After 2 Pre-Season Games The Lions Really Stink

I just got through watching the Detroit Lions pre-season game with the Cleveland Browns and they are awful. The defense couldn't stop anyone, the offense was not much better and the Lions special teams gave up the opening kickoff for a touchdown Joshua Cribbs only to have a penalty bail them out. Then Cribbs returned a punt for 6 later in the first quarter.

The Lions gave up 17 points in the first quarter to the Browns.

"We started off the game poorly;" First year Lions head coach Jim Swartz said. "I know Cribbs is a good returner, but there is no reason to start the game off the way we did on special teams. It's a work in progress, but we are going to find out who can tackle and who can't and that's going to be the major criteria for making this team."

There you have it Lions players. Either make a play or the turk we pay you a visit.

Oh it's gets better Lion fans. The first time the Browns offense had the ball they marched 74 yards on a touchdown drive, Cleveland's first offensive touchdown since November 17, 2008. Cleveland had gone 6 regular season games and one pre-season without a touchdown on offense. The Lions defense solved that issue.

Then their is your franchise quarterback Matt Stafford, whose first pass against the Browns Saturday night was picked off. Stafford finished 5 of 13 for 34 yards and a horrible 14.6 passing rating.

"I just couldn't find a rhythm." Stafford told the Detroit Free Press.

"That's probably a good way to put it; he wasn't in rhythm." Swartz said.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any more ridiculous, tight end Carson Butler and defensive end Dewayne White got into a fight during pre-game warm-ups.

Could the Detroit Lions be staring at 0-32? Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp says that just might be a real possibility this football season in Motown.

The Lions looked like the most inept teams in the history of sports. Enjoy this season Lions fans, it's going to be another long one.

Photo Courtesy: Detroit Free Press

It's The Matt Stafford Media Tour

I walk into the office this morning and see and hear Matt Stafford on Fox And Friends throwing passes. Then I see the former Georgia QB will make an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon tonight. Welcome to the Matt Stafford media tour.

Stafford's representatives know when you have a quarterback in their staple projected to be the top pick in the NFL Draft you get him out in the public to maximize his earning potential (and pad their commissions.)

Of course the Detroit Lions need to play nice and pick Stafford in the draft at #1 and if you side with the 4- letter word's "draft experts" Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, Jr., then he is a lock to wear the Honolulu Blue and Silver of the dreadful Lions.

Others don't feel the same way. ProFootballTalk.com have the Lions going for need in their mock draft with offensive tackle Eugene Monroe of Virginia going #1. What about Stafford? PFT has the former Georgia Bulldog going at #10 to the San Francisco 49ers.... behind Mark Sanchez.

Friend of OSG Mike Mayock from the NFL Network added his take on Stafford to the media Wednesday and he feels the Lions can do better.

“The way I look at it is, quarterback is the most important position in football, but you better make sure you’re gonna bang the table and believe in the guy if you’re gonna take him in the top 10, like I did with Matt Ryan a year ago. He was my No. 1 guy the whole year for a reason. I don’t feel the same way about Stafford. So if I’m the Lions, I take Eugene Monroe and I worry about the quarterback position either at No. 20, trading up from No. 20, next year, whatever. But me personally, I couldn’t afford to take a shot at No. 1 where, if I’m wrong, I think I set the franchise back another five years.”

Ouch... but if you have drank the 4 letter cool aid then Stafford is the greatest quarterback to ever be drafted.

I'm not knocking Stafford's skill and the fact that he scored very high (38 out of 50 points) on the Wonderlick test is impressive. It's just their is little margin of error when you take a quarterback that high in the draft. Sure the Indianapolis Colts are thrilled with Peyton Manning (#1 pick in 1998) but how do the Atlanta Falcons feel after their seven experience (#1 pick in 2001). For every Troy Aikman or Eli Manning who has worked out their are to many David Carr's, Tim Couch's, Alex Smith's & JaMarcus Russell's who set their franchises back. Yes it's high risk and high reward.

My opinion doesn't mean jack so I will take a pass. I just know that from now until the NFL Draft the 4-letter will keep telling me Matt Stafford can throw the bomb and is the bomb plus will make the media rounds to prove it.

Photo Courtesy: Getty Images/ESPN.com