Monday Rumors and Rambling

• The Detroit Lions confirmed today that running back Kevin Smith is out for the year with a torn ligament in his left knee.  That’s too bad.  The kid was coming into his own in recent weeks and is turning into a heck of a player.  I just hope that when all is said and done, the extent of the damage isn’t too bad and he’s back for next season.
• It looks like more of the same from the Detroit coaches.  Jim Schwartz lambasted the team after the blow-out by the Ravens saying the team was accountable and is now backing off that statement.
  

  “If you’re asking, ‘Is there any sacrificial lamb that we’re going to throw out just to make a point?’ The answer is no there,” Schwartz said today at his news conference. “Every one of our moves is going to be from a standpoint of evaluating what talent we have and if we can improve by going somewhere else. That’s always the bottom line.”

  He said today that no roster moves are planned.  What??  Same old same old in Detroit.  Be a man, Jim, and get rid of some of the dead  weight.  Culpepper should be gone no matter what, Marvin White, Cliff Avril.  I’d see if I could get something for Sims.  Something should be done but, as usual, not in Detroit.

• In the first linked article above, coach Schwartz goes on to say that if Stafford can’t go this Sunday, Culpepper would get the nod again.  More BS in Detroit.  Culpepper should never touch a football for the Lions again.  After his “performance” against the Ravens, no one will ever want him as a starting QB, or even a back-up.  Detroit is keeping it’s losing mentality by playing the status quo.  We’re paying Daunte, we might as well play him.  No.  Cut his ass and start Stanton, who will most likely be back next season.  See if he can be the number two guy instead of having to go out and spend money better spent elsewhere on a veteran #2.  At least see if he can handle it.  He should have been in the Ravens game in the 3rd quarter.
• Bill Ford, Jr., was asked to discuss the Lions with reporters and declined to do so saying he was out of touch with the team and focusing 100% on the Ford Motor Company.  I wonder if he’s just letting his old man take all the blame and setting himself up to take over the team in the very near future.
• I am sincerely disappointed in the Detroit Lions.  It is becoming more and more difficult to be a Lions fan, much less write a Lions blog.  It seems to me that nothing ever changes in Detroit.  Is it something in the water?   New coaches come in (yes, I do like the current coaching staff except for Stan Kwan) and revert to the typical Lions coach.  All words, no action.   Why is Culpepper on the team?  Why aren’t some players being benched, at the very least, for their performance against the Ravens?  Why is the mentality in Detroit to talk a big game and not carry any sort of a stick?  I know, he who shall not be named really screwed up the Lions for 8 years.  It will take more than a year or two to make them contenders.  I had just hoped for a better attitude and mindset from the head coach.  I should have known better.  With Bill Ford, Sr. nearing senility, one can only hope that something major will happen with ownership in the next few years.  I’d really like to see Sr. step down and turn the team over to his son.  Maybe then some ass-kicking will commence.  Until then, same old senility, same old disappointments.