Author: Mikesportz
The Detroit Lions traded back up into the third round of last April’s draft to take Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin. Martin was widely regarded as a late-round pick, and the call from the Lions even surprised him as he prepared to extend his draft gathering to Day 3. It was fair, and not a negative, to call Martin a developmental prospect when he was drafted. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn outlined what the young man had to work on, while noting the benefit of practicing against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. So it was not…
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a knack for getting more out of his players than the sum of their individual talents would suggest. Earlier this week on PFT Live, we asked linebacker T.J. Watt to explain how Tomlin pulls it off. “I think it’s a holding everybody accountable-type thing as far as in the film room,” Watt said. “When we come into the team meeting room, you don’t know what’s he’s gonna show you. Everybody kind of has a little nervous feel. We’re all looking around each other like, ‘What play?’ When that play pops up, you immediately know…
The NBA Trade Deadline has passed, which means the only way teams can add players from this point on is by free agency. With two open roster spots, the Phoenix Suns will be on the prowl for more mid-season additions. One option is Danilo Gallinari, who the Detroit Pistons waived on February 8, as reported by Shams Charania’s X account. After the Pistons waived Gallinari, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic not-so-subtly urged Gallinari to come join the Suns via his X account. Nurkic called out Danilo Gallinari while calling him “brate.” For translation, the Bosnian center called Gallinari “brother”…
Josh Reynolds established himself as one of the Lions’ top receivers during the 2023 regular season. Yet, at this point, he won’t be remembered for his productive aforementioned campaign. Instead, he’ll be remembered for his disappointing performance in Detroit’s NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers. Reynolds dropped three passes in the contest, including a throw from quarterback Jared Goff on a pivotal fourth-down conversion attempt in the third quarter. The drop was the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for the Lions in the third quarter, during which Detroit blew a 17-point, halftime lead. The…
Kelly and Matthew Stafford’s love story began nearly two decades ago when the pair first fell in love at the University of Georgia. Kelly was a cheerleader while Matthew played quarterback, making their storybook romance something out of a Taylor Swift song. Their whirlwind love affair took the college sweethearts across the nation, from the Peach State up north to Detroit after the NFL player was signed with the Detroit Lions. An Atlanta wedding, four daughters, and a trade to the Los Angeles Rams later, the pair are still going strong to this date The couple haven’t had a…
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers superstar T.J. Watt didn’t walk away with the Defensive Player of the Year Award, despite leading the NFL in sacks and finishing ahead of the winner, Myles Garrett, in nearly every statistical category. Since then, one of the finalists, Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, has made it known he didn’t believe Watt should have one. And to continue his rant against the Steelers edge rusher, he is now doubling down, saying Watt isn’t a top-five pass rusher in the league. “I think I’m probably the best pure speed pass rusher,” Parsons told CBS Radio. “But if you’re…
Two teams that hope to have beefed-up supporting casts square off Saturday night when the Phoenix Suns visit the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Both teams have won three in a row, but each has even more reason for optimism as they could be getting reinforcements in the clubs’ fourth and final meeting of the regular season. Phoenix won the first three matchups, but by just a total of 15 points as the Suns’ bench got outscored by a total of 72 points. The Suns hope they have addressed their depth issue with the additions of…
key to Michigan’s highly rated defense the last three years has been continuity of scheme, despite having two different coordinators. Now, Don “Wink” Martindale, who spent a decade with the Baltimore Ravens and is one of the architects of the defense installed at Michigan, will run the defense as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. A source familiar with the situation confirmed Martindale’s expected hiring to the Detroit News. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter early Friday morning. Martindale, 60, had been a defensive coordinator in Baltimore and more recently with the New York Giants. He has not coached in…
The Detroit Lions had plenty of hype going into the 2023 season, and they paid it off with a division title, two playoff wins and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. Dan Campbell entered the season among the betting favorites to win NFL Coach of the Year, and he stayed there all the way through. There were a lot of worthy candidates for Coach of the Year this year, Campbell of course among them. If there was a year he would win it, it seemed this would have to be the one. Now or never to some extent,…
The Detroit Lions’ offensive line has been well taken care of this season. Earlier this past season, quarterback Jared Goff purchased expensive luxury bags and watches for his teammates around the holidays. After a successful season, the 29-year-old veteran signal-caller again rewarded eight of his teammates with expensive Breitling watches. Detroit only gave up a total of 31 sacks during the regular season, and enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in decades. According to the team website, “(Penei) Sewell was named All-Pro for the first time in his career and is the best right tackle…