c105ed526

Suh post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Ndamukong-Suh-12-28-11/73fd6557-421e-483c-95ba-84538beea307

Audio:

Schwartz post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Jim-Schwartz-12-28-11/92601066-94e7-4b11-9fe7-066905e1d7ce

Stafford post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Matthew-Stafford-12-28-11/ba7e06f5-41b7-44bc-85fb-4450bd1727aa

Calvin Johnson post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Calvin-Johnson-12-28-11/03b77d0f-7e1f-4785-9aaa-7bc07d928bdf

Suh post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Ndamukong-Suh-12-28-11/7140985b-f8e7-407b-b0be-6f4a8cc9a316

Lions review, week 16:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/The-Lions-Review-Week-16/d054183a-8176-47b8-96fe-50efca3cea0b