Afternoon Lions Links for Tuesday 9-4-12

Articles:

Hanson, Johnson, Stafford, Tulloch, KVB and Wendling named Captains:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Hanson-Johnson-Stafford-Tulloch-Vanden-Bosch-and-Wendling-named-2012-captains/30c9a0d3-3cc1-42c5-8867-ab5075be20ad

Smith says he'll never again take a roster spot for granted:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Smith-says-hell-never-again-take-a-roster-spot-for-granted/1a5ece6f-41bf-48a5-88c0-b5ac524b8b4f

Bears see return of their defensive leader; Lions still waiting for theirs:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/nfc-north/article-1/NFC-North-Bears-see-return-of-their-defensive-leader-Lions-still-waiting-for-theirs/88a38d91-db4e-4dae-8875-af5e7c17b166

Documentary to be made of Lions' season:   http://www.freep.com/article/20120904/SPORTS01/120904032/detroit-lions-movie?

Chat with Lions Detroit News writer, Josh Katzenstein:   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120904/SPORTS0101/120831001/1126/Read-replay-Tuesday-Lions-chat-Josh-Katzenstein-

Shaun Hill rates as one of the NFL's best backups:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/09/04/sports/doc50465539050cd476333286.txt

Backus, Tulloch the ironmen of the Lions:   http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/09/04/12/Backus-Tulloch-the-ironmen-of-the-Lions/landing_lions.html?blockID=784925&feedID=3862

Schwartz - We don't have a depth chart:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/04/schwartz-we-dont-have-a-depth-chart/

Kevin Smith's career has been unpredictable, but he's ready to shoulder the load:   http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2012/09/detroit-lions-nfa-interview-kevin-smith.html

Can CJ be the best ever?:   http://www.mirror.co.uk/opinion/sport-opinion/nfl-opinion-can-calvin-johnson-1302692

PFF's First round report card (Reiff falls into the Met Expectation group):   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/09/04/first-round-report-card/

PFW's MVP Meter (CJ is #7, Stafford is #9):   http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/09/04/mvp-meter-calling-almost-all-qbs

Week 1 Game Rankings (Lions in the wrap section):   http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/20044351/week-1-game-rankings-steelersbroncos-cowboysgiants-start-nfl-feast

Ten week 1 questions (The #2 question is how the Rams will gameplan for CJ):   http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ten-Week-1-questions-9783.html

Game Predictions and Previews:

Walterfootball's week 1 pick (He picks the Lions to win in a blowout, 31-13.   Read the Lions part.   It's pretty funny.):    http://walterfootball.com/nflpicks2012_01early.php

Kirwan's week 1 breakdown:   http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/pat-kirwan/20039702/picks-for-week-one-of-the-nfl-season

Season Predictions and Previews:

PFT's Prediction (2 out of 5 of their experts pick the Lions to be a wildcard team.   One of those experts picks them to be the Saints in the wildcard game):    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/04/pfts-2012-season-predictions/

SN's Vinnie Iyer's 2012 predictions (He picks the Lions to be a wildcard team and for the Falcons to beat them in the wildcard game):   http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-09-04/2012-nfl-predictions-super-bowl-pick-san-francisco-49ers-houston-texans-green

SI's 2012 Predictions (None of their experts pick the Lions to make the playoffs.   3 out of 9 pick CJ to win offensive player of the year and 1 picks Stafford to win offensive player of the year.   Two experts picks the Lions as the best team that won't make the playoffs):    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/09/04/nfl-predictions-2012/index.html?sct=nfl_t11_a0

Whatifsports predictions (The Lions finish 3rd in the North with a 9-7 record):   http://www.whatifsports.com/beyondtheboxscore/default.asp?article=2012NFL_NFCPreview2

Prisco predicts every game (He has the Lions losing to SF, Ten, Phi, Chi, GB, GB and Ariz):   http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19640727/predicting-every-game-pats-go-16-0-lose-in-super-bowl;-sound-familiar

Power Rankings:

ESPN's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 12):   http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/1

NFP's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 13):   http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Week-1-Power-Rankings.html

PFW's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 13):   http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/09/04/2012-power-rankings

PFT's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 12):   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/04/pfts-week-zero-power-rankings-2/

Walterfootball's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 6):   http://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

Prisco's Power Rankings (Lions ranked 15):   http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings

Foxsports Power Rankings (Lions ranked 10 by Billick, 11 by whatifsports and the Lions have a 66.5 chance of beating the Rams):   http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings

NFL's Rosenthal's Power Rankings (the Lions are ranked 14):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000057984/article/too-much-new-york-giants-love-in-nflcom-power-poll?module=HP11_content_stream