Jeff Backus

It seems every spring, right around NFL draft time, Lions fans ratchet up their desire for the team to select an "elite" left tackle to take the place of nine-year incumbent Jeff Backus. But every year for the last nine years, those fans are left disappointed on draft day. Theres an explanation for that -- Backus isnt the problem and the Lions know it.  

LB Ernie Sims, DE DeWayne White, and LT Jeff Backus?  I am asking mainly about draft picks, but players could work too.  I tried this trade on Madden 10, and got the 2nd overall pick, and the 2nd pick of the 3rd round.  Is this realistic?  Or would you give up more?  If you want stats, Sims got over 100 tackles in '06, '07, and '08, but was injured a bit this year.  White had 5 sacks in both '07 and '08, but has been injured this year.  Backus...  

Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith left Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a left knee injury. Smith caught a 15-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper, but crumpled to the ground in the open field after his left knee gave out. His leg twisted awkwardly just before he fell to the turf. Trainers attended to Smith, who was helped from the field and onto a cart.  

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed and wide receiver Mark Clayton are inactive against the Detroit Lines. Reed missed his second straight game Sunday with a hip injury, while Clayton sat out with a knee problem. Offensive tackle Jared Gaither was also inactive after missing practice for much of the week with a foot injury.  

A cold, driving rain couldn't prevent the Baltimore Ravens and Ray Rice from enjoying a record-setting day. Rice ran for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown, and the Ravens enhanced their playoff hopes Sunday with a 48-3 victory over the hapless Detroit Lions. Baltimore (7-6) built a 20-3 halftime lead behind the play of Rice, who had 155 yards rushing on only nine carries and four catches...  

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wasn't able to get his message across in the third quarter of Sunday's 48-3 loss to Baltimore. By giving the team Monday off, he has given himself 48 hours before he has to try again. Schwartz's first attempt came with Baltimore leading 34-3 and driving again.  

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matthew Stafford watched the Detroit Lions practice Wednesday with his left shoulder wrapped in ice and he will probably miss Sunday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals. Coach Jim Schwartz says Stafford is "not likely" to play. The Lions, who have won just twice after a winless 2008, are closing the season banged up.  

Kurt Warner has been at his best when the Arizona Cardinals needed to bounce back. That's not good news for the Detroit Lions. Warner has completed 73 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in four games after losses this season. "You hate to think that you get more focused after a loss," he said.  

The Arizona Cardinals blew a 17-point lead to the lowly Detroit Lions and needed to make a pressure-packed play in the closing minutes to avoid an embarrassing defeat. Kurt Warner threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin with 1:54 left, lifting Arizona to a 31-24 win over Detroit Lions on Sunday.  

The Detroit Lions say an interception returned for a touchdown by safety Louis Delmas has been changed to a 101-yard score, the longest in team history by a rookie. Delmas' touchdown Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals had been recorded as a 100-yard score, but a yard has been added following a review by the Elias Sports Bureau, keeper of NFL statistics.  

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The season is over for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been placed on injured reserve ahead of what the team calls minor right knee surgery.  

DETROIT - The Arizona Cardinals blew a 17-point lead to the lowly Detroit Lions and needed to make a pressure-packed play in the closing minutes to avoid an embarrassing defeat.  

BALTIMORE - Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith left Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a left knee injury.  

Looks like Daunte Culpepper isn't starting quarterback material. The Detroit Lions announced Wednesday...  

The Detroit Lions have followed up an 0-16 “history-making” year with two wins (so far) this...