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NFL Hall of Famer – Lem Barney
Barney was a second round draft choice in 1967. He was named 1967′s defensive rookie of the year, and went on to be selected to seven Pro Bowls. During his time in the NFL, Barney had 56 career interceptions, and also gained over 1000 yards each returning kickoffs and punts.
In 1999, he was ranked number 97 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest NFL Players.
Both Barney and Lions teammate Mel Farr befriended Motown star Marvin Gaye, when Gaye unsuccessfully tried out for the Detroit Lions in 1970. Barney and Farr sing background vocals on Gaye’s classic 1971 song “What’s Going On”, for which Lem earned a Gold Record. Lem Barney also had a role in the film The Black Six and appeared as himself in Paper Lion. He is now a minister.
Lemuel Joseph “Lem” Barney was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Lou Creekmur dies
Hall of Fame offensive tackle Lou Creekmur dies at age 82 due to failing health at University Hospital in Tamarac, Florida marking the end of his life but the beginning of his remembrance.
“Lou always will be remembered as one of the true standout players in Lions history,” Lions president Tom Lewand said Monday. “Offensive linemen often don’t get the credit they deserve and, until his induction into the Hall of Fame, that certainly was the case with Lou. If you look at the number of All-NFL and Pro Bowl teams he was selected to, and at the success of the Lions’ teams when he played, you know that Lou was one of the all-time great linemen in NFL history.”
Lou was drafted out of the second round to the Detroit Lions where he played his entire career from 1950-59 where he accomplished so much. With three world championships and eight straight pro bowl appearances and selected into the ALL-NFL team each of the six pro bowl appearances.
Matt Millen Steps Up
Belated coverage but one worth noting, Matt Millen talks a good game when it comes to pro football.
Fired three weeks into the Lions winless 2008 season Millen emerged with a plethora of obligations including ESPN college football and NFL coverage including appeearances on Monday Night Countdown and NFL Live. Although he does not have an impressive resume as a head coach, he certainly has had an impressive resume in previous years as a broadcaster.
During his stead with the Lions Millen went 31-84, an NFL worst eught year record. Although to his credibiliy may remain as the franchise continued onto0-16 record even after his dismissal, the first worst record in the history of the league.
Calvin Johnson: The Man to Save Detroit
The Lions had the first perfect season in 2008, unfortunately, it wasn’t the perfect season that Tom Brady had in 2007. The Detroit Lions went 0-16, becoming the first NFL team to do so in the history of the NFL. The 2008 Lions will go down as one of those instances that NFL pundits refer to for all future teams that are having bad seasons. “Well, at least they’re not the 2008 Lions”, it will become a staple of punditry for decades to come. While the 2008 Lions were no doubt historic losers, a lot of their games were closer than most people would assume, and much of it was due to one man: Calvin Johnson. Standing at 6 ft 5 inches and weighing in at 239 lbs, Johnson is a formidable receiver in the mold of the now famed Larry Fitzgerald. In fact, Johnson and Fitzgerald share much more than just size, Johnson has a towering vertical leap, reliable hands, blazing speed, and is a humble and well mannered person; all traits that made Fitzgerald the top WR in the league.
In 2009, it will not be Matthew Stafford, Daunte Culpepper, or Brandon Pettigrew that leads the Detroit Lions to a few wins, it will be Calvin Johnson. He is the future of Detroit, and the one hope that many Lions fans have for the franchise. Detroit fans can display their Lions jerseys with pride, as long as the name Johnson is on the back.
2009 Draft: Who Goes Where?
With the draft fast approaching in just a few weeks, NFL fans around the world are wondering who will nab the top prospects and how teams will look for the upcoming year. Following their record breaking 0-16 season (not the kind of record one would want to break), the Detroit Lions are at the top of the draft, and it seems a near certainty that their selection will be a quarterback to build their franchise around. Whether it’s Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez, the Lions are tightlipped about their pick. It’s even been speculated that the Lions might seek to sign a veteran quarterback and use their #1 pick to draft another position. Following the Detroit Lions in the draft are the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks, all of which had terrible seasons in 2008. Amongst these three, the Kansas City Chiefs are the only franchise that has a reliable quarterback, so it could be that Stafford or Sanchez wind up with one of these teams as well.
Following the first four, it’s not quite clear who will end up where, though it is expected both Stafford and Sanchez will have a home within the first 10 picks. Some of the other hot prospects include Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree, Offensive Tackle Eugene Monroe, and Running Back Knowshon Moreno.
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