Bleacher Report - Articles by Tony Meyer

One-on-One With the Up-and-Coming Joe Staley

Tony Meyer — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:40:45 -0400

I recently sat down with one of my favorite NFL players, and a fellow Central Michigan alum, Joe Staley, Left Tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.

Mr. Staley may not be a household name just yet, but true football fans appreciate what he has accomplished and he will be an elite offensive lineman before you know it, if he isn't one already.

Here's how the interview went down:

You were a dominant Tackle in the MAC; how hard has it been to adjust to the NFL?

At first it was crazy. My head was spinning everyday.

I think the biggest adjustment at first is the speed the game is played at this level. After you get used to that, the mental aspect comes into play. The blitz schemes, all the different plays and various packages you run them out of, and just grasping what it is to be a professional every day.

I am still working on being more mentally strong, as well as technique and the physical aspect of the game.

In your rookie season you played with one of the all-time great O-Linemen in Larry Allen. What kinds of things did you learn from him?

Larry was a man of few words, but when he spoke everyone listened.

I learned how to approach practice, and as well as the physical nature you need to have to be successful. He was in his last season, and he still showed up everyday, would ask questions, and work on different little things.

That impressed me because he is one of the best to ever play and he was always striving to get better.

What is is like playing for Coach Singletary? What are the best aspects?

Singletary is a very focused and driven coach. He has the respect of every guy on the team, and I think that is huge for a head coach.

He has played the game at a high level and understands what it takes to be successful. He is very demanding and challenging, and I am really looking forward to playing for him.

Who is the toughest guy that you have had to block thus far in your career?

Michael Strahan my rookie season.

Although I really struggled against him, I learned a great deal from that game. I got a quick lesson on what it means to be completely prepared for an opponent and the mental makeup it takes every Sunday to succeed.

You must go into every game with the mindset that you are superior to anyone you play, and almost need to be cocky.

I have gone into everygame after that believing that if I do what I do best, no one in the NFL can beat me.

Believe In Now: My Mock Interview With Calvin Johnson

Tony Meyer — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:36:48 -0400

Hey Calvin, thanks for meeting with me. You are much bigger in person, goodness!

I have written down a list of tough questions for you to answer, so let's get right to it.

Tony Meyer: What have you been doing in the offseason thus far?

Calvin Johnson: The first few weeks after the season was over was personal time for me. I went back to Georgia and visited with my family and got away from football for a while. I still watched the playoffs, however, and saw one of my fellow receivers, Larry Fitzgerald, really make a name for himself.

I have been working hard, training and lifting everyday, so that I can hopefully make some noise this season like Mr. Fitzgerald did last season.

TM: How do you feel about the acquisition of Matthew Stafford?

CJ: Matthew is a very talented quarterback, and I think he is going to help our team in the near future. Daunte Culpepper is our quarterback right now, though, and he and I have been putting work in together in the offseason.

If Matthew dedicates himself to working as hard as he can and doing everything possible to help this team, they he and I will have no problems.

TM: What positives did you take from last season's struggles?

CJ: I hate losing. Last season was hard on everyone, but I took it especially hard. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to realize what needs to be done to be successful.

While it didn't show in our win/loss record, there were a lot of positives last season. Kevin Smith emerged as a reliable running back, and we did some good things in the passing game. We just need to learn how to play a complete game. We need to learn how to win as a team.

TM: You had a breakout season in 2008; what specific things can you do to become even better than last year?

CJ: I have focused this offseason on run blocking and route running. If you look at a team like the Steelers last season, you will see their wide receivers throwing devastating blocks down the field. That can turn a 15 yards gain on the ground into a 50-yarder.

I have been studying guys like Jerry Rice and Torry Holt a lot this offseason. What set them apart from their peers was their ability to run crisp, precise routes.

The defensive back never knew where they were going. I have been working on my quickness and footwork hard this offseason and I feel that I will be a more complete receiver in 2009.

TM: Finally, what do you expect from the 2009 Detroit Lions?

CJ: I feel like 2008 was light years ago. We have come into this season with a fresh start, and Coach Schwartz has preached to us to leave last season in the past. I feel like we have made some smart moves and brought in guys who are hungry and want to turn this team into a contender.

I think we have enough talent to compete with anyone in this league, and I feel that when our offense is clicking we are really tough to stop. I am not going to make any predictions like out former quarterback, but I will say that the 2009 Lions will ignite the city of Detroit and bring excitement to our loyal fans.

Thank you so much Calvin! You have made a believer out of me.

From Small Time to Prime Time, Part III: Top 10

Tony Meyer — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:31:10 -0400

In the final edition of this three part series, we take a look at the top ten small time college players who made it to the big show. So far I expect that you have all recognized most of the names on this list, and I guarantee that everyone will recognize each name in the top ten. So, without further adieu, the top ten list. Thanks for taking the time to look at all of these slides. If you think it took a long time to check out the slideshows, just think how long it took to compose them!

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Part II: From Small Time to Prime Time: Nos. 51-11

Tony Meyer — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:25:04 -0400

I hope you enjoyed part I of this two part series. I can imagine a lot of you were wondering if I omitted some players from my list or if they were merely ranked in my top half. I invite you to take a gander at the second part of the list. I hope you all enjoy! Feel free to debate over rankings and omissions.

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From Small Time to Prime Time: The 100 Best NFL Players Who Did Not Attend a Division I School of the Past 25 Years: #100-52

Tony Meyer — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:51 -0400

As I was watching the draft a couple of weekends ago, there were several names that went across the ticker that I hadn't ever heard of. When your team selects a player that you have never heard of, it's hard to be positive about this news. Here are some players that were selected relatively high that you may not have noticed: Dallas selected Jason Williams, a linebacker out of Western Illinois in the third round. Jacksonville selected Derek Cox, a cornerback out of William & Mary in the third round. Baltimore selected Lardarius Webb, a cornerback out of Nicholls State in the third round. Detroit selected Sammie Lee Hill, a defensive tackle out of Stillman in the fourth round. There are several more players who didn't play at Division I schools who NFL teams are expecting to make an impact in the upcoming season, and these teams are justified in their expectations. Over the past 25 years there have been countless small time college players who have put together spectacular NFL careers. So let's remember some of the names from this draft and take a look back at some others who paved the way. Enjoy!

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Overrated? I Think Not. The NFL's All-Big Ten Team

Tony Meyer — Sun, 10 May 2009 09:10:22 -0400

The Big Ten conference has been much maligned over the past few years because of its poor performances in BCS bowls.

The majority of the nation despises watching "Big Ten football" because it is low scoring and very physical. But if you look at some of the talent, you realize that the style of football that is played translates well to the NFL.

So, without further adieu, here is the roster:

QB- Tom Brady/Michigan

RB- Marion Barber/Minnesota

FB- Jameel Cook/Illinois

WR- Braylon Edwards/Michigan

WR- Plaxico Burress/Michigan State

WR- Santonio Holmes/Ohio State

TE- Dallas Clark/Iowa

T- Joe Thomas/Wisconsin

T- Matt Light/Purdue

G- Kris Dielman/Indiana

G- Steve Hutchinson/Michigan

C- LeCharles Bentley/Ohio State

DE- Will Smith/Ohio State

DE- Adewale Ogunleye/Indiana

DT- Jonathan Babineaux/Iowa

DT- Barry Coefield/Northwestern

LB- Shaun Phillips/Purdue

LB- A.J. Hawk/Ohio State

LB- Julian Peterson/Michigan State

CB- Charles Woodson/Michigan

CB- Nate Clements/Ohio State

S- Bob Sanders/Iowa

S- Donte Whitner/Ohio State

K- Robbie Gould/Penn State

P- Jason Baker/Iowa

KR- Ted Ginn Jr./Ohio State

Restore The Roar: Fathomable Expectations For The 2009 Detroit Lions

Tony Meyer — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:56:06 -0400

I'm not one to beat around the bush, so here it is; The 2008 season for the Detroit Lions was a disappointment.

Shocking statement, I know.

But seriously, has there ever been a more talented team to go winless in a season?

I can't think of one.

All of the jokes have already been made about the Lions' historically bad season, so the rest of this article is going to be positive and optimistic.

The Lions have already gone a long way in improving their roster, and this offseason has been one of the better ones in recent history.

They added some nice veteran pieces, such as Larry Foote and Julian Peterson. They added, via the draft, Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and a nice safety in Louis Delmas.

But as all of the experts said, the draft is only successful if the coaching staff can develop the talent that is brought in.

The Lions haven't exactly been breaking any records in that category. But I feel confident that this year's draft class will turn out to be one of the better classes in the past decade.

While the Lions' management has put some pieces in play thus far, there is still a ways to go talent-wise. With that being said, here are some things the Lions must do to overcome the lack of superb talent at key positions.

Convert on Third Down

The Lions only converted on 28.7 percent of their third downs in 2008. At the same time, their opponents converted on 45.6 percent. This is going to sound obvious, but sometimes the obvious things are the most important; the Lions need to stay on the field more on offense and get off the field on defense.

To go along with third down conversions, the Lions were at a six minute disadvantage in time of possession. You can't ask your defense to stay on the field that long no matter how good they are.

Take Care of the Football

It's no secret that the Lion's secondary was atrocious last season. But Leigh Bodden was the only Lions defensive back with an interception last season, and he only had one.

When you see that kind of statistic, you have to think that the turnover ratio wasn't all that good. And it wasn't. The Lions were minus nine in turnovers last season, which is actually not all the quarterback's fault.

If the Lions can be opportunistic on defense this season and smart with the ball on offense, it could lead to better opportunities to rack up some victories this season.

Protect the Quarterback

The Lions surrendered 52 quarterback sacks last season, which averages out to over three a game. While the Lions didn't directly improve their offensive line through the draft or free agency, the new regime has promised to focus more on running the football, which directly effects how the offensive line performs.

If the Lions can establish Kevin Smith early in games and not get too far behind on the scoreboard, the pressure on the quarterback will be far less than we Lions fans are accustomed to.

This could be very important this season, especially if Matthew "$41.7 million" Stafford is under center.

Best case scenario, the Lions get out of the cellar and win seven or eight games.

Realistically, they are going to be looking at around four or five wins. The win-loss record this season isn't as important as the eye test. If we, Lions fans, can see some improvement on the field, we can be patient another season before Jim Swartz gets hot under the collar.

I expect the Lions to play better at home this season as well. Lord knows Detroit needs it.

What's Next for the Detroit Pistons?

Tony Meyer — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:19:00 -0400

For the past six years, the fans of the Detroit Pistons have been spoiled.

The regular season had become meaningless, as had the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs. We Pistons fans had a "wake me up when the conference finals start" attitude, and so did our team.

That attitude made this Piston's season even tougher to swallow.

Losing in the first round? This isn't supposed to happen!

We all knew that the era of dominance would come to an end eventually, but one still is never really ready for it.

I compare this season to the movie Marley and Me. We all knew the dog was going to die at the end, but I still got choked up when it actually happened. Deep down, I was still hoping that poor Marley was going to pull through.

And deep down, I was still holding out hope that the Pistons would flip their perennial switch that they seemed to always have access to.

Unfortunately, this season, there was a power outage.

I am slowly beginning to accept the fact that there will be no basketball in May or June. This leaves more time to ask the question, "what's next?"

I was discussing this with my buddy Mat earlier, and there are a few options that Joe Dumars has at his disposal.

The first and most obvious move to make is to let Allen Iverson skip out of town. Rasheed Wallace can follow closely behind.

The next logical move would be trading Tayshaun Prince and Jason Maxiell—and maybe the 15th pick—to the Raptors for Chris Bosh. I think that Toronto would pull the trigger on this deal.

The next move would be to acquire Marvin Williams via free agency. He is still very young and hasn't quite lived up to his potential, but the last time I checked, the Pistons have thrived with players who fit that mold.

Lastly, I think Dumars should do everything he can to talk Antonio McDyess into coming back for one or two more years.

If these moves were to happen, the Pistons would have a starting lineup that looks something like this:

Rodney Stuckey

Rip Hamilton

Marvin Williams

Chris Bosh

Antonio McDyess

Bench: Will Bynum, Aaron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Kwame Brown and another free agent sixth man.

With that lineup I think the Pistons are back into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

I will always put my trust in Joe Dumars, and whether the offseason ends up like my blueprint or something completely different, I will continue to hold out hope for a quick return to glory.

The Best Draft Classes of Each NFL Team; Modern Draft Era

Tony Meyer — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:54:06 -0400

Each team in the NFL has had its good and not so good moments in the NFL Draft. I have already chronicled some of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, now it's time to look at each team's best draft class. In one magical draft, a team can add several Pro-Bowlers and even one or two Hall of Famers to its roster. So, without further adieu, here are the best draft classes, in alphabetical order.

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The NFL's All-MAC Team: Mid-Major Schools, Major Talent

Tony Meyer — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:31:52 -0400

The NFL Draft is a wonderful event for players and NFL franchises, but it is also good publicity for the universities that the players are selected from.

We all know the traditional powerhouses, such as USC, Miami, Ohio State, LSU and so on. They always have a plethora of players who get selected in the first round. We have seen these schools play on television numerous times, and we know the players.

But what happens when your team picks a player from a smaller school that you haven't seen play? Yeah, Mel Kiper has a rap sheet on him, but he hasn't passed your own personal eye test.

The Mid-American Conference has developed a number of spectacular NFL players without the publicity of the "BCS" conferences. This year, guys like Larry English of Northern Illinois and Nate Davis of Ball State will hear their name called in the first or second round. If it is your team selecting one of these guys, have no fear.

I have put together the All-MAC team of current NFL players. Read it and weep.

QB- Ben Roethlisberger- Miami (OH)

RB- Michael Turner- Northern Illinois

FB- Jason McKie- Temple

WR- Greg Jennings- Western Michigan

WR- Kevin Walter- Eastern Michigan

TE- Antonio Gates- Kent State

T- Nick Kaczur- Toledo

T- Joe Staley- Central Michigan

G- Jacob Bell- Miami (OH)

G- Andy Alleman- Akron

C- Eric Ghiaciuc- Central Michigan

DE- Jason Taylor- Akron

DE- Raheem Brock- Temple

DT- Cullen Jenkins- Central Michigan

DT- Hollis Thomas- Northern Illinois

LB- James Harrison- Kent State

LB- Jason Babin- Western Michigan

LB- Chase Blackburn- Akron

CB- Usama Young- Miami (OH)

CB- Kelly Herndon- Toledo

S- Abram Elam- Miami (OH)

S- Dwight Smith- Akron

K- Shaun Suisham- Bowling Green

P- Brad Maynard- Ball State

KR/PR- Joshua Cribbs- Kent State

Not a bad starting roster.

Next time you watch a MAC game, keep your eyes peeled because more of these guys are going to be dominating on Sundays than you think.

The NFL's 25 Best Undrafted Players of All Time

Tony Meyer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:34:55 -0400

The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting off the field event on the sports calendar. It is exciting because every team is involved, and, as fans, every pick generates interest somewhere. We see players that we have watched in college sell themselves to a particular franchise, hoping to be the guy to change its fortunes. Sometimes a few teams miss on a guy, and sometimes EVERY team misses on a guy. Here are 25 guys who were overlooked by every team in the NFL on draft day.

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Death, Taxes, NFL Draft Busts: A Team-By-Team Look at Underachievers

Tony Meyer — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:21:22 -0400

There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and draft busts. It happens to every team at some point and time. The NFL Draft, especially the first round, can make or break your franchise for years and years. I have compiled a list of the biggest bust from each team in the NFL. I have also included three players that were passed on who have had great success in the league. Yes, I know hindsight is always 20/20, but it is fun, and sometimes painful, to see what could have been. Enjoy!

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It's Going To Be a Long Summer for the Detroit Tigers

Tony Meyer — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:34:26 -0400

Trust me, I am not the type of guy to panic this early into a season. Baseball is a sport where a team can have a really bad first month or two and still be in the hunt come September.

But if these first two games are any indication of what is still to come, it is going to be a long and frustrating summer.

It's no secret that the economy here in Michigan is in dire straits, and that is going to have an effect on this franchise.

Already, we have seen season ticket sales cut in half from last year.

The Tigers have the third highest payroll in the Majors, and now with projected revenues being sub par, it will be interesting to see what happens with this roster.

Detroit has several high-priced veterans who are likely to be moved before the trade deadline, granted there are any takers.

Two who will most definitely be moved are Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen.

Ordonez is going to make $18 million in 2009. Guillen will make around $10 million.

There is no doubt that these two are spectacular players, and it would be devastating if the club were to lose either one; however, I just don't see a plausible scenario in which they stay on board.

If the economy isn't bad enough, look at the performances on the field.

To have any semblance of a successful season, Justin Verlander is going to have to find himself. He doesn't need to repeat his 2006 and 2007 seasons, but he needs to be able to eat up some innings and give the team quality starts. The Tigers can't count on their bullpen to bail them out this year.

Speaking of the bullpen, I knew it was a really bad sign when the Tigers signed Brandon Lyon to come in as the closer. I mean, when was the last time the words "Lyon/Lion" and "win" were used in the same sentence in the city of Detroit?

Oh, do I miss the blood-boiling days of Todd Jones...

There are a few bright spots, however.

Edwin Jackson looks as if he is going to be a quality starter. He deserved to get a W last night and will see his fair share of wins this season.

Rick Porcello, the Tigers' No. 1 pick in 2007, looks like he is going to be a stud. He will be in the rotation very soon. He has drawn comparisons to Josh Beckett, and that is never a bad thing.

Here's hoping I'm wrong and Detroit has a magical run in them. For now, I'm not holding my breath.

There's No "I"-verson In Team

Tony Meyer — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:14:16 -0400

Back in the summer of 2004, shortly after the Detroit Pistons won the NBA Championship, I went to a local sporting goods store and purchased a pair of basketball shoes.

These shoes were endorsed by one Chauncey Billups, and they were the shoes he wore while he played.

Every time I geared up to play ball, the C-Bill's enveloped my feet.

No, they weren't the most comfortable shoes, and for the first few months I had countless blisters on my heels, but they got the job done. I wasn't going to abandon my favorite kicks.

Last October, I was hooping at the local high school, and I noticed something felt wrong with my shoes. After a few games I inspected the shoes and noticed that there was a gaping hole in the bottom of the right foot.

I was devastated.

Flash forward to a week later, November 4th. I had the day off, and I woke up to a text message from my buddy Mat: "Chauncey traded to Denver for AI."

What? Mat is the type of guy who would try to pull my leg about this kind of stuff, so I figured he was just messing with me. Naturally, I turned on ESPN to see if there was any news of this.

Nothing.

I texted Mat back, confused and a little upset.

Then I saw it. It was true. Mat was right.

After the Pistons were eliminated in last year's playoffs, Joe Dumars promised that changes would be made. As the summer progressed, Flip Saunders was the only one to go. There were no significant changes with the roster.

This season started off well, like it has for the past decade. Then, just two games into the season, the trade was made.

Detroit is not a team known for having a superstar. Even back to the Isaiah Thomas days, team play was valued over individual accomplishments.

So why would we trade Billups, the ultimate team player, for Allen Iverson, a supreme talent, but never known for his all-around team play?

The words "salary dump" floated around. How can you look at Mr. Big Shot as merely a number? I guess sometimes we forget that this is a business.

Anyway, the Pistons still had most of their nucleus in tact, and rumors that McDyess wanted to come back made it a little easier to swallow.

I was a little interested to see how Iverson would fit in. In Philadelphia, everything was about him. The offense ran through him. In Denver, he was playing next to another superstar in Carmelo Anthony and everyone wondered if there were enough shots to go around.

In Detroit, the offense wasn't going to run through him. He was going to have to learn how to get him points in the flow of the offense. I figured that since he was hungry for a title, he would do what it took to make this work.

The first few games were tough to watch. A loss on the road to New Jersey, and then an ugly loss at home against Boston; things were different, but it was only two games, let him get adjusted.

Well, weeks went by, and he never adjusted. Rip Hamilton, the captain, accepted his role coming off the bench so that Iverson could start.

The Pistons were hovering around .500 and things were in disarray. Then Iverson had to sit with an injury, and the team looked like its old self for a stretch. The offense flowed and they were looking like a team again.

Recently, Coach Michael Curry stated that when Iverson came back from his injury, he would come off of the bench. You would think a guy who is trying to fit in would accept this role and do anything to help the team.

But no, he wasn't comfortable coming off the bench. He couldn't "do his thing." That is the type of selfishness that equates to a losing basketball team. We don't need it here in Detroit.

Joe Dumars has since shut down Iverson for the remainder of the regular and post season. My question to him, what took you so long?

I tried everything I could to repair that hole in my shoe. I tried duct tape, I even tried wearing an extra pair of socks, but nothing I did could repair the hole in my shoe.

And nothing can repair the hole that was left when Chauncey left this franchise. Nothing.

A Message from Tom Izzo: It's Time To Shine

Tony Meyer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:41:50 -0400

Back in my high school days in Saginaw, MI, I remember how nervous I would get before a big game.

I would pace back and forth, think about all of the plays we ran in practice, go over the game plan in my head, anything I could do to put my mind at ease.

Our coach would get us prepared, then give us a rousing speech and we would be pumped for the game.

This past winter, I coached a freshmen girls basketball team. We lost our first 14 games, and our final game was home against Chesaning, a team that handled us at their place by 19.

This game may not have meant much to Chesaning or anyone else, but for us it was our Super Bowl. No team wants to go winless at any level of competition (e.g. Lions, Detroit 2008).

We had a great week of practice, and our game plan was set. We knew that we would have to execute and play a perfect game to get our first W.

Before the game, I reminded my girls that I was so proud and that if they went out there and played hard and gave 100 percent, they would come out winners, regardless of the score.

I love how CBS has been showing the teams locker room right before the game. I love hearing what the coaches have to say. I love seeing the demeanor of the players. Are they nervous? Are they confident? It fascinates me.

On Saturday, moments before the 6:07 tip, Coach Izzo will rally his troops. Here is how I picture it in my head:

Coach Izzo: Here we are, guys. It's been a long season, but we are finally here. When the season started, we had a set of goals for this team.

Win the Big Ten Championship. Check.

Reach the Sweet 16. Check.

Elite Eight. Check.

Final Four. Check.

We have two checks left to go. This UConn team is tough. They have been tough all year. They are supremely talented, even more so than the team we just beat. It is going to take a collaborative effort for everyone on this team.

Hasheem Thabeet is a monster. It is going to take discipline and intelligence to neutralize his talents. Goran, make him guard you on the perimeter. Open up the lane so our guards can penetrate.

Idong, while you are in there, try to keep him off the offensive glass as best you can and force him to catch the ball 8-10 feet away from the basket.

Draymond, use your big body and play physical with the guy.

Kalin, the matchup with you and A.J. Price is going to be a good one. Price is a deadly shooter from the perimeter so we have to contest his outside shots and force him to take bad shots.

If he gets into the lane we have to collapse and then when he kicks run out and contest the shot.

Raymar. Wait, where is Raymar? Oh yeah, he hasn't shown up since before Christmas. Can someone please go find him?

Our transition game is going to be the determining factor. If we can create turnovers and capitalize on our fast break, that will be the great equalizer and take Thabeet out of the game. For all of the great things he does, running the floor isn't one of them.

It will be important to find our spot up shooter, Summers and Allen, on the break for a transition three. This is where we can really take advantage.

Let's go out there and play our game. We are in our own backyard, playing in front of our friends and family. The last time we played in this building we were utterly embarrassed. Let's not let that happen again.

We are a different team now. We have shown that we can play with the big boys. We are not intimidated.

We know that our famous alumni, Magic and Mateen, will be out there expecting us to represent "State" across your chest. Let's do it with pride! It's our time, men, let's make it happen!!!

Oh, and by the way, my freshmen team went out and played a perfect game. We beat Chesaning by 16 and ended our season with our first win. I have never been more happy and proud than when the final seconds ticked off the clock and I saw the sheer jubilation on those girl's faces.

I hope to see that same look on the Spartans player's faces when the final seconds tick off Saturday.

The 15 Greatest Draft Picks of the Last 25 Years: Detroit Lions

Tony Meyer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:19:45 -0400

Let's face it, the Detroit Lions are one of the worst franchises in the NFL. They have been for some time. Over the last 25 years, they have made some head scratching decisions in the NFL Draft. While these decisions have frustrated the Lions faithful, there have been some picks that have paid off. I have compiled a list of the 15 best picks of the last 25 years. This list will move chronicologically, from the oldest to the most recent. Feel free to comment on and omissions or additions that you would like to see. Hopefully I will be able to add a few names to this list come the end of April!

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Please...Continue to Disrespect the Michigan State Spartans

Tony Meyer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:29:54 -0400

Is this really happening? Are the Michigan State Spartans, the glistening flower amongst all of the Big Ten dandelions, really in the Final Four?

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Michigan State was supposed to be overrated. Yeah, they were good for a couple of wins in the tourney, but there was no way their style of basketball would work against the "big boys" from elite conferences.

When I wrote this piece, I didn't honestly think that it would come true.

Well, low and behold, a miracle took place. Yes, there should be no surprise when a No. 2 seed finds itself in the Final Four, but this situation is different.

It took a superb shooting night from Travis Walton, a marksman by no means, to slip past a hot USC team.

It took a furious comeback and sensational stretch by Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas to squeak by the defending champs.

Meanwhile, Louisville had just done things to Arizona that are illegal in 46 states. The Cardinals were primed for another Final Four, they just had to take care of business against MSU. No problem, right?

WRONG!

One thing that I have learned in my duration as a State fan is that a Tom Izzo-led team will not roll over for anyone. When the stakes are high and their backs are against the wall, that's when they are the most dangerous.

Yet, for some reason, when Michigan State makes a deep run, like it is doing for the fifth time in 11 years, it's a fluke. It wasn't supposed to happen.

Dick Vitale didn't think this could happen. Neither did Digger Phelps, nor Doug Gottlieb, nor Mike and Mike, nor Jay Bilas, nor Bob Knight, and there are countless others.

Luckily, it really doesn't matter what those people think. Izzo has yet again done a masterful job of getting his players to buy into his system. He has used the lack of respect to fuel his team.

We see this all the time. The 2004 Detroit Pistons used their lack of respect to beat a Lakers team in the Finals that sported four Hall of Famers.

The Arizona Cardinals got no respect and used that to make it to the most recent Super Bowl.

The same holds true with the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays.

The problem now is that once a team reaches the Final Four, it is tough to fly under the radar. There is good news, however.

Connecticut is favored by four points. Everyone is saying that UConn is going to win. No one is giving State a chance.

I would like to say something to all of these people:

KEEP IT UP!

Seriously. I would consider it a personal favor.

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

Tony Meyer — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:27:04 -0400

Dear Football,

I can't stop thinking about you. It's been two long months, and I know that there is still so long to go.

You constantly are teasing me. I see you on the television, I read about you, I fantasize about you. But I know that no matter how hard I try, you won't be coming back for a while.

We had such a great time together. You have been a part of my life for over 20 years, but it never gets any easier when you are gone.

Yes, there are other things to occupy my mind when you are gone, but nothing can fill the void that you leave in my heart.

Don't you remember our Sundays together? Sunday was our day. Yes, I know that there was the occasional Thursday. Mondays were fun, too. But Sundays were our time together, and now I wake up on Sunday morning and a wave of depression rushes over me.

I have done everything in my power to devote my life to you and only you, but when you leave, it just hurts so badly. I know I will get to see you again on Apr. 26, but that just isn't enough for me.

Last year was really hard on me, and I'm sure I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I didn't mean. Suffering through the worst season in history can take its toll on our relationship, but you know that no matter how bad it gets, I will never leave you.

I need you. My life is incomplete without you. Please come back!

I miss you so much. I know that you miss me, too.

Love,

Tony xoxo

Ho-Hum: Another Sweet 16 for Michigan State

Tony Meyer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:10:59 -0400

In eight of the last 11 years, the Michigan State Spartans have found themselves in the Sweet Sixteen. That's about 73 percent, or three out of every four appearances in the Big Dance.

When people think or talk about the perennial powerhouses in college basketball, MSU is usually not on the short list. Teams like North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Connecticut, and UCLA are mentioned, but not MSU. Why is that?

First of all, the Spartans play in the Big Ten. This brand of basketball is not aesthetically pleasing to most, save some traditionalists out there.

Second, this is a team which bases its identity on unselfishness and sharing the ball, so rarely do we see a superstar or a guy who is going to score over 20 a night.

Lastly, the pundits out there will argue that teams in the Big Ten are over-matched athletically compared to other top tier teams and conferences.

Well, if we look at the numbers, it is obvious to see that Michigan State has had as impressive a decade as any team in the country.

What better way to wrap up the 2000's than to put a ribbon on top in the form of a national championship.

To do that, certain things need to happen, and here are a few:

Outside Shooting

The college game has become blatantly dependent on the three-pointer. If a team were to catch fire at the right time, you can throw talent and game-planning out the window.

Outside shooting is by no means a strength for the Spartans, but it could be an asset. Durrell Summers and Chris Allen can be deadly from deep. In order for them to get opportunities, however, it rests on Kalin Lucas's ability to penetrate and kick so that these two guys can get some open looks.

Summers and Allen are also superb transition specialists, not afraid to pull up on the fast break and nail a three, whether Tom Izzo likes it or not.

Other guys, such as Goran Suton, Lucas, and Korie Lucious are capable of hitting an open three as well. Travis Walton came up huge against USC, but counting on him from the outside night in and night out just makes me uncomfortable.

I guess this goes for about every team, but if the State is not hitting from the outside, there is no way they sniff the Final Four.

Protecting the Ball

The one knock on Michigan State this year and traditionally is that they have a propensity to turn the ball over. Now, against lesser teams this usually does not come back to haunt them, but when you get into tournament play, every possession is crucial.

The defense and intensity is turned up a few notches when the tournament rolls around, so protecting the ball against the feisty defenders in mandatory.

Michigan State runs great sets in the half court and if they are able to progress through a few different options on a possession then their odds of getting an easy shot are high.

Where they run into trouble is when they rush their offense and either take a bad shot or turn the ball over. When watching an MSU game you can always count on about three illegal screen calls and four or five traveling calls. It's right up there with death and taxes.

If MSU can protect the ball and force the defense to play a tough 30-35 seconds, they will get a high percentage shot and frustrate the defense in the process.

Rebounding

Almost as important as protecting the ball is protecting the glass. Michigan State has always prided themselves on rebounding, and this year is no different.

Holding a team to one shot per possession and keeping them off the offensive glass is essential to winning these next four games. Suton has been solid all year and Draymond Green is emerging as a force on the boards.

The Spartans do have a knack for going into shooting droughts, so crashing the offensive glass and getting easy put-backs is yet another way to generate offense.

X-Factor

Raymar Morgan

I've said it before and I'll say it again, will the real Raymar Morgan please stand up?

Here is his line from the USC game:

17 minutes played, three points on 0-4 shooting, two rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, and four fouls.

UNACCEPTABLE!

Yes, he may still be slightly feeling the effects of walking pneumonia/mono that has plagued him recently, but the Spartans need a better showing from him moving forward.

The guy, when on his game, is a matchup nightmare for most college players and can be dominant for stretches at a time. However, we haven't seen that much this season. Hopefully, for the Spartans sake, he has been saving his best for last.

If Michigan State can capitalize on these few aspects then they should have no problem getting through these next two games and into the Final Four.

Let's face it, it all comes down to officiating. If this next game is called as poorly as the last game was, it will end in another busted remote control in the Meyer household.

I just thought I would throw that in there Mark Cuban-style.

Why the MSU Spartans Will Cruise to the Final Four

Tony Meyer — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:52:29 -0400

When the Selection Show was finished and I printed off my first fresh bracket of 2009, something struck me as I looked at the match-ups: Michigan State has it made in the shade.

Don't get me wrong, the NCAA Tournament is highly unpredictable, but sometimes logic outweighs chance. Here are some logical reasons why MSU will make it to Detroit.

Midwest Region

Looking at the bottom half of this region, I notice that there are really no scary teams present. Let's look at some potential matchups for the Spartans:

Boston College: While the Eagles had one nice win against Duke, this team LOST TO HARVARD, AND BY 12!

USC: This team is hot right now, but they are young and have little experience. I don't doubt their talent, but I also don't see them putting together a performance that would send the Spartans home.

West Virginia: "Huggy Bear" has this team playing pretty well, but it's going to be tough to beat the Spartans when the Mountaineers lose to Dayton in the first round.

Dayton: This is the team that could make some noise. They handled Marquette earlier this season and are kind of a wild card because they don't get much exposure.

Kansas: After losing just about everybody from their National Championship team last season, the Jayhawks recovered and put together a good season. But looks can be deceiving.

Kansas capitalized on a shaky Big 12 and stockpiled wins against bad conference opponents. They got mauled by Texas Tech and Baylor just in the past 10 days. Also, the Spartans absolutely dominated them when they met at the Bres.

If and when the Spartans make it out of their half of the bracket, they will most likely meet either Louisville, a hot team who would undoubtedly pose the bigger threat to MSU's title run, or Wake Forest, a team that started the season on fire but has cooled off recently.

I see Michigan State beating Louisville in the Elite Eight to make it to Detroit.

Coaching

Tom Izzo has possibly one of the most talented squads he has ever coached. I think getting out of the tough Big Ten schedule and playing some less defensive-minded teams will open up the game for the Spartans.

Izzo will have this team ready. And if Korie Lucious can play like he did against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, that is just another weapon Izzo will have at his disposal.

Experience

Travis Walton, Goran Suton, and Marquise Gray have done this three times already. They are poised under pressure and will be integral pieces to this team's title chase.

Even the younger Spartans got to experience the Sweet Sixteen last year, so they know what tournament play is all about.

Depth

In a single-elimination format, anything can happen. A star player (such as Raymar Morgan) could pick up two quick fouls and be on the bench for the entire first half. Therefore, it's important to have players who can come off the bench and give the team a spark.

Michigan State has guys like Durrell Summers, Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Marquise Gray, and Draymond Green who can come off the pine and help the team not miss a beat.

That is where the smaller schools fall off. They may have a good starting five, but if they lose one player, it's hard for them to recover.

Kalin Lucas

While depth is important, it is more important that your team's superstars perform. Lucas has the ability to carry this team on his back and win a game on his own. If Lucas is on his game, there is nobody in the country that can guard him.

So there you have it; four solid points leading to the Spartans reaching the Final Four. This team is built to make a run this year, and I don't see any team in their region that will stop them.

Hopefully, come this weekend, Robert Morris won't burst the bubble. For all of you Robert Morris fans out there, I didn't mean to ignore or overlook you. It was an honest mistake.

2009 Mock Draft: Hall of Fame Edition

Tony Meyer — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:33:45 -0400

Everyone has a mock draft out there. For the most part, they are all very similar. Don't get me wrong, I can't get enough draft coverage, but after a while there really isn't anything new. As you can tell, I have way too much time on my hands so I have used the 2009 NFL Draft order and did a mock draft using players from the Hall of Fame. It would be interesting to see who would go where, and here are some on my thoughts about it.

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Detroit Pistons: Analyzing Their Stretch Run

Tony Meyer — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:33:02 -0400

This Pistons' season has been unlike any we have seen in the past decade. Rarely have we seen this much inconsistency in a season.

Lately, however, the Pistons that we have grown to know and love have peeked around the corner. It looks like they are ready to turn that corner and sprint toward the finish line.

While this team is not the traditional powerhouse they once were, they can still be very dangerous come May.

Let's take a look at some strengths, weaknesses, and matchups that could be favorable or cause problems.

Strengths

Experience — Whether people think this is overrated or not, playoff experience is not something this team is lacking. Most of the players on this team have been through several intense playoff games, and that can only help their mental toughness.

Continuity — While there are some new faces on this squad, most of the team has been together for quite some time now. Their continuity, at least the first half of the season, was in question. Now that the main pieces are back in their normal places, they are playing with more fluidity and continuity and come playoff time that could be more important than anything.

Defense — Detroit, dating back to the late 80s, has always hung their hat on the defensive side of the floor. While this particular team is not going to set any defensive records, they still have the ability to dominate a game defensively for an extended period of time. Defense is mostly desire and effort, and when this team buckles down and gives 100 percent, they can be dominant.

Bench — There are few teams in the NBA that can go 12 deep with confidence, and the Pistons are one of them. Being able to bring in high energy guys like Afflalo, Maxiell, and Amir Johnson allows for a different tempo. The starters can set a tone, and the bench can come in and take it to another level.

Weaknesses

Perimeter shooting —What this team, and several Piston teams before them are susceptible to is extended shooting droughts. The inability, or unwillingness, of their big men to utilize their post game can cause these droughts to be detrimental to the outcome of the game.

Allen Iverson — While one of the strengths of this team is continuity, that was only accomplished with AI out of the lineup. No one can argue that Iverson is talented beyond belief and is doing his best to fit into the the system, but it is just not working yet. When Iverson is in the game, he is at his best when he is dominating the ball. The Pistons are best when they have great ball movement and can find an open shot for someone. The styles are too contrasting to be successful in a playoff series, regardless of the opponent.

X-Factor Walter Hermann — He is the one guy who can bring a spark offensively from off the bench. He can take over a game for a short stretch with his outside shooting and crazy one-handed shots. He causes matchup problems for opposing defenses and could prove to be very valuable in the playoffs.

Ideal First Round Matchup

Orlando — Anyone that has paid attention to either team this year has noticed that the Pistons own the Magic. If the season sweep this year was not enough, we can go back to when Tracy McGrady played for Orlando and made his absurd "it's great to finally be in the second round" statement when they were up 3-1. Oh yeah, Detroit won three straight and bounced Orlando from the playoffs in convincing fashion.

Much like how Jordan couldn't get passed the Pistons 20 years ago, Orlando just can't beat Detroit. Certain teams just don't matchup well against others, and this is the case here.

Scariest First Round Match-up

Boston — While I doubt that Detroit will fall to a seven or eight seed, it is a possibility that Orlando could move up and steal the second seed from Boston. If the Pistons have to play Boston in the first round, it could be the longest offseason Detroit has seen in some time.

There are three reasons why Boston scares the Pistons:

—They are the defending champs, and they don't want to relinquish their crown without a fight.

—They pound the offensive glass and frustrate Rip Hamilton on the defensive end.

—They have guys, Big Baby Davis and Brian Scalabrine to name a few, who play out of their minds against the Pistons, for some reason.

The Celtics force teams to change the way they play because they are so intense on defense and every possession is a battle. I don't think the Pistons have the focus and toughness this year to overcome this. Maybe it is because of a first-year coach, or maybe they have just lost their "mojo".

These next three months will be very interesting. How will Allen Iverson deal with coming off the bench when he gets back? Will Michael Curry discover a way to get everyone on the same page? Will Rodney Stuckey take the next step and become the leader on the floor?

I am looking forward to finding out the answer to all of these questions.

Chuck Daly: The Ultimate Bad Boy

Tony Meyer — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:14:09 -0500

Anyone with any type of connection to the Detroit Pistons will tell you that the greatest coach in the franchise's robust history is one Chuck Daly.

While he never got the love or fanfare of some of his coaching counterparts, there is no denying the impact that he had on the game of basketball and how it is played today.

Daly and the Bad Boys ushered in a new style of play, focusing on defense, rebounding, and toughness. They turned basketball from a wide open, artsy game, into a man's game.

So why was he so successful in doing this?

Daly was a great motivator and had the ability to get his players to buy into what he was trying to accomplish.

When people think about dynasties, and yes, the Bad Boys were a dynasty, there seems to be a central figure that makes the team go. While Isaiah Thomas was one of the three greatest point guards of all time, the Bad Boy Pistons were the consummate team.

When a coach can convince the likes of Vinnie Johnson, Mark Aguire, and John Salley to come off the bench and buy into the system, it becomes evident that the players believe in what he is trying to do.

Players didn't gripe about lack of shots or minutes, and if they did it never got out into the public. Yes, times have changed and sports are more a part of mainstream media now, but I still believe that Daly was the type of coach who would address situations before they became harmful to the team.

A team's play reflects its' coach. If you are a laid-back coach, your team will play that way. If you are an intense and fiery coach, your team will play that way. It was evident that the Bad Boys reflected their coach.

But Daly was not just a basketball coach, he was a trend-setter, and a leader of men.

These kind of people are once in a generation types of personalities. He was stern without compromising the player's integrity. He was sarcastic and witty, and never took himself too seriously. Most of all, players loved playing for him, and I implore you to find any former player of his that will say a negative word about him.

Friday, before the Pistons defeated the Golden State Warriors, we discovered that the 78 year-old Daly had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For those of you who aren't familiar with this specific type of cancer, the prognosis is bleak.

If we have learned anything from watching Daly's professional and personal life, we know that he will not go down without a fight. That's how he coached his team, and that's how he lives his life.

Daly, our thoughts and prayers go out to you during this trying time. Get well soon.

Tom Izzo: Don't Hesitate, Shave Your Dome ASAP

Tony Meyer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:57:42 -0500

As the final seconds ticked away in Michigan State's 64-59 victory in Indiana on Tuesday, Tom Izzo had a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

Back in the fall, Izzo, during an on-campus campout for Izzone tickets, made a bald, I mean bold, statement. Izzo stated that if MSU wins the Big Ten title, he will shave his head.

About 6 months later, that statement has become truth. With Michigan State's latest victory they have clinched their first Big Ten Championship since 2001.

Yes, we would all love to see a bald-headed Izzo coaching his team into the Final Four this year, but it looks like we aren't going to be so lucky.

Izzo has already said that he is going to wait until after the season to bring the clippers out. I am here to ask, maybe even beg, that Mr. Izzo changes his mind and shaves it right now.

This would not be only for my own personal interest, but it would be in the best interest of the Spartans basketball team.

Allow me to explain.

It has been proven by the likes of John Wooden, Dean Smith, Coach K, and numerous others that coaches with hair can be successful. But, on the other hand, there have been some bald coaches that have taken their teams on magical runs.

Jerry Tarkanian took UNLV to four Final Four's and won a National Championship in 1990 with nothing on his head but the glare from the stadium lights.

George Mason head coach, Jim Larranaga, took his small underdog school all the way to the Final Four in 2006. He might not be bald in the Tarkanian sense, but his forehead is extended far beyond normal limits.

Ben Howland, coach of the UCLA Bruins, replaced embattled coach Steve Lavin, who is the classic case of great hair equaling poor play on the court. Howland brought his Bruins squad to two Final Four appearances, 2006 and 2008, in the five years he has been coach. You can see your reflection in Howland's head.

John Thompson III, coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, took his squad to the Final Four in 2007 where he met fellow hair-deprived Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes. When there is a match between two baldies, someone, unfortunately, has to lose.

If the Spartans want to make a run at a title this year, it would be smart for Tom Izzo to employ one of his seldom-used coaching techniques to vault this team all the way to Detroit.

Mr. Izzo, I, and Spartan Nation alike, beg you to put your pride in your back pocket and shave your dome. While your hair can grow back, being in position to win another title only comes by once in a long while.

I hope and pray that you look at the evidence and take my advice to heart.

The 20 Hottest Females in Sports

Tony Meyer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:45:03 -0500

Men love sports. Men love looking at beautiful women. Put the two together and you have a match made in man-heaven. Let's face it, women's sports don't get the fanfare that it deserves. These twenty ladies are doing their best to change our minds and expose their sports to the mainstream. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

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Top Five NCAA Tournament Games in Michigan State History

Tony Meyer — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:30:50 -0500

With the calendar flipping from February into March, there is one thing on the minds of college basketball fans: March Madness.

Each of the past 11 years, Michigan State has had its name called on Selection Sunday, and the 2008-2009 Spartans are not going to break that tradition.

Michigan State has become synonymous with March Madness in recent history, and the Spartans have developed a tradition in March. They have appeared in 22 NCAA Tournaments and reached the Final Four six times.

MSU has been involved in some very enticing and thrilling games, and here of five of the very best.

5. Michigan State-Maryland, 2003 Sweet 16

Maryland was the defending champions when Michigan State met them in the Sweet 16 in 2003. Maryland rolled in with a veteran squad that featured Steve Blake, Drew Nicholas, and Taj Holden.

Michigan State was the No. 7 seed and came in with a talented team that featured Chris Hill, Alan Anderson, Maurice Ager, and a young Paul Davis, still a freshman.

This was a hard fought game that went down to the wire. The game was tied at 58 when Davis hit a fall-away with 4.7 seconds left to put MSU up 60-58. Blake missed a desperation shot at the buzzer and MSU was on its way to the Elite Eight.

4. Michigan State-Georgia Tech, 1990 Sweet 16

The Steve Smith-led Spartans rolled into the round of 16 with the No. 1 seed to face the No. 4 seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and they left with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Georgia Tech featured two prolific scorers in Dennis Scott and Kenny Anderson, while Steve Smith and Mike Peplowski led the Spartans.

In a back-and-forth game, MSU had the lead 75-73 with six seconds left and Steve Smith at the line. Game over, right? Not exactly. Smith missed and Kenny Anderson capitalized with a foot-on-the-line two-pointer to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Dennis Scott hit a leaner with four seconds left to win the game for the Yellow Jackets and send them to the Elite Eight.

3. Michigan State-Iowa State, 2000 Elite Eight

While Larry Eustachy wasn't busy partying it up with co-eds, he was leading the Cyclones to a No. 2 seed and a meeting with the mighty Spartans.

Iowa State was in control most of this game, using big Marcus Fizer to control the paint. The Cyclones led 64-61 with seven minutes remaining, and they only managed a measly three points the rest of the game.

MSU took the game over down the stretch with their defense, frustrating Fizer and the Cyclones, and frustrating Eustachy even more, forcing him to the showers early with two technical fouls. Michigan State prevailed 75-64 in a physical, nail-biting thriller.

Andre Hutson finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the Spartans parlayed this win and used the momentum to win the 2000 NCAA Championship, with Mateen Cleaves winning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

2. Michigan State-Kentucky, 2005 Elite Eight

This game had it all—excitement, controversy, intrigue, you name it! The Spartans were the No. 5 seed when they met the No. 2 seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

This was a back-and-forth game as well, and with 20 seconds left Shannon Brown hit two free throws to put the Spartans up by three. Kentucky then got the ball into Patrick Sparks' hands and he hit a shot that will be remembered for a long, long time.

Sparks heaved a three-pointer from the top of the key that rattled around the rim for about six minutes and eventually fell into the hoop. But was it a three? The officials looked at this play for 10 minutes to decide whether or not his foot was on the line. They finally determined that the shot was indeed a three, and the game was sent into overtime.

One overtime, however, was not enough. The Spartans finally won this marathon in the second overtime, 94-88. Shannon Brown finished with 24, and Maurice Ager had 21 to send the Spartans to yet another Final Four appearance.

1. Michigan State-Indiana State, 1979 National Championship Game

In one of the most memorable college basketball games not just in Michigan State history but NCAA history, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird faced off in a matchup for the ages.

Bird brought the Sycamores and their 33-0 record into this game against the No. 2-seeded Spartans.

While this game was dubbed Magic against Bird, a different player decided this game. Greg Kelser, the Robin to Magic's Batman, shut down Larry Bird, holding him to 7-for-21 shooting from the field.

Magic Johnson added 24 points to vault the Spartans to a 75-64 win and their first National Championship. Magic also collected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.

So there are some of the great games in MSU basketball history. Hopefully, this year the Spartans will be able to make some new history and get back to the Final Four, where they rightly belong

No Offense, Matthew Stafford, but We Don't Want You

Tony Meyer — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:43:01 -0500

There he is, Dan Orlovsky, lying on the ground with two Green Bay linebackers on top of him, ball on the turf. Do you see any other Lions in the picture? Maybe an offensive lineman within five yards? Yeah, I don't either.

Fast forward to the 2009 season. Lions-Packers in Green Bay. Matthew Stafford drops back to pass, plants his back foot and is immediately engulfed by a sea of green and yellow.

Different year, same story. The only difference is that the man taking the snaps wears the number 7, not 6.

The point I am trying to make is that if the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick, it will be like breaking a mirror; seven years of bad luck for us Lions fans. I'm not knocking Stafford's ability at all, I'm just saying that no quarterback can perform without protection...

I know what you all are thinking, "Tony, we need a quarterback! If we don't take Stafford, whatever will we do?" Fortunately, I have a few ideas, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show (or article).

Draft Eugene Monroe with the First Pick

Monroe may not be as well-known as some of his offensive tackle counterparts, but this kid is legit. Lately, Virginia has been producing solid tackles, such as D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Brandon Albert.

They could also go with Baylor's Jason Smith or 'Bama's Andre Smith, but Monroe is the safest pick of the three. Jason Smith is a stronger pass blocker and Andre is a stronger run blocker, but Monroe is balanced and will be instantly placed at the left tackle spot, moving Jeff Backus to one of the guard positions.

If Gosder Cherilius can develop into a decent right tackle, the offensive line is actually not looking too bad.

With the 20th Pick, Look for Defense

Depending on how picks 1-19 go, this pick could go a number of ways. Ideally, if Maualuga is there, snatch him up like the girl in "Taken." He would fit nicely in the middle between Ernie Sims and an improving Jordan Dizon.

If Maualuga is gone, take Vontae Davis. While a linebacker would be ideal, a big physical cornerback is something the Lions haven't had in quite some time. I like Davis' game. He has good enough speed to run with the likes of Greg Jennings, and is physical enough to help in the run game.

I'm not a huge fan of Laurinaitis, but if these two guys are gone then the pick would most likely be used on him.

With the 33rd Pick, Take Michael Johnson

In terms of athletic ability at the defensive end spot, Johnson is a freak. Johnson was projected as a top 10 pick and has top 10 ability, and if he falls out of the first round it would be hard not to take a chance on him. Also, he has an absurdly long neck, a la Gaines Adams of the Bucs. If neck length is a direct correlation to playing ability, Johnson has to be the pick.

Trade for Derek Anderson

It looks like the Browns are going to give the keys to Brady Quinn. This means that Anderson and his big contract will be on the bench, and teams don't like having big money quarterbacks holding a clipboard.

Seeing that Cleveland isn't in love with Anderson and every team knows that, the asking price will not be quite as high. If the Lions do not have to part with any of their top three picks to get Anderson, it would be foolish not to. The Lions have two third rounders, and they would be willing to part with one and maybe a conditional third or fourth rounder in the 2010 draft. That's more than New England gave up to get Randy Moss, by the way.

If the Lions can bring in Anderson behind a restructured O-line, with a great young receiver and running back, it isn't inconceivable that Anderson could have a resurgence for a minimal price.

This would lead to the release of Daunte Culpepper, unfortunately, unless they can find him a spot on the defensive line.

Lastly, Sign a Wide Receiver to Complement Calvin, and Draft Chase Coffman

Although he is very, very old, I like the idea of bringing Amani Toomer to Detroit. He is a U of M grad, so he would be coming back to where he played his college ball. He is a professional who runs great routes and could be a leader in the locker room, something this team badly needs. He would benefit from the double teams that Calvin is going to see all year.

Coffman, at 6'6'', is a big target at tight end who could be a safety valve for any quarterback. He has amazing hands, but his draft status has fallen due to foot injuries and questionable speed. If the Lions can get him in the third round, it would be a steal.

So, there you have it, a few easy ways to improve the Lions on the field without spending loads of money on a "franchise" quarterback. The Lions are by no means an easy fix, and one good draft will not fix them. They simply need to start building this team the right way. Too many times has this franchise gone for the flashy pick, and they have been burned more often than not. It's about time they started building a winner, and this would be a good start.

25 Best Under 25

Tony Meyer — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:32:05 -0500

There is a plethora of young talent in the NBA today, and I have compiled a list of the 25 best players under the age of 25. For the next decade or so, these players are going to be front and center for basketball fans out there. Any one of the players in this slideshow could have a franchise built around him, or be an integral piece to a contending team. There is a lot to be excited about for the present and the future in the Association!

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NBA Predictions for the Second Half

Tony Meyer — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:22:38 -0500

The first half of the NBA season was far from unpredictable. The good teams played well and the bad teams played poorly. The superstars shined brightly and the role players played their roles. Nothing too crazy took place.

Well, look for that to change in the next four months.

Everything is shaping up to be a spectacular second half and playoffs.

There are four teams (Cleveland, L.A. Lakers, San Antonio, Boston) who are seemingly the creme of the crop. They seemed destined to meet in their respective conference finals.

But, as the cantankerous Lee Corso would say, "not so fast, my friend."

Here are some predictions for the rest of this season:

LeBron James will be the league MVP

Yes, I know, what a shocking statement, but hear me out.

This will be as close a race as there has been in some time. We have Kobe Bryant who is going to carry the Bynum-less Lakers to the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.

There is Dwayne Wade who is putting up monster numbers with nary a supporting cast.

Dwight Howard has the Magic in the thick of the race, and will be even more important to that team with Jameer Nelson's recent injury

Don't count out Chauncey Billups stealing some votes as well. He has energized a Denver team and has them poised for a decent playoff run.

But, in the end, LeBron is doing things that we mere mortals have never seen. He has Cleveland, a franchise which is devoid of any type of championship history, as possibly the favorites to be kissing the Larry O'Brien.

The Houston Rockets will NOT make the playoffs

Yes, they are winning at a .604 clip this year and have immense talent, but I see them slipping the second half and being on the outside looking in come mid April. Here are a few reasons:

T-Mac's faulty back will keep them from establishing any type of continuity.
Yao Ming will undoubtedly miss at least 6-8 more games.
Ron Artest is due for a meltdown.
I don't believe in Von Wafer coming through consistently is T-Mac misses time.
Phoenix, Utah, Dallas and New Orleans will pass them in the standings and Houston will be the odd team out.

Orlando will lose in the first round

Whether they play Detroit, Miami or Atlanta, I don't see them making it out of the first round, especially if Jameer can't come back.

Orlando reminds me of the Garnett led T'Wolves teams that had good regular seasons but couldn't get out of the first round. This team is not built for playoff basketball. They rely too much on the three ball and are below average on the defensive end.

They also don't have much depth on the front line if Howard gets in foul trouble. I mean, do you really want Marcin Gortat playing meaningful minutes in a Game Five on the road in Miami? He sounds like he should be playing Rafael Nadal in the second round of the French Open.

The Nuggets will reach the Western Conference Finals

Yes, my man crush on Chauncey Billups may have blurred my vision a tad, but I just like the way this team matches up against the likes on San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans.

Carmelo Anthony, without the fanfare of other superstars, has transformed his game and has learned how to play with a proven floor general (Billups).

Kenyon Martin and Nene have resurrected their careers and have become formidable on the low block. They can also run the floor and are good enough in the half court to defend the likes of Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki.

J.R. Smith can take a game over with his outside shooting and athleticism. He has also improved on the defensive side of the ball and could be a valuable asset as a defensive stopper come playoff time.

George Karl has been there before, and with this group he has done an excellent job of transforming this team to fit the personnel they have on their roster.

There will be a brawl within the next five weeks

Here is how I see it going down:

Steve Nash misses a three, Shaq pulls down an offensive rebound while elbowing Erick Dampier in the back of the head. Dampier turns around and hacks Shaq across the wrists so hard that it sends him sprawling into the camera men.

Louis Amundson takes exception with the hard foul and gets in Dampier's face and says something that no one really understands. In comes Brandon Bass with a forearm shiver to the back of Amundson's head. Shaq then gets up and goes after Bass, plowing over Steve Nash in the process like he just hit a raccoon with his truck.

Josh Howard then attacks Nash as he is lying on the ground because he doesn't have the guts to get in Shaq's way. Then, in a bizarre turn of events, Dirk comes to the aid of Nash and puts Howard in a headlock while Nash gives him blows to the stomach.

While all of this is going on, Robin Lopez is sitting on the Suns bench in tears screaming that violence isn't the answer. Meanwhile, in the press box, Terry Porter, dressed in disguise, attacks Steve Kerr.

It all ends when Dirk and Nash "accidentally" kiss at midcourt in the middle of the fracas. Everyone then stops and there is an awkward silence for about 20 seconds.

That's how it is going to happen. Mark my words.

David Stern will cancel his Viagra prescription because Kobe and LeBron will meet in the NBA Finals

Need I say more?

It's Magic vs. Bird version 2.0. The Cavs will beat the Celtics in 6 and advance to the Finals to play L.A. There will be so much buzz around this series I can already feel the commissioners nether regions start to tingle.

This series will settle the argument, at least for the time being, of who the best player in the NBA is, LeBron or Kobe.

I see Cleveland taking the series in seven games, and LeBron hoisting the Finals MVP trophy.

These are just some things that could happen...

The 10 NBA Players Everyone Should Know About

Tony Meyer — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:37:18 -0500

With all of the hoopla surrounding the superstars in the NBA today, it is easy for the up-and-coming players to get lost in the crowd. Some of the young talent in this league does get a lot of exposure, but there are some players who have been putting up good numbers that we just are not hearing about.

Everyone knows the likes of Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant, but here are some players who have been making a big impact with minimal fan fare:

Randy Foye

Playing for a young T'Wolves squad, Foye has impressed. He is averaging 16.2 PPG and dishing out 4.7 APG. He has been in double figures in scoring in 43 of his 51 games.

With Al Jefferson out for the season, Minnesota is going to depend on him to put up even bigger numbers from here on out.

Jeff Green

It's no secret that the Thunder are out of contention this year. But, for all of the Oklahoma City fans, there is a lot to be excited about.

Playing alongside Mr. Durant, Green has been having a very impressive sophomore campaign. He is putting up 16.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG, while hitting 41.5 percent of his threes.

If OKC can keep Green, Durant, and Russell Westbrook together, they are going to be a scary trio for years to come.

Andris Biedrins

Being a big man in the Golden State system is, let's say, different. You need to be able to run the floor and do the dirty work to get your shots, and Biedrins does just that.

He is averaging 13 PPG and 11.8 RPG while amassing 23 double-doubles. Considering there are literally no plays called for him, these numbers look even more impressive.

Paul Millsap

While filling in for Carlos Boozer and his latest injury, Millsap has helped Utah forget all about Boozer.

Millsap is scoring 14.7 PPG and pulling down 9.2 RPG on his way to 24 double-doubles. He has been called a young Karl Malone, and if he keeps playing like he has been, we might have to get him his own mail route.

Ramon Sessions

It seems like Milwaukee can simply find scorers because Sessions, like Mo Williams before him, can plain fill it up.

He is averaging 11.7 PPG and 4.8 APG so far this season, and who can forget his 44-point explosion against the Pistons. At 6’5”, he is too big for opposing points to guard him, and is quick enough to get past most 2-guards.

He is the type of player who causes opposing coaches headaches and turns them into burgeoning alcoholics.

Wilson Chandler

With the arrival of Mike D'Antoni in New York, we knew guys were going to have career seasons. But who thought Wilson Chandler would be on that list?

He is quietly averaging 13.7 PPG and five rebounds per game in a system that rewards hustle and running the floor.

Chandler is ultra-athletic, and he, like Biedrins, can score without having a play called for him. If New York is clearing everyone out to make room for LeBron, this might be one guy they want to hang on to.

John Salmons

Yes, the Kings are having a despicable season, but there are a few bright spots. Salmons is one of those bright spots.

He is scoring 18.3 a night and hitting 41.9 percent of his triples. He has also been in double figures in 49 of his 53 games.

He has been consistent and could be a guy that could really help a good team down the stretch. He can play defense and score without being the center of attention in an offense.

Thaddeus Young

While Philly has been underachieving this year, at least until lately, Young has given them good minutes and production night in and night out.

He is averaging 14.7 PPG and 4.9 boards a night while shooting 48 percent from the field. He is a freak of an athlete, and once he polishes his game a little more, watch out!

Roger Mason

Mason is the prototypical Spur. It has taken him a while to make a name for himself in this league, but once he got to San Antonio, he really found his niche.

He is making the most of his opportunity right now and he could be an integral part of this team come playoff time. He has been averaging 11.9 PPG while shooting 44.9 percent from deep and 88.2 percent from the line.

Eric Gordon

Let's face it; the Clippers are a joke. They have such a talented group of players, but they are lackadaisical and uninterested on most nights.

The one reason why Clips fans have a little hope is because of the play of Eric Gordon. This kid is a pure shooter and, with the right people around him, will be a star in this league.

In the Clippers "me first" system, Gordon has averaged 14.7 PPG while hitting 37.3 percent from deep and 86.6 percent from the foul line. He is definitely somebody this miserable franchise can build around.

The next time you watch a game in which any of these guys are playing in, watch closely at the impact they make. Trust me, these names will become household names sooner than you think.