34 points the 4th quarter! Final thoughts on Lions - Bears

Here's the links to my live blogging of today's exciting, ugly, bizarre, and record breaking win...

The Bears offense is putrid: 1st quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

So what do you know, Griese actually is better than Grossman: 2nd quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

Where's the Lions' offense? 3rd quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

The Lions find a running game: 4th quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

1. For the Lions, today was 3 quarters of mediocrity, and 1 quarter of pure awesomeness. I didn't realize it at first, as I was totally wrapped up in blogging the game, but the Lions scored a jaw dropping, and an NFL record breaking, 34 4th quarter points. Against the Monsters of the Midway, of all teams...

Yes, some of the scoring was fluky (Running back an onsides kick for a TD), but much of it was truly encouraging. Such as the 5+ minute, 8 play, 62 yard drive that put the Lions up 30-20 with just over 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter, a drive that was done mostly with the long AWOL ground game. That's the sort of drive good teams make at the end of games. A clock grinding, defense draining, ground chewing scoring drive. It was great to see, something we haven't witnessed in several seasons.

2. Roy Williams is immensely talented, but he can also be immensely frustrating. He cost the Lions 2 3rd down conversions with his lack of field awareness. Williams was also very lucky that his fumble on the aforementioned 62 yard, 4th quarter drive went out of bounds.

His mistakes were born mostly out of aggression, in trying to make something out of nothing. Williams sometimes forgets that more often than not, in the NFL you're better off to just take what the opposition gives you, and be happy with it. Not every play can be broken for big yards, and converting a 3rd down that moves both the chains and clock forward is all you need.

3. Why kick to Devin Hester? It a question that bears repeating in capital letters, WHY KICK TO DEVIN HESTER? Why did it take the Lions till their final kick off to realize that just squibbing the ball downfield was the best option? Hester had close to 300 return yards before the Lions gave up kicking the ball to him. Who's coaching special teams, the ghost of Bo Schembechler?

4. Jon Kitna got off to a slow start, but finished fast. 20-24-247-2-0 from your QB is a stat line I'll take on any Sunday. He did have 1 turnover, but it was on a blindside hit. Not totally excusable, but it can happen when your right tackle throws a "Lookout" block.

As Kitna didn't throw an end zone interception for the 1st time this season, that has me asking one thing... Was it a miracle?

Seriously, Kitna played much more within himself, keeping the silly plays to a minimum. I'd rather he just took a sack, than throw a ball up for grabs, hoping to make a miraculous play, but only resulting in a pick. Today, that's exactly what Kitna did, eating the ball instead of risking a turnover.

5. Rod Marinelli continues to hurt the Lions with his sometimes odd decision making, today's example being his challenge on the spot of a Roy Williams catch. Yes, he caught the ball past the 1st down marker. But it was obvious that it was Williams' own fault that he didn't get the 1st down. It wasn't due of a bad spot, it was because Williams tried to make a big play bigger, and gave back the yards he gained. He turned a 12 yard completion into 9 yd one, a 1st down into 4th down. It was obvious when it happened, and it was even more obvious on the replays. The spot was correct.

Yet Marinelli challenged a call he was sure to lose. There was 0% chance it would be overturned. It was a waste of a time out, and more importantly, a waste of a challenge that may have been needed later in the game.

I will give credit where credit is due, as Marinelli immediately challenged the out of bounds call on the Troy Walters end zone catch. I think the fans would have stormed the Lions' sideline if that call hadn't been challenged.

6. The running game made what is hopefully more than just a cameo appearance this afternoon. It wasn't spectacular, it wasn't there the whole game, but when they needed to run clock late in the 4th, Mike Martz found it.

Kevin Jones isn't all the way back, but he got some tough yards, along with his 2nd rushing TD of he season. Tatum Bell ground out 4 yards a carry, but had a demoralizing red zone fumble, costing the Lions a likely TD.

Overall, the Lions running game wasn't great, but with their passing game, they don't need great. OK will work just fine, and it was OK today. 95 yards rushing when you had 12 yards against the Eagles, and 56 against the Vikings, is a nice step up in play.

7. As much as I rip and rag on the Lions, I do want them to win...Desperately. The fact that they are an wholly unexpected 3-1 has me wanting to believe they may be onto something big. But their 50 years of futility has me holding back, waiting for the expected implosion to happen.

I'm not yet sure what's going to convince me that the Lions may actually be a good team, but a win against the Redskins, a team that traditionally owns the Lions, would be a really good place to start.

I'm not convinced that the Lions are a playoff contending team, but a 3-1 record, and beating the defending NFC champions with a 4th quarter blitz of points, speaks volumes.

The Lions find a running game: 4th quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

1st play of the 4th, a pass to McDonald in the flat...He scoots in for the TD! 13-10, Bears still lead. It's a ballgame, folks!

All I ask is the Lions kick the ball away from Hester. No such luck, but it's a moral victory, as Hester is stopped at the Bears 26.

On a swing pass, Fernando Bryant is called for a very silly spear on Benson, moving the ball all the Bears 48. An uber-braindead play by Bryant. Benson was already down, and it couldn't have been more blatant!

It's 3rd and 3 from the 50...Griese looks....KEITH SMITH PICKS GRIESE! Nothing but green in front of him! 63 yard TD return! Holy god damn shit! What the Hell was Griese thinking?!

17-13, LIONS! I'm stunned, to say the very least...

On the kickoff, it's to Hester at the 5...Oh shit...

95 yards, and several missed tackles later...20-17 Bears.

Special teams coverage is just killing the Lions today. At this point, I'd much rather see the Lions squib every kick. They sure as Hell can't tackle Hester, as he now has 261 (!) return yards.

The Lions, with no kickoff weapon like Hester, start at their 20.

Offsides on the Bears to start the series, a run gets nothing. 2nd and 5. A false start gives the 5 yards right back. Christ. 2nd and 10. But the Bears give it right back, encroachment! 2nd and 5. This is just silly.

An out to Williams gains 7, as he doesn't give any yards back...This time. 1st down at the 32.

Kitna looks for McDonald DEEP! He's open, but misses him! The Bears bail the Lions out with an illegal contact penalty. 1st and 10 at the 37.

Kitna down the middle...Hits Furrey in stride! It's good for 48 yards, 1st and10 at the Bears 14! Oh my God, it's red zone follies time!

A QB scramble loses 1, 2nd and 11. Kitna drops back...Walters is open deep in the corner of the end zone...Drags the feet...Called out! No! NO! THAT WAS A CATCH! You could see the rubber fly as Walters drug his feet!

Lions will challenge this for sure, it looks as if he was in on the replay. Marinelli is 0 for the season on challenges, will this break the streak? OVERTUNED!

TD counts! 24-20 Lions! But they are now out of challenges... Marinelli finally gets off the challenge schneid.

Kitna put together a nice drive, he was 3-3-71 and a TD.

Hester takes the kick..He's at the 40...FUMBLE! Out of bounds at the 30. Whew! Shit! Hester is going to give Lions fans a coronary...

Crowd's going ballistic. A Griese pass get 2 yards, 3rd and 8. Big play for both sides...Paris Lenon and Ernie Sims blitz! SACK LENON! Bears have to punt...

Lions take over at the 37. A running game would be nice here. Bell for 8! Bell again, off tackle, gets the 1st! Bears offsides, either way, Lions 1st down at th 45.

Bell again for 3. 2nd and 7. Kitna to Furrey! 1st down at the 29! Martz empties out the playbook, end around to McDonald gains 8! It's a fullback DIVE? Where's that come from? Bradley gets 4 yards on the dive, 1st down! Jones off tackle, gets 8 more! Where has this been all season? 2nd and 2 at the Bears 10!

Quick out to Williams, he's 1 on1, jukes, gets the 1st down...FUMBLE! ARRGH...Thank God, it's out of bounds at the 5! 1st and goal!

Jones on a sweep, cuts back...Runs through a tackle...TD LIONS!

It took till the 4th game of the season, late in the 4th quarter, for the Lions to find a semblance of a ground game. Not a moment too soon.

Bears block the extra point! SHIT! Only a 10 point game... Still, 30-20 Lions!

DO NOT KICK IT TO HESTER! It's a squib, Hester does get it, but is swarmed over at the 27. I can live with that...

Griese hits 2 passes, 1st and 10 at the Bear 42, 3 minutes left. A short pass to Peterson gets the ball over the 50. Griese looks...Completes ANOTHER pass, Davis is down to the Lions 34! Good Lord, what's with the soft D?

2:29 left, clock stopped on a Bryant injury. That actually helps the Lions, by getting that stiff off the field.

Griese with all kinds of time...It's Davis to the 28....A slant to Berrian, he's to the Lions 18!

Christ almighty, the Bears only need 2 scores. God damn the Lions if the blocked extra point comes back to bite the Lions on the ass...

Shawn Cody with encroachment...it's 1st and 5 at the Lions 13...

Griese looks in the end zone...Incomplete! But it's a 1st down and goal at the 6, thanks to a sort pass to Davis.

Griese drops back...Big time pressure from the Lions...Griese is hit! Ball is high the air! It's caught by Garza, a lineman who tries to rumble into the end zone...FUMBLE! It's in the end zone! Lions ball! Flags everywhere!

Here's the call...Illegal touch by Garza, declined, ruled a fumble, Lions ball, touchback! Holy mother of God, will the Lions be 3-1?

No so fast! Booth review on the fumble...

You've got to be kidding me1 It's not a pass by Griese, instead it's a fumble that Garza recovered, and by rule, he cannot move the ball forward within the final 2 minutes. Bears ball at the 13! Bizarre, to say the least. Mother... But looking back on it, as strange as it was, it looks to be the correct call.

A short pass has the Bears at the Lions 3! 3rd and goal...Pass broken up in the end zone, the Bears will kick and make it a 1 score game. Chip shot FG is good...What? Lions lineup offsides on the kick?! Penalty on Rogers! Shit...

Bears will take the points off the board, and will go for it 4th and 1. Gutty call by Lovie.

Damn! TD pass, Griese to Clark! 30-27 Lions. 52 seconds left.

The game hangs on the upcoming onsides kick... Takes a hop...

Well, what the HELL!? Casey Fitzimmons gets a good bounce...He has a wall in front of him...IT'S A 62 YARD LIONS TD RETURN! Jesus Mary Christ! TD LIONS!!!

A quick booth review says the play stands as called! 37-27 Lions! With 45 seconds left, it's game, set, and match!

Hester returns the kickoff to the Bear 31. Lions offsides on the kick, so tack on 5. 1st and 10 at the Bears 36. It's all moot anyway...

Griese drops back...And hits the turf on his own at the 26, rather than get run over by Jared DeVries! TO Bears.

A pass Clark goes to the 41, another Bear TO. Just delaying the inevitable... Another pass to Berrian to the Lions 43 pads Griese's stats. The game ends on a DeVries sack!

Game over. There's a crisis in Chicago, and they are now 1-3. Lions fans aren't sure what to make of a 3-1 start. I sure as Hell don't... Detroit's beat 2 lousy teams, got hammered by a decent one, and now have beat the defensing NFC champs, who, to be honest, look like an average to bad team, thanks to a beat up defense, and an inept offense.

So I'm still not sure if the Lions' 3-1 start is fraudulent or not. Still, the Lions have surprised everyone, especially me.

Where's the Lions' offense? 3rd quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

Will the Lions stop shooting themselves in the foot? Will Brian Griese continue to keep mistakes to a minimum, and "Manage the game" for the Bears? The next 2 quarters will answer all, and go a very long way in determining who will take control of the NFC North.

The Bears will start with the ball at their 20. Cedric Benson gets 8 and 16 yards on 2 carries to start the half. That's not a good sign, as he had a whole 3 yards rushing in 5 previous carries.

A 1 yard Benson run, and a big Lions pass rush that leads to a tipped pass, leaves the Bears 3rd and 9. Griese hits Gilmour in the numbers right at the stick...He DROPS the pass to force a punt. Whew... The Bears may keep the Lions in the game after all.

Lions start deep in their own territory at the 15. On the 1st play, Kitna gets blindsided! FUMBLE! Guess what? Bears ball at the 11. Jesus... Yep, it's still the same old Lions. Kitna becomes a turnover machine once again.

It's Bears 3rd and 9 from the 11. Griese looks for Berrian in the middle of the field...It's through his hands, and into the more secure ones of Ernie Sims at the 9! Pick Detroit!

The Lions dodge ANOTHER bullet!

It's a draw to Jones! Big ass hole, he's to the Detroit 31! But Martz goes to well twice more, fools no one, and it leaves the Lions' 3rd and 11.

Kitna rolls right, hits Williams at the 42 for 1st down yardage...But he runs BACK TO THE 40 in trying to get more yards. Wonderful, as Roy just turned a 1st down into a 4th down. That's the 2nd time today Williams didn't realize where he was on the field!

Marinelli is going to challenge the spot, but I think he's going to be wasting a time out.

Just as I thought, the play stands. A stupid, asinine, futile challenge by Marinelli. Just another in his career long series of game management mistakes. He does something wrong every game, and it's hurting the Lions.

On the punt, the always scary Hester scampers to the Bears 39. Benson is looking much better in the 3rd, gets 8 on a 1sr down carry. Another Benson run gets the 1st. If Benson can keep the ball out of Griese's hands, the Bears are much better off...

On 3rd and 3 for the Bears, Lions are offsides, free play! Griese connects with Brerrian on a slant for 14, rendering the penalty moot.

Bears are moving the ball, now at the Lions 30. On 2nd and 13, Griese channels his 1997 self, and scrambles for 7, to the 23! But a big Lions rush gets to Griese, sack at the 31!

The Lions force a 49 yard FG attempt. But Gould drills it through the uprights. 10-3 Bears.

The Lions have only 125 yards of total offense as they start at their own 20. Kitna drops, back, Urlacher with the near pick! Ugh, the Lions offense is totally out of whack. After a short pass, it's 3rd and 4. Bears with big pressure, and it's another sack of Kitna. Lions go 3 and out.

Hester takes the punt at his 30, and runs it 30 yards to the Lions 40! Hester has been great today, the Lions can do nothing to contain him.

A couple of Griese passes moves the Bears to the Lions 31. The Bears are on the verge of taking control of this game. A pair of Benson runs leaves Chicago 3rd and 5. Bryant stuffs the run, 4th down!

The Bears will attempt another FG, this one from 45. Gould drills it, 13-3 Bears.

Up to this point, Marinelli is getting a failing grade in having the Lions ready for this game. Detroit has only 128 total yards, 2-10 on 3rd downs. Kitna has been running for his life.

Lions start on their 30. Kitna hits Sean McHugh for 25! Add 15 more for roughing the passer! And just like that, the Lions are at the Bears 32.

McDonald is wide open on the right sidelines, Kitna hits him at the 11! Red zone time, God forbid the Lions actually find the ens zone. A short dump off to Bell gets the ball to the Bears 3!

And that's the 3rd quarter! Lions did absolutely nothing at quarter, until their final drive. It's still a game, if the Lions can avoid doing something stupid.

So what do you know, Griese actually is better than Grossman: 2nd quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

To open the 2nd, it's another Bell run, and with his ass hanging out of his pants thanks to a huge rip in the rear, leaves a 3rd and 1. Lions are just short of the 5.

Play 13 of the drive is another off tackle hand off to Bell...Who gets the 1st dow...NO! FUMBLE! Bears ball. SHITSHITSHIT! The Lions have been awful beyond belief in the red zone this season. Christ almighty, the Lions cannot do anything the easy way...

Bears start at the 3. A run and short pass leave a 3rd and 6. The D needs to make a play...Which they don't, as the Bears convert on a short Griese to Berrian pass.

2 more short gains, and it's 3rd and 2. It's a Benson sweep, Ernie Sims puts his HAT ON THE BALL...FUMBLE! But the ball goes directly out of bounds, 1st down Bears. Detroit can't catch a break...

In 8 stirring plays, the Bears have moved all the way to their own...25!

A penalty and 2 more incomplete passes has Chicago 3rd and 15. SACK! Shawn Rogers stunts, and buries Griese!

On the punt, Walters does his best Hester imitation, reverses his field, and gets to the Bears 41! Walters is brought down on a horse collar tackle! Where's the damn flag? It's a late one, but finally we see yellow flag! Tack on 15 more!

A quick slant to Furrey, and just like that, the Lions are in the red zone, at the Bears 13! But a big sack of Kitna on 3rd down forces a 39 yard Hanson field goal attempt...Which is blocked! Motherfu...God damn Lions.

Jesus fucking Christ, the Lions in the red zone are just..just...ARRGH...Words fail me.

Griese says the Hell with the nickel and dime stuff, hits Berrian at the Lions' 48! Another pass to Berrian, and the Bears are at the Lions' 30.

The Lions' D stiffens, and it's 3rd and 7 for the bad guys. But Griese hits Desmond Clark...1st down at the 16. The Bears offense is finding a groove!

The Lions stiffen on 2 short runs, and it's 3rd and 9. The Lions bring EVERYONE on a blitz...Which backfires badly, as Griese connects with an open Mushin Mohammed on a post pattern. TD Bears, and a drive that was much too easy. 7-3 Bears.

Griese has had a nice 2nd quarter, and is now 11-18-94-1-0 for the game. Kitna has been meh. 7-10-73.0-0, with 3 sacks. To this point, the Bears awful offense has out gained the Lions more vaunted one, 91 to 89.

The Lions start at the 16. A screen gets 5, and a Jones run gets none, as he recovers his own fumble. Christ.

A short pass to Williams is a yard short of the 1st down. Run the route to the stick, ow hard is that?The Lions go 3 and out on a drive that inspires little confidence in their offense. The Bears are beat up on D, but are more than holding their own.

The Bears start on their own 39 after the punt. A quick pass gains 5, and it's the 2 minute warning.

A pass to Berrian gets 10, 1st down at the Lions 45. Bears are in their 2 minute offense, no huddle, Lions back on their heels. A pass to Peterson gets 9, time out Bears. On 3rd and 1, Griese sneaks for the 1 st down. A 12 yard gain to Mohammed gets 12. Griese finds Clark on the sidelines to stop the clock, ball at the 20. Get the damn stop!

Then a stupid penalty on Travis Fisher, hitting a Bear out of bounds gives the Bears the ball at the Lions 6. SHITFUCK! Dumb, dumb, dumb! OK Marinelli, where's that discipline you keep preaching? Huh?

Greise is looking in the end zone for Berrian...It's Fernando Bryant with a goal line PICK! Didn't see that coming...

Ugh, the refs give the Lions the ball at the 1/2 yard line. Wait a sec, booth review for ball placement...The play stands as called. Well, at least the Lions have the ball, but they won't be able to do a damn thing.

Lions start on the goal line...It's a deep hand off to Bell? Risky call, as Bell takes the hand off 5 yards deep in the end zone, but picks his way to the 3. Doesn't matter, as the Bears are offsides anyway. The Lions take a knee at the 6 to end the half.

The 1st half ends with Chicago up, 7-3.

A very uninspiring half of football for the Lions. Only 97 yards total offense, and they have made a ton of silly mistakes. In all honesty, the Lions should be up at least a TD.

The Bears offense is putrid: 1st quarter Lions - Bears thoughts

From sold out Ford Field in downtown Detroit, it's the Chicago Bears kicking off to the the team that we both love and hate, the team that drives us to distraction, our Detroit Lions...

Lions start from the 20, and 2 runs between the tackles from Tatum Bell leaves a 3rd and 4. Jon Kitna dodges the rush nicely, and hits Mike Furrey, who's wide open down the right sideline! But in typical Lion fashion, he has a foot out of bounds when he catches the ball, no catch, Fuck!

On the punt, Devin Hester runs about 200 yards to get 30. Coverage looked to have him, but Hester just plain outran it. In more typical Lions luck, Hester fumbles, but gains an extra 5 yards as it goes out of bounds. Ball at the Lions 40.

A run and short pass leave a Bears 3rd and 3, burn a time out to talk about it.. Lots of time, but it's broken up. A Lions DB making a play? The world may stop spinning on it's axis!

It's a 52 yard FG attempt, BLOCKED by Big Baby with big push up the middle! Kennoy Kennedy catches the deflected ball in he air, and takes it 30 yards to the Bears 40! Tack on 15 for unnecessary roughness on the Bears! A wild start to this game...

Lions continue to try and establish the run with 2 more Bell runs, with not much luck, leaving 3rd and 6. Kitna rolls right, but takes 10th sack of the season. Bears come out with the ball, but no fumble is called. No one seems to know why, as it was a clear fumble on the replay. The play had to have been blown dead is my only guess. Lovie Smith throws the red flag, but whatever the officials tell him changes his mind. Lions dodge a big time bullet!

Given new life, Detroit MVP Jason Hanson drills a 49 yard field goal, and it's 3-0 Lions!

Bears take the kick, start at the 26. The Lions D comes out flying, getting a 3 and out as the Bears lose 4 yards on the "Drive." An intentional grounding call on a blown up 3rd down screen leaves the Bears DEEP in their own territory. A nice punt leave the Lions starting at their own 35.

Lions defense has been dominating on the first 2 series. I'm not sure if that's due to the Lions playing better, or more likely, in thanks to the Bears inept offense...

On the ensuing drive, there's a false start on...Guess who? Yep, George Foster!

On 2nd and 15, Kitna holds the ball waaay to long, and takes another sack! 3rd down is a blown play, causing Kitna to get hit again... The Lions offense has been as inept as the Bears to this point.

A punt and a nice Hester run back give the Bears the ball at their 45. The Lions had Hester hemmed in, but they just could not get their hands on the slippery SOB.

In your moment of Brett Favre love, FOX tells us that has just broken the career passing TD record. John Madden has an orgasm.

Now that I've rubbed one out in honor of Favre, back to the game!

The Bears offense continues to misfire, and it's another 3 and out. Griese has been Rex-riffic so far!

Lions take over on their 9, and Kevin Jones is now in the backfield. a Jones run, and Furrey catch leaves a 3rd and 2. Bears blitz...but Kitna finds Roy Williams on a short Z route for 7! First down!

Still, the Lions offense is struggling. Kitna is having big trouble finding any one open deep. On 3rd down and 9...Kitna looks, and looks, and it's...Another Kitna sack! But the Leo's are bailed out on a Bears offsides penalty!

On 3rd and 4, Kitna looks, and looks...And hits Williams at the 50! Beautiful twisting catch by Roy, as the pass was well behind him...

The Lions continue to pound the rock. 2 Bell runs, and it's 1 st down at the Bears 34.

On 2nd and 12, Kitna finds Troy Walters in a seam for 20 yards! 1st down at the 15, and it's red zone time. As we all know, that means it's time for Kitna to throw a pick... But on 1st down, it's Bell up the gut for 7 yards! And that's the 1st quarter, folks! 3-0, good guys.

Overall, a good one for the Lions.

Notes and noise...

You can expect my normal asinine commentary posted throughout today's Lions game. Considering the Lions past history in "Important" games, and without question, today's Bears game is the most important of Rod Marinelli's short tenure, I'm not confident that this week's live blog will be pleasant experience for me, or the readers... But I'm going to hope for the best, expect the worst, and blog away.

I was able to watch the Wolverines game in its entirety, as my entire Saturday was spent at my sister's place for her birthday, and then at Fishbones in St. Clair Shores. (Where I blew what little money I had on several highly overpriced, but extremely tasty, Bombay Sapphire and tonics) Yes, I spent the afternoon in front of the TV, but I did socialize with the family after the game. But a man has to know his priorities, and my brother-in-law's 61" HDTV with DirecTv (And thus, the Big 10 Network) showing the Michigan Wolverines was mine...

In Blogger Invitational fantasy football news, The Ghosts of Wayne Fontes will be happy to find out that I did accept their offer of Drew Brees for Larry Fitzgerald. My QB situation is awful beyond belief, with J.P. Losman sucking so hard it hurts to just look at his stats, and David Garrard being mediocre at best, and on a bye week to boot. It's gotten so bad, that I have to start Derek Anderson of the Browns today. The immense suckitude of my QB's makes taking Drew Brees on in trade, even if it costs a number 1 WR, a no-brainer. To be honest, if you go by my league record so far, my entire team was picked by a no-brainer...

Carlos Guillen will be at 1st base in '08: The first of many shoes to drop

With 3 games left in the season, there's a feeling that the Tigers off season maneuvering has already begun. The first shoe to drop was announced late this afternoon. According to the fishwrap beat writers, it's all but official that Carlos Guillen will be the Tigers 1st baseman next year.

Shows what I know, as I was sure that Guillen would play at least 1 more season at short. It also means that Sean Casey is done as a Detroit Tiger, which was assumed anyway. The Mayor has little use as a bench player, with his lack of power, speed, and position flexibility. Great guy, had some nice moments as a Tiger, but is on the downside as a player. He'll be missed in the clubhouse.

Now that the tribute to Casey is out of the way, the big question on all Tigers fan's minds is, of course, who takes over at shortstop? Obviously the Tigers have an idea as to who that will be.

Will the new shortstop come via free agency? I doubt it, as pickings are more than slim... (I'm not even going to bother with Alex Rodriguez, as wonderful as that is to contemplate)

David Eckstein (33) - He's supposed to be "Scrappy" and a "Hard-working." At least that's what we were told all through the 2006 World Series... That's nice and all, but does he stand out, performance-wise, in any way? No. If anything, he's the type of player who will decline quickly, as "Hustle" and "Grit" will only take you so far.

Cesar Izturis (28) - ($5.45MM club option for '08) - Hasn't been a full time player for over 3 seasons, and never has been much with the bat. Let alone he couldn't beat out Jack Wilson, of all people. 'Nuff said.

Juan Uribe (29) - ($5MM club option for '08) - At that price, I don't see the White Sox letting him go.

Omar Vizquel (41) - He's OLD! To be fair, Vizquel was a very good player for a very long time, but has declined severely this season. Plus, he's OLD!

Yep, that's real slim pickings.

In house, there is only one realistic option..

Ramon Santiago (28) - Your quintessential slick fielding - light hitting shortstop, best suited for backup duty. Though he's had a hot September, we've seen enough of him to know he won't hit enough to consider him as Guillen's replacement. Santiago is the 25th man on most any team's roster, unless it's the 2003 Tigers...

OK, what about a trade? The names being bandied about have been...

Jack Wilson - The Tigers were supposedly deeply interested in the highly overpaid Wilson at the trade deadline. Has had a good season since, which has bumped up his BA, but the general consensus is that Wilson basically...Sucks. Especially at $7MM+ a season.

Miguel Tejada (32) - Still a very good player, but will be expensive in both the cost in prospects, and in size of contract. Plus he's on the same tack as Guillen, losing his range at short, and on track to be playing elsewhere on the field in a year or two. Still, he's intriguing as a short term solution, if you could squeeze a couple seasons out of him at short.

Edgar Renteria (33) - What I said about Tejada also applies, in that he's not cheap, and will come at a cost in prospects / players. Overall though, Renteria is the most logical target fir the Tigers, if the Braves are willing to trade. He can still hit respectably, field well, has 1 year plus a club option year left on his contract, and is relatively young. There is also the fact that he played for Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski with the Marlins.

Out of all the possible scenarios, Renteria to Detroit makes too much sense not to happen...

I still think that the Guillen to 1st base move weakens 2 positions. Offensively, Guillen is elite at short, but as a 1st baseman, at best, only above average. Admittedly, he did look slick with the glove, but 1st base is first and foremost an offensive position.

Odds are whomever the Tigers get to play short won't hit near as well as Guillen. Actually, if the Tigers acquire any one other than Tejada, that's a certainty.

The Tigers must have someone in mind. That someone is supposed to be good enough for Guillen to have given his blessing, and voluntarily leave the shortstop position. My money is on Renteria, with Tejada the 2nd choice. God help us all if it's Wilson, Eckstein, or worse...

The Marlboro Man wants a contract extension

Jim Leyland has told the media that he wants a contract extension, and will be meeting with the Tigers on Monday to discuss it. Is there anyone who thinks that the Marlboro Man hasn't earned it? Anyone? Didn't think so.

"I can buy and sell you, punk!"

If I'm Dave Dombrowski, my only response to Leyland would be, "Let me get my pen!"

Dombrowski will do anything, short of giving Leyland a blank check, to lock him down. Then again, as Leyland has become the face of a franchise that was once the Siberia of baseball, and is now a team that others want to emulate, maybe the blank check scenario makes sense. No matter what the amount may be, it's a check Mike Ilitch will be more than happy to cut.

Leyland also said that he wasn't looking to manage anywhere else, and would only want to sign 1 year contract extensions from here on out. I immediately thought of the old Brooklyn/LA Dodgers manager, Walter Alston, who signed 23 one year contracts. I doubt we'll see something that extreme from Leyland, but I seriously doubt the Tigers will have to look for another manager anytime soon. It'll be sometime after 2010, at the earliest.

It's fitting that Jim Leyland's illustrious managerial career will end with the team that gave him his start. It also confirms the Tigers should be a very good team for several seasons to come.

Bud Selig couldn't carry Roger Goodell's briefcase

Umpire Mike Winters was suspended for the rest of the season for his actions in the Milton Bradley incident. Obviously, MLB thought Winters crossed a line during his "Discussion" with Bradley. Still, only 3 games seems more like a mere slap on the wrist, considering Bradley will be undergoing surgery, then suffering through months of rehab for his trashed knee.

What Winters did in baiting Bradley was comparable to some yahoo poking a sharp stick into the backside of a grizzly bear. Bradley reacted much like the bear would have, with extreme anger, and malice in mind. Since Bradley's reputation of his being a near-psychopath with a hair trigger temper precedes him, what other sort of reaction would you expect? Winters wanted a confrontation, and he sure as Hell got it.

Winters is supposed to be a bastion of integrity when on the field, someone respected by the players. Turns out he's far from being respected, nor has a lick of integrity. Bud Selig had the opportunity to drop the hammer, drawing a clear line in the sand. Instead, he went quite easy on Winters.

MLB's commissioner is called "Bud-lite" for a reason.

Roger Goodell has a pair of these.
Bud Selig, on the other hand...

Anyone in the business sector would have been fired on the spot if they had acted as recklessly as Winters. A strong commissioner, one with more than a pair of shriveled raisins for balls, would have made sure that happened. MLB's so-called commissioner needed to bring the wrath of God down upon the growing number of arrogant, showboating umpires who feel they are more important than the game itself.

Unfortunately, Bud-lite has now set a precedent. An umpire who causes a near riot on the field, severely hurting a player in the process, gets a 3 game suspension.

You can't miss what you don't have...

It's a sad state of affairs for the Big 10 when most fans have accepted the fact that we won't be getting the Big !0 Network on our cable systems anytime soon. We've bitched both to the conference, and the cable cartel, till we're (maize and) blue in the face, and it hasn't made one single solitary bit of difference. It's not as either entity is going to go broke, so is there really any reason for compromise?

I've heard of this network, but don't know a soul that gets it. Does it actually exist?

As the football season is now 1/4 over, you'd have to think that it's a dead solid lock that we cable customers won't have the Big 10 Network available anytime this season. I'm not optimistic that we'll be seeing the Big 10 basketball season either. If an agreement couldn't be reached during football season, why should we expect anything different for hoops?

For those of you who say, "Get a dish," I'll say, "I wish I could!" Most cable subscribers don't have the option. It's either due to living in an apartment or condo, not having the extra cash to buy the equipment to up with one of the satellite companies, don't want to be tied into a long-term contract, even if the satellite companies do subsidize my box, or are tied into an TV/internet cable package. Trust me, ala carte internet sure as Hell ain't cheap.

I should know, as I was a very happy DirecTv subscriber for close to a decade. Great picture, tons of channels, rain fade was a total non-issue, never had any customer service issues. In fact, I'd recommend DirecTv to anyone. But as I no long have a house due to my physical limitations, I had no choice but to go back to cable. As cable is an government authorized monopoly, I only have one option for my TV, Charter Communications. I've had more outages in my several months with Charter, than I had in a decade with DirecTv. But I digress...

The Big 10 said the reason they started their own network (Other than it hopefully being a cash cow) was to make sure the fans got to see all the schools on a regular basis. Yet, for the first time I can remember, I haven't been able to watch every Michigan Wolverine game.

At this point, I'm ready to move on, and no longer worry about getting the Big 10 Network. It's not worth the grief anymore. Righteous anger will only take you so far, as that anger then turns to apathy.

If the Michigan game is broadcast on a network my cable package carries, that'll be just peachy! If it isn't? Screw it, I'll watch the SEC game on CBS, or whatever game ESPN/ABC has deigned to broadcast.

The Hell with it! Screw the Big 10, and the cable monopolies. I'm fed up. I don't care anymore. I'm not going out of my way to find the Big 10 Network. I'm no longer going to bother calling my cable company, as all that has done is try my patience. Getting the Big 10 Network is just not worth the time and trouble.

I'm sure that's not what Jim Delany and the Big 10 schools want to hear, but that's how I feel. I'm positive more and more Big 10 fans are feeling the exact same way...

Answering the Detroit Tigers' "Burning questions," volume 13

To quote noted marine and mechanic Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" It's a burning questions Tuesday at TWFE! Detroit News columnist Lynn Henning must have had plenty on his mind, as for the second consecutive day, we have another set of burning questions about the (Soon to be eliminated from the postseason) Detroit Tigers.

Today's topics include Magglio Ordonez, Todd Jones, Kenny Rogers, and the 5th starter in 2008. Time to make some decisions regarding the Tigers' future...

Burning questions as the Tigers say a six-month goodbye to Comerica Park

Q: What, above all, stood out from the Tigers' 2007 season?

Henning: You can follow this game for decades and, every once in a while, something happens that is so remarkable you realize it will go into a personal vault of memories and moments.

For me, it has been the privilege -- the word is quite appropriate -- of watching Magglio Ordonez hit a baseball. Every game has been extraordinary for the skill and talent he has exhibited in doing the single most difficult thing in sport.

I felt the same way three years ago when Pudge Rodriguez went 43-for-86 during June. I never expect to see anything like it. Nor will it be easy for any hitter to replicate Ordonez's 2007 season. His hitting prowess has been a rare event, primarily because he has blended so much extra-base power with all those sharp singles to all areas of the field.

Big Al: Magglio Ordonez is a no-brainer choice. Maggs started hitting in April, and never stopped. It's the best offensive season from a Detroit Tiger since Norm Cash's insane 1961. It's looking more and more as if Ordonez will match Cash's feat of winning a batting title. He'll also, just like Cash, be overshadowed in the AL MVP vote by a New York Yankee, which is a damn shame.

A few other Tigers do stand out, other than Ordonez. When Gary Sheffield was healthy, he was a great all-around ballplayer, quite possibly the team's MVP. Sheffield hit for average, hit for power, was the best baserunner on the team, just an offensive force of nature. If he hadn't taken that right field tumble in July, ruining both his shoulder and season (Quite possibly the Tigers as well), you could easily have envisioned Sheffield having a 30-30 year. He had his eye on a 40-40, which would not have been out of the question.

Of course, you can't forget the freakishly good stat line of Curtis Granderson, who became an impact player in his second full season, and Placido Polanco, who did nothing but hit and field, both flawlessly.

Q: What is his future in Detroit? Will he end up playing seven years here?

Henning: Yes. He would need to run into injuries or some sort of sudden nosedive to not accumulate enough at-bats during the next two seasons to trigger the final two years of his contract. It means the Tigers will end up fulfilling a seven-year, $105 million deal.

And, right now, owner Mike Ilitch -- who was the person most responsible for this deal -- won't begrudge Ordonez one penny of it.

Big Al: Most fans felt Ordonez was worth the big money contract the moment he hit the home run that clinched the 2006 AL pennant. This season confirmed that Ordonez is still the impact clean up hitter the Tigers hoped, when they took a chance that he was fully recovered from his knee injury, 3 years ago.

I don't see Maggs going anywhere, other than out to patrol right field, and remaining a fixture in the middle of the order, for quite some time to come.

As Henning says, Ordonez would have to have a Craig Monroe-like collaspe, a totally unforeseen sudden decline, or some sort of catastrophic injury, for him to miss out on the at bats that kick in the final 2 years of his contract. At that point, he'll be too old, and too expensive, to deal. So keep your fingers crossed that Ordonez remains both healthy, and productive, for the next 4 seasons.

Up to this point in time though, Ordonez has been well worth the money. We may be singing a different tune 3 years from now.

Q: Will he remain a productive hitter throughout?

Henning: That's pretty much up to Ordonez. He will need to be disciplined and rigorous if he wants to hit at a lofty level as he ages. He will be 34 in January and it will not get any easier, as Ordonez concedes. He said a few days ago that he was aware of how he must work increasingly harder each year to keep his body toned and flexible.

Injuries will always be a concern. But notice how well he came back from his old knee and hernia-related impairments to play so terrifically in 2007.

He was better in the field, as well, all because a remarkable athlete was finally physically intact.

Big Al: Ordonez is coming off the best season of his career at age 33. If he stays healthy, there's no reason to expect Maggs to decline precipitously for a few years. Obviously, odds are he won't ever replicate his outstanding 2007, as that would be too much to expect of anyone.

But without question, the man can hit. Will Ordonez do so in years 6 and 7 of the deal? Who knows? I like the odds that he will. He may be a Gary Sheffield type, and remain a big time producer into his late 30's. It appears, as Henning stated, that Ordonez realizes that for him to remain at his current elite level of production, he'll have to work harder in the off seasons.

Considering the horrific knee injury, and sports hernia he's come back from, Ordonez knows exactly what he needs to do.

Q: Is his sore heel a concern?

Henning: Trainers seem to believe it won't be anything that affects him in 2008.

Big Al: If the Tigers are fine with it, so am I. It sure didn't affect his batting stroke...

Q: Will he continue to play right field?

Henning: Yes -- not only in 2008, but in 2009, as well. The Tigers won't be able to move him to designated hitter until 2010, after Gary Sheffield is gone. It will be the sixth year of his seven-year deal and pretty much guarantees he will be Detroit's DH through 2011.

Big Al: It's not as if there is a choice in the matter. The Tigers have none, and playing Ordonez in right is their only option with Sheffield locked into the DH role. As an aside, if I'm Jim Leyland, I hide all of Sheffield's gloves, save for his batting gloves. He's too valuable at the plate to risk him getting hurt in the vast spaces of Comerica's outfield.

If Sheffield plays out his contract, Ordonez wouldn't be able to slide into the DH role for 2 more seasons. He's not a gold glove outfielder by any means, but Ordonez was just fine this season, so I'm comfortable with his remaining in right field. It helps immensely that there is a gold glove caliber center fielder in Granderson who can cover much of the ground that Ordonez is unable to reach.

Q . What are Tigers fans to make of Todd Jones' words Monday that he would be interested in coming back in 2008?

Henning: Jones had been playing it coy on his future -- until Monday. Jim Leyland's remarks Sunday that he would "love to have Todd Jones back" seemed to free up Jones to talk with the same passion about the Tigers.

It would seem, from a business standpoint, that Jones could reasonably pursue a two-year contract with a team that would look at him as a young 39, which is very much the case. But Jones says other things matter more: relationships, comfort zones, his role, his teammates, etc. It's a refreshing viewpoint, although in this business-oriented society, the bottom line normally wins out. The chances that Jones and Kenny Rogers will be back next year just moved in Detroit's favor.

Big Al: Leyalnd wants him back, Jones wants to come back, and it sounds as if he'll give the Tigers a hometown discount to do so. You do the math, and it means Tigers fans will have to accept that Jones will remain the smoke and mirrors closer to start the 2008 season.

When the man says that he wants to stay a Detroit Tiger, will accept a 1 year deal rather than 2 years, and is willing to give up being the closer, I think it's safe to say The Rollercoaster will be back for 1 more season. Considering Joel Zumaya's injury basically set him back a year, it makes sense.

As much as we all love to rail on about Jones' ability as a closer, he's effective enough to get 38 saves. Just don't ask me how he does it...

You also have to remember that if the Tigers do let Jones walk, they'll have to find an effective set up man to replace the closer-in-waiting, Zumaya. Good luck in finding someone, as that won't be easy, or even doable. (We all saw how well Joe Table worked out) So I can understand Detroit keeping Jones around as pitching insurance, as a mentor, and as a fairly effective closer.

Q: Will Rogers change his mind if a nice, two-year deal comes his way? Will a pitcher who already said it's either "here (Detroit) or nowhere" think differently if a heftier contract is offered?

Henning: A personal opinion is no, because the Tigers will make him a generous offer. His agent, Scott Boras, no doubt was on the phone 30 seconds after he heard of Rogers' remarks and tongue-lashed (as gently as Boras reprimands anyone) his client for potentially costing them a few million dollars.

But the parties will ultimately conclude -- in this view -- that the Tigers and Rogers will do fine by each other in 2008.

Big Al: Just as Jones did, The Gambler has stated that he wants to remain a Tiger. He's gone as far as the "Here or nowhere" quote Henning mentions. That sounds like a man who likes his current situation, and sees no real reason to look elsewhere. After years of being a mercenary, and never being fully appreciated, Rogers has finally found his "Grass is greener" situation.

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Kenny Rogers has never been happier as a professional. The Tigers organization loves him, Leyland loves him, the fans love him, and most importantly, the young pitching staff looks up to him. He's repaid it in kind, as when healthy, Rogers has pitched like an ace.

I'm sure, as long as Rogers wants to continue pitching, the Tigers will compensate him fairly, as the organization is no longer known as being cheapskate skinflints. Rogers will get a more than fair contract. Maybe not quite as much as a team desperate for starting pitching would be willing to (Over) pay, but I can see a 1 year deal in the 8-10 million range. Even at those rates, that's a steal for a number 1 starter.

Q: What will be manager Jim Leyland's disposition toward his starting rotation when the Tigers come to Florida? How does he view Andrew Miller and Jair Jurrjens?

Henning: Extreme wariness and caution, as he made clear Sunday. Leyland loves both pitchers and their obvious skills. But he knows that rushing a pitcher to the big leagues accomplishes nothing, for either the team or the player, if the player clearly needs more seasoning. Everyone will get a better sense for that in Florida during February and March.

The bet here is unchanged: Miller will go north with the team. Jurrjens will temporarily head to the minors. At some point next season, Jurrjens and Miller will be in the rotation, contributing in a relative fashion what Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya brought the Tigers in 2006.

Big Al: Hopefully, 2007 was the worst case scenario in regard to starting pitching. After getting through this past season with spit and bailing wire holding the rotation together, Leyland will know that no one is a sure thing in 2008. The more big league ready pitchers he has available, even if they start the season in Erie or Toledo, the better. Odds are you'll need those arms sometime during the season.

The fact that Jurrjens is helping the Tigers win games right now, while Miller is cooling his heels in Florida, say volumes. Miller may have more upside, but Jurrjens sure looks like the more polished, and more big league ready, pitcher. So I'm not convinced that Miller will be in the rotation to start the '08 season.

Miller was rushed to the big leagues, partly due to talent, and mostly due to the big league contract he signed coming out of college. Would it really hurt him all that much , if at all, to spend a few months in the minor leagues? It may be the best thing for him, in the long term.

When it comes to the 5th starter in 2008, I honestly think that whomever pitches best in spring training between Miller and Jurrjens will decide which pitcher goes north. Either way, no matter who ends up in the rotation, we've learned that you can never have enough pitching. So I'd expect both will end up as important contributors next season.

Thinking out loud...

1. I watched a half hour of the Michael Vick "Town meeting" on the worldwide leader last night. Deadspin has a ton of pertinent links for those that missed it. I turned it off once it became obvious that it was nothing more than a race baiting screamfest, with those on both sides of the issue not bothering to consider the opposing viewpoint.

I felt badly for Bob Ley, the moderator, as there was no way he could keep a lid on the audience, as those in attendance were 99% pro Mike Vick. He was stuck in a no-win situation. The audience angry mob spent the majority of their time hooting in derision, and shouting down anyone saying Vick was anything other than a victim of "The Man." It was highly disturbing television, to say the very least.

I needed to take a shower afterwards, just to scrub all the closed minded ugliness off of me.

2. Ian does an excellent job today over at Bless You Boys, stepping into my shoes, posting a deconstruction of Rob Parker's latest piece of hackery, saving me the trouble. Parker's claims that Gary Sheffield may retire is full of pure speculation and innuendo, but no facts.

There's nothing new here, as Parker is just taking past quotes to come up with a scenario that fits his "Controversial" topic. This quote Parker uses from Sheffield says it all, "I really haven't thought about just walking away." Yet Parker picks up the ball, and runs with it all the way to "Sheff may retire!" Parker is a hack, period. He represents all that's wrong with the MSM.

3. Demonoid has been down for 2 days, and I'm going through severe withdrawal issues...

4. Michael Wilbon is afraid of blogs? Good, as he should be. Well, actually Wilbon has nothing to fear, as he's one of the best columnists around. But the MSM in general? They are quaking in their boots, for good reason. How many of you go to the blogosphere first for the vast majority of your sports pontificating? I know I do.

Should I care, as Wilbon does, that most blogs have no accountability? No, because I'm aware of that fact going in. I wouldn't expect anyone that reads TWFE to think that I answer to anyone, that I have any sort of inside connections, or that my opinions are anything other than that, just my opinions.

Of course the MSM has a different set of standards, and I'm glad they do. Report the facts, and only the facts, leave the bias at home. Blogs, on the other hand, are almost exclusively opinion, commentary, and totally biased, with a dash of satire, attitude, and cynicism thrown in. There's room for both, and if anything, blogs are making the MSM step up their game. And that's a damn good thing...

5. Golf's President's Cup starts tomorrow. I didn't even realize it, till I read about it in today's Detroit News. Now I enjoy golf as much as anyone, and find the Ryder Cup to be highly entertaining theater. But the President's Cup has a created for TV feel about it, trying to recreate the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup, without any of the history or emotion that comes along with it's spiritual father. Actually, you could say the same about the PGA's faux playoffs, the mostly ignored Fed Ex Cup. No one really cares, as the only thing that matters are the 4 majors, and the bi-annual Ryder Cup.

Plus, it's football season, and the MLB playoffs are just around the corner. The NHL is in camp, and just about to face off, and the NBA won't be far behind. No matter what sort of silly season stuff they create in the PGA Tour boardroom, golf just can't compare. honestly, I find what interest I do have in golf ends the moment a winner of the final major of the season, the PGA, is crowned. So Tiger, Phil, and the rest of the PGA tour? No offense, but I'll see you in April, when you tee off at Augusta.

6. The Bears have benched Rex Grossman, and Brian Griese is going to start against the Lions. With Griese under center, he'll be able to keep turnovers to a bare minimum. I think only chance the Lions had in beating the Bears rode on the inaccurate and inconsistent arm of Grossman. Without Rex giving the Lions a short field, and keeping the Lions defense off the field, the odds that the Lions can beat the Bears became long.

Milton Bradley is a hot tempered loon. Why does that mean he can't be in the right?

You all have seen the latest Milton Bradley incident, with his losing all semblance of sanity while railing against the (Alleged) derogatory comments made by MLB umpire Mike Winters. The confrontation ended with Bradley shredding his ACL, ending his season, and giving the San Diego Padres' playoff chances a punch in the gut.

What I've found surprising is the reaction from the masses, in that many, if not the majority of baseball fans, think Bradley got his just desserts, so to speak. Personally, I think if the allegations made by Bradley, and his first base coach Bobby Meacham, are true, then I can understand Bradley's intense anger.

If this had happened to any other player than the loony, assholish Bradley, would people be so quick to say he got what he deserved? Since the reputation of Bradley is one of a hot headed asshat, many think that there is no way his reaction was justified. I mean, come on, it's Milton Bradley! He's CRAZY! But even loons can have good reason to get upset.

The vast majority of the blame should be placed upon Winters. As someone who is supposed to uphold the integrity of the game, an authority figure whose judgment supposed to be totally unbiased, the umpire needs to be held accountable for his utter douchebaggery in enticing Bradley into a confrontation.

Yes, I agree that Bradley is a big time dick, and is this close to being certifiable, that's without question. In most any other circumstance, he wouldn’t get the benefit of the doubt from me. His track record of insane outbursts is as long as your arm. But going by Meacham’s reaction to the umpire's words, along with his confirming Bradley’s story in saying it was “The most disconcerting conversation I have heard from an umpire to a player,” and Helton being quoted as saying the conversation was “Interesting,” I actually buy Bradley’s version of events.

I doubt Meacham would want to sully his reputation by lying for the likes of Bradley, even if he is one of his players.

From all appearances, the ump was outright baiting Bradley, looking for a confrontation. Winters got it when he crossed a line in calling him “A fucking piece of shit.” If I were in Bradley’s shoes, I would have gone apeshit too. The difference being, if I go nuts, I'm going to yell and scream. If Bradley goes nuts, death or maiming are your only two options.

If the truth comes out that Winters initiated the entire fiasco, I hope MLB throws the book at him. As for discipline, of course Bradley deserves a multi-game suspension. But Winters, who's supposed to be a bastion of integrity on the diamond, deserves a much worse fate, up to losing his job.

Answering the Detroit Tigers' "Burning questions," volume 12

Burning questions Monday continues! It's now time for a set of Burning questions from Lynn Henning of the Detroit News, regarding your favorite 2nd place baseball team, the Detroit Tigers.

Today's topics include what positional needs the Tigers may target in free agency, A-Rod, The Gambler, The Rollercoaster, and will one, both, or neither be a Tiger in 2008? Let's burn away, shall we?

Burning questions as the Tigers get ready for one last home series:

Q: What acquisition are the Tigers most likely to make during the off-season?

Henning: A left-hand hitter who can play left field or first base, or both. The Tigers can get away with a committee approach to left field if they so choose in 2008, but it's natural to assume they want a more regular presence out there.

Timo Perez isn't the power hitter the Tigers ideally want. They need someone who can reach the seats. Had a first baseman at Tampa Bay named Carlos Pena done with the Tigers what he decided to do this year for the Devil Rays, the left-hand power bat would have been in place. And the 2002 trade that sent Jeff Weaver to the Yankees would have been made to look all the better for Detroit, which got Jeremy Bonderman, principally, in return.

Big Al: First off, please, please, please stop the Timo madness. I can understand why Jim Leyland played him down the stretch, as his bat was smoking hot. I do think we can all agree that, as nice of a September he may have had, Timo's not the long term solution in left. Never was, and never will be. Moving on...

Regarding Carlos Pena, all I can say is that 99% of the Detroit Tigers fanbase said "Don't let the door hit you in the ass" when he was traded. It was obvious that he was never going to produce in Detroit. Considering Pena has finally lived up to his potential doesn't change that fact. It never pays to look back, hindsight is 20/20, and all that jazz. Pena had a great season for a bottom feeding team. So be it..

As to the Tigers' biggest need, it's been said over and over again that they need a left handed bat with more than a little pop. Dave Dombrowski has been on the hunt for that bat for a couple of seasons now, with no success. Matt Stairs was here for for all of two weeks at the end of 2006. My 9 year old nephew hits for more power than Sean Casey. Timo Perez is a Casey who plays outfield. None of them is the solution. So the Tigers will try again after this season.

If the opportunity arises to get that bat in this coming off season, if he plays 1st or left makes no difference. Honestly, if they could find a left handed platoon bat for left field, and a full time left hand hitting 1st baseman with power, I'd say the Tigers would have hit Triple 7's, a flush on the river, and got themselves a BINGO! I'd call that a successful off season.

Q: Thoughts on whom the Tigers might consider?

Henning: One guy who might fit the bill is Geoff Jenkins of Milwaukee. He has a $9 million option for 2008 that the Brewers are not about to pick up, which will make him a free agent at the end of this season.

Jenkins is 33 and has hit 21 home runs in 125 games this season. He can play first base or outfield. He would be the short-term guy with pop in his bat and the versatility Detroit is seeking.

If you're looking for a leader in the clubhouse among players most likely to be approached by Detroit this off-season, Jenkins isn't a bad bet to be pursued.

Big Al: To begin, let's look at free agent left fielders.

Moises Alou (42) - $7.5MM club option for '08
Barry Bonds (43)
Milton Bradley (30)
Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08; becomes free agent after season if traded
Cliff Floyd (35) - mutual option for '08
Luis Gonzalez (40)
Geoff Jenkins (33) - $9MM club option for '08
Reggie Sanders (40)
Shannon Stewart (34)
Brad Wilkerson (31)

Disregarding what side of the plate they hit, from looking at that list, you can drop Alou, Bonds, Bradley, Floyd, Gonzalez, Sanders, and Stewart off it immediately.

Alou is old as dirt, and is probably going to retire.
The Tigers already have a DH in Gary Sheffield, so that counts out Bonds. (I'm not even going to delve into Bonds' baggage)
Bradley is a loon, so no. (Even though I have to say if an umpire called me "A fucking piece of shit," I'd lose it too...)
Floyd is too brittle, he's only played more than 120 games 4 times in his career. Though the thought of Floyd as the lefty part an outfield platoon is intriguing. I'm guessing he still fancies himself a full time player, and would be too expensive for the production you're likely to get.
Sanders is 40, 'nuff said.
Stewart is basically a higher paid Craig Monroe.

That leaves Dunn, Jenkins, and Wilkerson.

Dunn would be a PERFECT fit on the Tigers. As he's patient left hand hitter, has a ton of power, a high OBP, can play both 1B/LF, and still in his prime, I can live with his high strikeout rate. But the odds of the Reds letting Dunn walk is slim to none. If the Reds lost Dunn, what's left of their fanbase would walk with him. As much as I'd love to see Dunn don ye Olde English D as a 1st baseman, it's not going to happen.

Wilkerson can also play 1B/LF, but he's just a left hand hitting Craig Monroe who's stats have been on the decline for a couple of seasons.

That leaves Jenkins. On the plus side he plays both LF/RF, has 25 home run power, and until this season, a solid OBP. On the down side, his stats have declined for 3 consecutive seasons. but if you check his splits, Jenkins appears to be a nice fit as the left handed part of a platoon. So I can see where Henning is coming from in regard to the Tigers being interested in Jenkins.

OK, let's do 1st base.

Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (36)
Adam Dunn (28) - $13MM club option for '08
Darin Erstad (34) - $3.5MM club option for '08
Scott Hatteberg (38) - $1.85MM club option for '08
Ryan Klesko (37)
Mike Lamb (33)
Doug Mientkiewicz (34)

Off the list right off the bat is Casey, Clark, Dunn, Erstad, and Mienkiewicz.

Do I even have to go over soon to be former Tiger Casey, and former Tiger Clark? No? Good. Dunn I've already covered.

Erstad has been on the decline for years, and is so far beyond being washed up, it's not funny.
Mienkiewicz couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper bag.
Klesco is interesting as part of a 1st base platoon, but no longer hits with any power. Might as well keep Sean Casey, as they are the same player at this point of their careers, and Casey would probably take a pay cut to stay in the D.

That leaves Lamb. He plays both 1B/3B, which gives you infield flexibility. Lamb has good power, a decent OBP, and is a good fit as the lefty in a corner infield platoon. But questions abound... Would a team give Lamb the opportunity to play full time? Do teams see him as a platoon player, or a full time starter? Will Houston just ante up and pay Lamb?

Keeping trades out of the equation, Jenkins and Lamb appear to be the sort of players the Tigers would target. They are pieces that would enhance the core.

Q: Will the Tigers be interested in Alex Rodriguez if he becomes a free agent?

Henning: They'll be interested in the way most people are interested in becoming millionaires. The problem with A-Rod, should he opt out of his Yankees contract, is that he will be chased by teams such as the Red Sox and the Cubs, and will be offered pretty much a blank check to hit his next 200 home runs in those wonderful ballparks with teams that figure to be contenders.

The Tigers would need to offer A-Rod something in the neighborhood of $25-30 million a year, and that probably isn't realistic for any middle-market team, even one that has had a big year at the box office. A-Rod would become nearly one-quarter of a payroll in the $125 million range, which is way beyond the ceiling the Tigers can realistically consider.

Big Al: As good of a fit A-Rod would be, despite the good relationship the Tigers have with Scott Boras, I just don't see it happening. Especially when I heard the $30 million a season number being thrown around this past weekend.

A long term contract at $30 million per year? That's...That's...Just...Oh my fucking God, that's insane! Even for the best player in baseball!

Sure, the Tigers are willing to spend, which is why I wouldn't rule out a trade, taking a contract (Say Miguel Tejada?) off of someone's hands, but A-Rod money is too rich for their blood. For that sort of jack, Rodriguez will end up playing in 1 of 4 cities. Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York.

I hate to admit it, but those are the facts of major league life. Only the biggest of the big markets would be able to, or even think about, signing Alex Rodriguez.

Q: Won't Tigers owner Mike Ilitch be tempted to at least talk with A-Rod and his agent, Scott Boras?

Henning: One would think so. The Tigers were thought to be laughably approaching a couple of Boras clients in 2004 and '05 named Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez. The Tigers signed both of them. Ilitch has a tendency to think big, very big, when he sees an opportunity, as he showed during the Red Wings' pre-salary cap days. The difference is A-Rod represents another realm.

It's easy for us to spend the owner's money. At some point, however, you have to practice fiscal sanity, and $30 million for A-Rod when your payroll is already approaching $100 million is asking a lot from even the most generous of owners when his team plays in Detroit.

.Big Al: Of course they'll talk. You'd be negligent otherwise, and you never know what might transpire. Hell, maybe Ilitch will surprise us all, and jump into the bidding. Don't forget, Ilitch was willing to give Juan Gone $140+ million. So he won't gag at big numbers. But it's the longest of long shots.

Just think about it. We're talking $30 million a year for, let's say, 7 years? That'd make anyone think twice, and still gag at the thought.

There's also the fact that the Tigers will have to factor into their budget the signing of young players like Curtis Granderson and Justin Verlander to long term deals sooner, than later. You know they won't come cheap.

I actually like the way the Tigers are currently spending money, not just on the occasional free agent, but in giving big bonuses to top shelf amateur talent. It's a much more cost effective way of doing business.

Q: Quick forecast: What are the chances the Tigers will retain one, both or none of the two impending free-agent pitchers they have in Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones?

Henning: They will re-sign one: Kenny Rogers. That's the guess here, although the Tigers will want to re-sign both. Again, the likelihood is that Jones will draw a two-year contract offer from some club that must boost its bullpen next year and will take the gamble on a second year.

The Tigers, however, will probably draw the line at one season, no matter how badly they would love to re-sign Jones, and make no mistake, they want to sign him.

Big Al: You all know my thoughts on the Gambler. I think the Tigers feel the same way, and will re-up him to a 1 year deal at a price near what he's making now, $8 million per. I could even live with a 2 year deal, as Rogers has been that important to the Tigers. You can never have enough starting pitching, as we learned this season. So you don't let Rogers go.

What to do with the Rollercoaster is a much thornier question. I really could see keeping him as the closer for another season, but just 1 more season. I'm sure that Jones wants to stay, but if it takes a 2 year contract to keep a puff ball throwing, soon to be 40 years old, smolk and mirrors closer? I'm not too enthused about that idea.

If another team offers Jones a multi-year deal, you tell him, "Thanks for the memories."

Q: What will happen if the Tigers don't sign Jones?

Henning: Joel Zumaya will be your new closer. The Tigers have to be reassured by how Zumaya has thrown the ball since he returned a month ago from his 3 ½-month layoff. He essentially closed Sunday's game and was sparkling, with his old 100-mph fastball in harness.

I would guess the Tigers are growing increasingly more comfortable with thoughts that Zumaya, who is destined to be their closer at some point down the line, can handle the role if necessary in 2008. But they would dearly love to have Jones as insurance, which is why you can't rule out anything when the Tigers and Jones' representatives talk this autumn.

Big Al: I'm not convinced that Zumaya, or for that matter, Rodney, are ready for/could handle the closers job. Plus I'd hate to lose the late inning 1-2 punch that a healthy Zumaya and Rodney would give you. When Zumdney were on and healthy in 2006, games were 6 innings long. Let alone it's hard enough to find bullpen help, as we found out this season. Especially someone who could handle the high leverage situations Zumaya often faced.

But if Jones leaves, Zumaya is the best bet. It's a no-brainer. But you'd have to find a replacement for his set-up role. Good luck with that, to say the very least.

Answering the Detroit Lions' week 3 "Burning questions"

Thanks to the overlapping NFL and MLB seasons, it's another "Burning questions" Monday at TWFE! Today, we start with the Detroit News' Mike O'Hara, their Lions beat writer, and his "Burning questions." There's plenty to burn after a humiliating 56-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Topics include surprises, the team's mentality, matchups, and Marty Moronweg. Let's wade into the smoky fray...

Burning questions from the Lions' 56-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday:

Q: Should the loss have been a surprise?

O'Hara: Not the loss, but the margin and how badly the Lions were outplayed was a surprise. The bad news for the Lions was that it looked like they were trying to make a game of it and couldn't.

The Eagles were bigger, better and stronger. And they won a big matchup -- their defense against the Lions' offense.

Big Al: Surprise? No! Laying an egg, such as yesterday's debacle against the Eagles, after playing well for a week or two, is prototypical Detroit Lions.

Go back through the decades, and you'll find Lions team after Lions team that has done the same exact thing as the 2007 Lions. No matter who's on the roster, the head coach or running the team, doesn't matter. Crushing the hopes of long suffering fans, and making those who thought that the results would be any different look silly, is what the Detroit Lions do.

That the Lions lost was not surprising, but to see their defense so utterly inept? Not even the most cynical of Lions fans expected to see a Lions defense that disgustingly awful. Not that the offense was any great shakes, but it should be good enough to keep the team in games. But the defense? We saw in the exhibition season that a good NFL QB should be able to pick it apart. Donovan McNabb just confirmed the suspicions about the D-backfield. Good QB's bending over the Lions' defense is not going to change anytime this season.

Q: Start with the outcome. Were people oversold on the Lions starting with a 2-0 record?

O'Hara: Only if they let themselves get oversold and bought into the idea that the Lions had completely turned around by winning the first two games. They had the record they were supposed to have after two games -- 2-0 with victories over Oakland and Minnesota. They played hard, tough football for long stretches of both games.

Realistically, they didn't figure to beat the Eagles. Some think that might have changed when the Eagles struggled and had injuries in the secondary. But in terms of the record alone, the Lions are on schedule at 2-1.

Big Al: Sure, the Lions won their first 2 games, but you can easily make the argument that the Vikings and Raiders are a pair of teams that will be fighting for the 2008 number 1 draft pick. The fact that the Lions had to struggle mightily beat them was somewhat lost in the euphoria of of a 2-0 start.

The moment Detroit stepped on the field with a decent NFL team, and despite their 0-2 start, the Eagles are a solid team, they were exposed as 2-0 frauds. Losing to the Eagles is nothing to be ashamed of, but losing in such an embarrassing fashion definitely is shameful. A good team, a decent team, a contending team, doesn't give up arcade-like stats, or allow the opposition to do any damn thing it wants on both sides of the ball.

And what is the big deal about the Lions playing "Hard and tough" football? It's the NFL, isn't that how a team is supposed to play every week? Why praise the Lions for something that every team is expected to do on a week to week basis, without question?

Q: But what does such a one-sided loss mean?

O'Hara: That's the concern. It's one thing to play well and lose. At least you've played well. It will be hard for Rod Marinelli and his staff to find many good plays on defense and in key areas on offense from Sunday's game.

The way they were manhandled is the issue. They weren't beaten by fluke plays and returns. The Eagles dominated them.

Big Al: It means that good teams will dismantle the Lions' defense. That if the Lions pass rush is neutralized, the defensive backfield couldn't cover high school wide receivers, let alone NFL quality wide outs. It means that the full burden to win games will fall upon the shoulders of the Lions passing offense. It means that Rod Marinelli will have plenty of opportunities to spew inane cliches' such as, "We'll look at the film," "Clean up a few things," "Pound the rock," and "Teach."

It means that the Lions are a second division team.

Q: What about the mentality of the team and bouncing back from a lopsided loss?

O'Hara: The players sounded philosophical about the loss. Here's what Damien Woody said: "It's a 16-game season. You can't get overly excited about a big victory, and you can't get too down about a loss. We've still got a lot of big games, starting next week with Chicago.

"I've been a part of big losses on good teams. It happens in this league."

Big Al: The Lions are saying all the right things. So what? We've heard it all before! We hear them every season after the Lions lose (Pick one) badly/embarrassingly/stupidly/to a team with a worse record/on a fluke play/to a backup QB/on a blown coverage/taking the wind in overtime/period.

I'm tired of the talk. At this point, after years and years of excuses and rationalizations, the talk is nothing more than empty words, as empty as the 400+ yards Jon Kitna put in the stat book.

Their play on the field says volumes more about the Lions, than their words in the locker room.

Q: What about Woody's comment about big losses on good teams?

O'Hara: Obviously, he's talking about the New England Patriots, where he started his career and played on two Super Bowl winners. The Lions do not have that winning mentality yet. They don't have the Patriots' edge.

Big Al: I don't remember the Patriots allowing up 300 yards passing in 1 half, giving up a month's worth of TD's in 1 game, or making excuses like "It happens in this league" either.

Good Lord, the Patriots will play more "Big games" in 1 season than the Lions will play in an entire decade! Comparing the Lions attitude to the Patriots is comparing apples to giant alien robots from planet Zontar. They don't belong in the same discussion. Or universe...

Q: What was the biggest matchup Sunday?

O'Hara: Easy. The Eagles' defense against the Lions' offense. Score a big win for Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator.

Earlier in the week, Mike Martz, the Lions' offensive coordinator, said he expected the unexpected, and he got it.

The Lions went three-and-out on four of their first five possessions. On the other possession, they had the ball for five plays and scored.

While the Lions were struggling, the Eagles scored touchdowns on their first five possessions and six of the first seven. That's not a fluke. The better team won.

Big Al: How about Andy Reid against Rod Marinelli? Reids' teams are almost always contenders, and he's led his Eagles teams to several NFC title games, and the Super Bowl. Marinelli has lead his teams...Uh, no, he had never been a head coach up to last season. Well, he's been a coordinator...Wait, he's never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL. There's no comparing Reid and Marinelli.

For the second game in a row, Marinelli once again blew goats in his game management. Losing 1 challenge that was borderline to begin with, and not challenging an Eagles catch that should have been questioned. Since Marinelli has become the Lions head man, sideline screw ups have been all too commonplace.

You want to talk matchups? How about Brian Westbrook against the Lions' defense? Donovan McNabb against the Lions' defense? Kevin Curtis against...Hell, I'll just stop now. But you get my drift. The Eagles won every matchup, both on and off the field.

Q: Marty Mornhinweg, the Lions' head coach in 2001-02, is the Eagles' assistant head coach and in charge of offense. How do you think he felt?

O'Hara: After putting up eight touchdowns, 56 points and 536 yards, he might want to have a copy of the stats sheet on his Christmas card and mail one to every member of the Lions' front office.

Big Al: I couldn't give a shit about Marty Moronweg. In fact, I'd rather forget that the dumb ass was ever on the Lions' sideline. Say what you will about Moronweg's supposed offensive guru/genius status, I'll always reply with this...

"That moron took the wind, rather than the ball, in overtime."

He'll never be a head coach in the NFL. If some team ever had the nerve/guts/stupidity to hire him, you know what the fanbase would say?

"What in the Hell are you thinking? That moron took the wind, rather than the ball, in overtime!"

Q: The Lions play the Bears at Ford Field Sunday. What do you see in that game?

O'Hara: Trouble. Chicago's defense is better than Philly's.

Big Al: What do I see? Let me channel former heavyweight champion Clubber Lang... PAIN!

I see one pissed off Bears team, coming off a fairly humiliating loss of their own against the Cowboys. The only way the Lions stay in the game is that Rex Grossman is an awful, awful QB. He's bound to turn the ball a few times.

Can the Lions beat the Bears? Sure, but they'll have to play a close to perfect game on offense. But do you see the Lions' offense playing a perfect game against the Bears? The Bears have a better defense than every team the Lions have played to this point.

Against lesser defenses, Kitna has thrown 3 end zone picks in 3 games. He's turned the ball over 6 times. Kitna's been sacked 12 times, and the Eagles alone sacked him 9 times. All that says that an very good Bears defense may have a field day against a Lions offense that can't run the ball, and has a banged up O-line that has trouble protecting the QB.

The Lions are not a good team: Lions - Eagles final thoughts

First off, for those who care to read my thoughts as the Lions game progressed, here's the links...

That sucked: 1st quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

It's officially a defensive debacle: 2nd quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

This game is over: 3rd quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

It's empty stats time: 4th quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

After reading over the live blog, and checking out the freakish game stats, a few things came to mind...

Brian Westbrook shown running roughshod over, around, and through the Detroit Lions' "Defense"
(Term used very loosely)

1. Good teams do not get 56 points hung up on them. Good teams do not allow 300 yards passing in 1 half. Good teams do not allow 200 yards receiving to Kevin Curtis, let alone in 1 HALF! Good teams will lose games, but they aren't embarrassed in those losses. The Lions, specifically their defense, were badly embarrassed.

2. Rod Marinelli risked what little chance the Lions have at a .500 or better season by allowing Jon Kitna to play the entire game. It was 56-21 Eagles, with more than 7 minutes left in the game! It was totally out of hand at that point. You aren't gong to come back from 5 scores down, even if Jesus was at QB, and God himself in the backfield.

There are no excuses, no legitimate reasons, nothing whatsoever that could adequately explain why Kitna was left in a blowout loss to endure a 9 sack beating. Considering Kitna was coming off of a concussion, makes it even worse. That was nothing sort of negligence by your head coach, and you can't convince me otherwise. Marinelli should be held accountable, but you and I know that won't happen.

If Marinelli's called out on it by the media, he'll use some sort of "Pound the rock" metaphor, or call Kitna a "Leader," and skate right over the issue.

3. The Lions ran the ball only 12 times. Considering 2 of the carries were Kitna scrambles, that's actually only 10 called rushing plays! It's one thing to favor the pass over the run, but 12 rushes? That's absolutely ridiculous.

I'm aware that the Lions will have trouble running the ball. I'd be surprised to see any Lions back get a 100 yard running game this season. But Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun both had respectable yards per carry averages today, Bell at 4 YPC, and Calhoun was over 6. Kevin Jones 3 rushes only averaged a little over a 1 YPC, but 1 of those runs was was a 2 yard TD. So it wasn't as if the Lions running backs were getting totally stuffed at the line.

All this leads to a question. How does Mike Martz expect play action to work when the opposition defense knows you are rarely, if ever, going to run the ball? Isn't that just crossing those plays right out of your playbook?

4. The Lions are still 2-1, but can you seriously expect them to win 8 games (The minimum that they'll need to have a shot at the playoffs) with a defense that gives up 56 points to the Eagles? The Eagles are a solid team, but they are far from world beaters. Every team has a bad game, but Jesus Christ, but today's blowout was totally unacceptable.

The Lions were exposed by the Eagles to be a 2-0 fraud. They are not a playoff team. Period.

Thank God the Lions don't play the Colts this season, or they would get 80 points hung up on them!

It's empty stats time: 4th quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

As we start the 4th, McNabb has 381 yards passing and 4 TD's. Despite that, the Lions force 2 incomplete passes, and wonder of wonders, force a punt!

Lion ball at their 35. I'm going to try and gut it out, even if all the offensive fireworks has my hands cramping up from all the typing... Oh, the pain, the pain...

To start the drive, it's a 3 yard pass to Bell. The Lions are going to need more than that to make a game out of this. A short pass to Williams leaves 3rd and 2. Kitna hits Williams in a seam, and he actually holds on to it, for 24 yards! 1st down at the Eagle 34.

Another pass to Williams, 2nd and 2. It's Calhoun catching a pass down the middle, 1st down at the 15!

Gah! Kitna misses an open McDonald at the goal line! Sweep to Calhoun gets maybe a yard, 3rd and long. It's 4 down territory if you ask me, a field goal does nothing.

Kitna scrambles...And drops the ball! Christ almighty, it's Eagles' ball inside the 15! Still 49-21 Eagles. Game's been over for a while, but there's always the fantasy stats to keep you interested.

Kitna, even if he has a combination of God, Allah, and Zeus on his side, is still a God damn turnover machine... Leadership is moot if YOU CAN'T HOLD ON TO THE FUCKING BALL!

The Lions force another 3 and out. Well, Curtis forced the 3 and out, as he dropped a 3rd down pass that would have moved the chains.

The pace of this game has really slowed down, after that track meet of a 1st half.

After a punt, a Lions block in the back penalty on the return, then a false start, they start this drive at their own 26. A quick look at the stats, Kitna has 401 yards passing, McNabb 381.

Kitna is sacked on 1st down. Kitna holds on to the ball on 2nd, looks downfield, and FUMBLES! Fuck. Eagles ball at the Lions 22.

This game is example number one that is the good and bad of Jon Kitna. He can move the Lions against any defense, but his turnovers just kill any momentum. He's responsible for 3 today, 2 costing the Lions scoring chances, one setting up an Eagles score.

McNabb looks for the TD on 1st down, pass interference Detroit! 1st and goal, Philly. On 2nd down, Hunt scores for the Eagles, diving in untouched from the 2. Another much too easy score, as Fox shows Marty Moronwheg on the sidelines. I'm guessing he's enjoying himself... 56-21 Eagles.

After a Calhoun run and a Philly personal foul, Lions are at their own 47, just over 7 minutes left in the game. Free play, Eagles are offside, but Kitna had to throw it away. 2st and 5.

1st down pass to Furry. This game is over, but Kitna will at least pad his fantasy stats. Short slant to McDonald. Kitna is up to 414 yards in the air. Pass to McDonald has the ball inside the Eagles 20. Lions are driving, time for a turnover?

Not a turnover, but something almost as harmful. Holding on the Lions moves the ball back to the 27. Screen pass fools no one, loses 5 yards. 2nd and 24, might as well be 2nd and forever.

Short pass gains little on 2nd, Eagles sack Kitna for the 8th time on 3rd down. On 4th and 23 Kitna does a Joey Harrington, and checks down to a running back. Eagles take over at their 21, and Kevin Kolb, McNabb's probable replacement, is under center.

McNabb is done for the day, only after completing 80% of his passes. He finishes 21-26-381-4-0, fantasy owners get a hard on upon hearing those stats...

Now the Lions decide to start using time outs? WHY? The game is over!

3rd and 17, Kolb is hit, and fumbles. Lions ball, on the 7! Unfortunately, it's much too little, way too late. Kitna is still under center? WHY? The game is over!

Kitna throws the ball into the stands on 1st and 2nd down, on 3rd he runs for no gain, not sliding in the process.

Again, why is Kitna even in the game? It makes absolutely no sense! The Lions know their only chance to win games is with Kitna under center. So why risk playing him at the end of a blowout? You know he won't slide, and will take chances. It's another in a series of asinine coaching decisions by Marinelli.

And as if to prove my point, Kitna gets hit, and sacked, on 4th down. What is Marinelli thinking? My guess? He's not...

The Eagles are ready to start kneeling down with just under 2 minutes left, yet the Lions somehow manage a 5 yard penalty. Doesn't make any difference, as this game was toast long before now.

Game is officially over, Eagles win 56-21. This was an all around debacle for the Lions. Now do you know why I warned fans from getting overly excited about the Lions? This is what they ALWAYS do, lose badly after playing well...

Christ, only the Lions would follow up 2 wins by giving up 56 points in a blowout loss. When asked about the awful results, I'm going guess that Marinelli will say that the Lions will need to "Keep fighting," "Keep working" "To pound the rock."

Screw you, and your cliches'. Pound THIS, Marinelli!