Morning Lions Links for Friday 12-11-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Rams' Nick Fairley has no hard feelings about his departure from Lions:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/20995/rams-dt-nick-fairley-has-no-hard-feelings-about-his-departure-from-lions

QB Index (Stafford is ranked 19):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000598188/article/qb-index-palmer-overtakes-brady-for-top-spot

Top 10 breakout players of 2015 (10. Darius Slay, CB, Detroit Lions:  2014 grade: +7.7 in 1, 101 snaps.  2015 grade: +12.7 in 773 snaps.  After a rocky rookie season, Slay improved to capable NFL starter in his second year. He still recorded an only modest +6.4 grade in coverage, though, limiting further superlatives. That’s changed this year, however, where Slay can make a pretty convincing case for being the best corner in the league over the past few games. He’s our fourth overall corner in 2015, with the eighth-best coverage grade. Slay has graded negatively once since Week 4, and has seven green graded games in that span. Although he’s allowed a QB rating of 99.5, he has seven pass deflections and committed just a single penalty. The Lions don’t really have much left to play for this season, but they do have a potential shutdown corner in Darius Slay.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/12/10/pro-top-10-breakout-nfl-players-of-2015/

5 underrated players who deserve your Pro Bowl votes (4. Darius Slay, CB, Detroit Lions (88.6):  Those late-season surges don’t tend to play well for Pro Bowl prospects, and one player who seems destined to miss out this season with a similar stretch of play is Darius Slay of the Lions. Back in Week 3, Slay had a chastening performance in front of a national audience as he surrendered 123 yards on five catches to the Broncos, but since then, his form has gone through a complete 180. Since then, only Tyrann Mathieu (a safety on your Pro Bowl ballot) has earned a higher grade among corners, surrendering only 217 passing yards 18 catches in the nine games since. Since Week 7, those numbers are even better, allowing only one catch of more than 10 yards. Slay’s performance level is superb, but on a team out of the playoff hunt early on, with a late season surge in form, Slay ticks a number of boxes to be my fifth and final predicted Pro Bowl snub.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/12/10/pro-5-underrated-players-who-deserve-your-pro-bowl-votes/

Detroit Lions still not totally clicking on offense:  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/detroit-lions-still-not-totally-clicking-offense-233614247--nfl.html

Local Media:

NOTEBOOK: Ebron not worried about decreased targets:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook/article-1/NOTEBOOK-Ebron-not-worried-about-decreased-targets/6385dd54-9000-4586-8a03-dcffdeb6089e

PRACTICE REPORT: Perfect attendance continues:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider-short/article-1/PRACTICE-REPORT-Perfect-attendance-continues/53aee1ef-57a8-4f63-80c8-d080f0b7730e

10 takeaways from Austin & Cooter:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/10-takeaways-from-Austin--Cooter/df733b79-4d0c-4dc4-ab99-6aa50a3e0b1a

10 QUESTIONS WITH TWENTYMAN: Who will Lions sign to extensions?:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/10-QUESTIONS-WITH-TWENTYMAN-Who-will-Lions-sign-to-extensions/3e303b14-4d2a-4df9-ac5f-27050f5d07d5

Lions' Slay: Voters should know I'm Pro Bowl-caliber:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/12/10/lions-slay-voters-should-know-im-pro-bowl-caliber/77108120/

Matriarch Martha Ford positions Lions for future:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/12/10/martha-ford-matriarch-lions-franchise-future/77132986/

Teryl Austin rejects Hail Mary questions, reiterates Jim Caldwell is in control of all calls:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/12/detroit_lions_teryl_austin_hai.html

First look: St. Louis Rams' passing game, offense among worst in NFL:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/12/first_look_st_louis_rams_passi.html

Lions DC Teryl Austin: I lobbied for Aaron Donald:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/12/lions_dc_teryl_austin_i_lobbie.html

Detroit Lions players among those intending to watch 'Concussion' movie:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/12/detroit_lions_concussion.html

Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell's friendship helped CMU coach battle cancer:  http://www.mlive.com/chippewas/index.ssf/2015/12/detroit_lions_coach_jim_caldwe.html

Lions' Ameer Abdullah, Rams' Todd Gurley start unique group text among NFL's top rookie RBs:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/12/lions_ameer_abdullah_rams_todd.html

Detroit Lions notes: Matthew Stafford’s interceptions decline:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20151210/detroit-lions-notes-matthew-staffords-interceptions-decline

Detroit Lions — Teryl Austin mum on Hail Mary; Stephen Tulloch responds to changes:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20151210/detroit-lions-x2014-teryl-austin-mum-on-hail-mary-stephen-tulloch-responds-to-changes

Detroit Lions — Five reasons Todd Gurley will challenge defense:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20151210/detroit-lions-x2014-five-reasons-todd-gurley-will-challenge-defense

Notes: Nick Fairley misses Lions fans:  http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/12/10/9883666/lions-notes-nick-fairley-misses-fans-stephen-tullochs-childrens-book

Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Lions are coping with "different" year as they prepare for Rams:   http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/lions-are-coping-with-different-year-as-they-prepare-for/article_201fb740-b2c4-552d-84b9-580d7c1843ea.html

Video:

Local Media:

Lions can relate to OC change in St. Louis:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Lions-can-relate-to-OC-change-in-St-Louis/bec01774-6bfb-4da5-a70c-d06db3d0da82

Lions Weekly Matchup: Rams:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Lions-Weekly-Matchup-Rams/7043460c-e75e-4c40-9d4c-a787b1eed57a

Caldwell on Rams prep:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Caldwell-on-Rams-prep/f6670918-ece7-445c-b413-8aff8dfdd67c

Cooter on the importance of practice reps:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Cooter-on-the-importance-of-practice-reps/c4f15ce5-6246-4dbd-8b11-e2eb5a4f02d1

Austin on the defensive focus for Week 14:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Austin-on-the-defensive-focus-for-Week-14/14755a9b-9414-418a-a338-295ca6d71668

Lions' Matthew Stafford has been on upward swing:   http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2015/12/10/77112206/

Detroit Lions reporters look back at team's 2014 draft decision with Aaron Donald matchup on deck:   http://videos.mlive.com/mlive/2015/12/detroit_lions_reporters_look_b.html