Morning Lions Links for Friday 1-8-16

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Lions TE Eric Ebron wants to be a 'forceful weapon' in 2016:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/21566/lions-te-eric-ebron-wants-to-be-a-forceful-weapon-in-2016

How did Calvin Johnson reach the point of considering retirement?:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/21587/how-did-it-reach-the-point-where-calvin-johnson-is-considering-retiring

Lance Moore believes Antonio Brown can break Calvin Johnson's record:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/21562/lance-moore-believes-antonio-brown-has-ability-to-break-calvin-johnsons-record

Calvin Johnson could hold leverage in contract talks before arrival of new Lions' GM:   http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4690384-calvin-johnson-salary-cap-contract-guaranteed-retirement-larry-fitzgerald-receiver-market

5 positions the Detroit Lions must address this offseason:   http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/detroit-lions-2016-offseason-team-needs-010716

PFF’s 2015-2016 NFL quarterback rankings (Tier 3 - 23. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, 69.8: Split the season in half, and you get two different stories. Second-half Stafford was one of the league’s best, but he ranked dead last among QBs for the first eight games of the year.):   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/07/pro-pffs-2015-nfl-quarterback-rankings/

Every NFL teams’ best defender this season (Detroit Lions: Darius Slay, CB, 87.7: Signature stat: 10 pass defenses (career high). Slay engineered a remarkable turnaround after surrendering 123 yards and a touchdown to the Broncos in his worst performance of the season back in Week 3. Thereafter, only two corners earned a higher grade than Slay, and he only allowed 438 yards in the subsequent 13 games.):   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/07/pro-every-nfl-teams-best-defender-this-season/

Megatron: Retiring Or Bluffing?:   http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/161192538/megatron-retiring-or-bluffing

Best And Worst NFL Coaching Fits (Best - Adam Gase, Boldest - Jim Harbaugh, Worst - Jim Cooter):   http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/161277914/nfl-coaching-changes-chip-kelly-adam-gase

Local Media:

O'HARA: Johnson's situation different than Sanders':   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ohara/article-1/OHARA-Johnsons-situation-different-than-Sanders/ef4a5bfc-98dc-4c18-a3be-3eada50f6fbf

Tahir Whitehead sees himself as a MIKE linebacker:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Tahir-Whitehead-sees-himself-as-a-MIKE-linebacker/90de50b7-e0a2-4448-a57f-1033f4ecf02f

Lions' Caldwell a 2014 coaching class survivor for now:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/2014-nfl-coaching-class/78403176/

Lions' Calvin Johnson might be most talented WR ever:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/calvin-johnson-retire-detroit-lions/78424448/

Megatron out of Pro Bowl; Robinson in as replacement:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/calvin-johnson-pro-bowl/78425020/

Mahorn knows what Lions' Johnson is going through:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/detroit-lions-calvin-johnson-rick-mahorn/78436178/

Lions' Teryl Austin interviews with Giants:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/detroit-lions-teryl-austin/78437702/

Albom: After smoke clears, Lions did as expected:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2016/01/08/mitch-albom-detroit-lions/78450264/

Another big receiver isn’t necessary for Lions:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/another-big-receiver-necessary-lions/78438186/

Wojo: Calvin could be sending Lions a message:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2016/01/07/wojo-calvin-sending-lions-message/78451054/

RB Zach Zenner banking on Lions return:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/rb-zach-zenner-banking-lions-return/78436934/

Column: Yes, Calvin Johnson really is mulling retirement, and that's bad news for the Lions:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/01/column_yes_calvin_johnson_real.html

Analysis: If Calvin Johnson retires, how will Detroit Lions replace his production?:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/01/analysis_detroit_lions_calvin.html

Ask Kyle: Could the fate of Jim Caldwell sway Calvin Johnson's decision?:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/01/ask_kyle_could_jim_caldwells_f.html

Detroit Lions notes: Nate Burleson on Calvin Johnson’s future; GM search update:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20160107/detroit-lions-notes-nate-burleson-on-calvin-johnsons-future-gm-search-update

Detroit Lions — Five similarities between Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20160107/detroit-lions-x2014-five-similarities-between-calvin-johnson-barry-sanders

Detroit Lions — Top 10 who could become free agents:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20160107/detroit-lions-x2014-top-10-who-could-become-free-agents

Report: Lions' Interim GM Sheldon White To Interview Friday:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/07/report-lions-interim-gm-sheldon-white-to-interview-friday/

EXCLUSIVE: Herman Moore On Calvin Johnson Possibly Retiring: 'You Can't Buy Time, You Can't Buy Health':   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/07/herman-moore-on-calvin-johnson-possibly-retiring-you-cant-buy-time-you-cant-buy-health/

Megatron Next? Ten Athletes Who Made Early Retirement Decisions:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/07/megatron-next-ten-athletes-who-made-early-retirement-decisions/

Calvin Johnson: World Class WR And Toilet Inventor:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/07/calvin-johnson-world-class-wr-and-also-toilet-creator/

Notes: Mayhew a candidate for Titans GM job:   http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2016/1/7/10729238/lions-notes-martin-mayhew-gm-rumors-titans-zach-zenner

Grades:

Detroit News Lions final grades: A failure to measure up:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/01/07/lions-final-grades-failure-measure-up/78423846/

Video:

Local Media:

Darryl Tapp 2015 Highlights:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Darryl-Tapp-2015-highlights/29d6014c-24d5-4777-b5c3-c0c02311db5d