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NFL players object to more games

Roundup

Detroit News wire services / Detroit News wire services

Washington— Concerns about injuries and insurance make the league’s push to switch to an 18-game regular season a major sticking point in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, according to two NFL players who are members of the union’s executive committee. The NFL wants to add two games to the current 16-game format for the regular season, and eliminate two of four preseason games, saying fans would prefer that and more revenue could be generated.

“To me, right now, as things stand, 18 games, the way it’s being proposed, is completely unacceptable. … I see more and more players get injured every season,” Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said Tuesday on a media conference call arranged by the union.

Both Fujita and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth, the other player participating in Tuesday’s call, went on IR in 2010.

“We put our bodies on the line and produce a lot of revenue and we get five years of post-retirement health insurance,” said Foxworth, who missed all season after tearing his right knee during an orientation practice the day before training camp. “And then they want to tack on two more games. … which is just going to multiply the injuries and the ailments that we’re going to see.”

Coaching carousel

The Panthers hired Ron Rivera as coach, making the San Diego defensive coordinator the second Latino head coach in NFL history.

Rivera replaces John F ox , who was let go earlier this month after Carolina went 2-14 in his ninth season.

… Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams withdrew his name from consideration for the Broncos job.

Rick Dennison , who spent almost a quarter century with the Broncos as a linebacker and an assistant coach, interviewed for Denver’s head coaching vacancy.

… The Browns interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to be their coach.

Fewell is the third known candidate to formally meet with Browns president Mike Holmgren , who fired Eric Mangini last week. The Browns have also interviewed Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur (Michigan State) and Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey .

Playoffs Wild card

Saturday, Jan. 8

Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

N.Y. Jets 17, Indianapolis 16

Sunday, Jan. 9

Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

Divisional

Saturday’s games

Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 4:30 p.m. CBS

Green Bay at Atlanta, 8 p.m. Fox

Sunday’s games

Seattle at Chicago, 1 p.m. Fox

N.Y. Jets at New England, 4:30 p.m. CBS

Seattle stuns defending champs New Orleans in NFC playoffs

Detroit News wire services / Detroit News wire services

Seattle — Jokes, lightweights, laughingstocks.

Not these Seattle Seahawks. They just sent the defending Super Bowl champions packing.

Matt Hasselbeck threw four touchdown passes and Marshawn Lynch scored on an electrifying 67-yard run with 3:22 left and the Seahawks pulled one of the biggest upsets in playoff history with a 41-36 win over the New Orleans Saints.

The Seahawks (8-9) held a 34-20 early in the fourth quarter before Drew Brees looked ready to lead the Saints (11-6) on one of their patented comebacks. But Lynch broke about a half-dozen tackles for his TD and a few anxious minutes later, the party was on at the NFL’s loudest stadium.

Seattle, the first division winner with a losing record, will play next weekend, either at top-seeded Atlanta or No. 2 Chicago.

“We kind of expected to win,” first-year Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I know that sounds crazy, but we did expect to win. The fact that it happened, it’s just kind of like, we want to take it in stride and go to the next one. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s the way the mindset of this team was.”

Hasselbeck, cleared to play just two days ago because of a hip injury, threw for 272 yards and his four TD passes set a playoff career high. The veteran quarterback threw two TD passes to tight end John Carlson in the first half and started the second half with a 38-yard strike to former Lion Mike Williams to give Seattle a 31-20 lead.

The game wasn’t clinched, though, until Lynch provided a run that’ll be replayed in the Pacific Northwest for years. He took a second-down carry with less than four minutes to go and then the highlights began. He broke six tackles on his 67-yard run, tossing in a massive stiff arm that sent cornerback Tracy Porter to the turf and completed the longest scoring run of his career.

The win was the first in the playoffs for a team with a losing record.

“We respect the heck out of the Saints, but I think we felt something special all week and today, and we’ll see,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s a good start for us.”

Lynch finished with 131 yards on 19 carries, the first Seattle back to top 100 yards all season.

Hasselbeck, Lynch and a strong performance by Seattle’s offense extended the Saints franchise misery to 0-4 in road playoff games.

The Saints were considered the second-best team in the division behind the NFC South-winning Falcons. Even though they lost to Tampa Bay in the season finale a week ago and were without running backs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory, safety Malcolm Jenkins and linebacker Danny Clark, the Saints were favored by 10 points to advance.

Now they go home.

Brees, who completed a playoff-record 39 passes in 60 attempts for 404 yards and two TDs, still couldn’t match Hasselbeck and the Seahawks offense. Brees led one final drive, hitting Devery Henderson on a 6-yard touchdown with 1:30 left to get within 41-36.

But DeShawn Wynn was stopped on the 2-point conversion, Garrett Hartley’s onside kick was recovered by Carlson and the Seahawks were home free.

Reggie Bush finished with five carries for 12 yards, caught five passes and did not play in the fourth quarter, jogging back to the locker room early in the quarter and never returning.

Julius Jones, cut by Seattle earlier in the season, ran for two short touchdowns and finished with 120 all-purpose yards.

In the second half, Brees all but abandoned the run, throwing on 33 of the Saints’ 41 plays, as he tried to rally the Saints from a two-touchdown deficit.

Brees pulled the Saints within 34-27 on Jones’ 4-yard touchdown run with 13:11 left, a drive helped along by a personal foul penalty by Seattle defensive end Chris Clemons.

Seattle then threw on three straight plays, all incomplete and used just 16 seconds. Brees and the Saints took over at their 44 and drove to the Seattle 4 before Henderson was stopped short on a third-and-3 pass. The Saints settled for Hartley’s 21-yard field goal with 9:13 left and trailed 34-30.

Seattle got a first down on its next drive when Hasselbeck hit Brandon Stokley for 12 yards, but Hasselbeck was sacked by Scott Shanle on second down and Seattle was forced to punt with under six minutes remaining. The 52-yard punt by Jon Ryan, plus a penalty on the return, backed the Saints to their own 6 with 5:36 left.

Brees couldn’t convert on third-and-8 at his 19 and the Saints punted with 4:29 left and just one timeout. Lynch’s run then gave Seattle an 11-point lead.

At the end of the game, Carroll gathered his team at midfield after Hasselbeck took one final knee, jumping up and down on the Seahawks logo with most of his team jumping in unison.

Hasselbeck left the field to a rousing ovation and his youngest son propped up on his shoulders.

Lions unlikely to make significant changes in 2011

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Allen Park— There have been times after the season’s final game when Dominic Raiola could look around and count on his hands the number of players likely to return.

That count took a lot longer after this year’s final game.

“I know the nucleus of this team is coming back,” he said. “We’ve walked out of here in the past not knowing what was going to happen. But I see most of these guys, coming back.”

That, as much as the season-ending four-game winning streak, is fueling optimism.

“Across the board, offense and defense, we are still looking to improve the roster,” coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. “We are still looking to improve our starting 22. But we aren’t looking at an overhaul. Even at the spots where we do have need, it’s not like it was last year with the defensive backs where we erased everybody except Louis Delmas.

“There are a lot of guys here that we will continue moving forward with, and a lot of them might not be starters.”

Every starter and main backup on offense is expected to return for 2011.

On defense, starting defensive end Cliff Avril can be a restricted free agent (pending a new collective bargaining agreement), while starting cornerback Chris Houston and defensive end Turk McBride could become restricted free agents.

The Lions, however, can tender offers to all three.

Among those who likely have played their final games in Detroit are outside linebacker Julian Peterson, cornerback Nathan Vasher (unrestricted) and safety C.C. Brown (unrestricted).

Outside linebacker Landon Johnson is also unrestricted, but the Lions may try to keep him.

“We have talked before about having to address the starting 22 before you can address your depth,” Schwartz said. “What has happened this year is, because of the injuries and other things, we have been able to address a lot of the depth issues. Now we have to start adding pieces to the starting 22.”

Offense Quarterbacks

The top two are set. Matthew Stafford , who said Monday his shoulder was nearly back to full strength, is the starter, and Shaun Hill , who led the team to three victories, is No. 2.

The Lions would love to re-sign Drew Stanton as the No. 3, but as an unrestricted free agent, he will be looking to compete for a No. 1 or No. 2 spot somewhere. Still, if no suitable opportunities come his way, he said he would have no trouble returning as the third option.

Running backs

The top two spots are set — probably. Jahvid Best (turf toe) said he will need at least eight weeks of rest to completely heal. He should be ready to resume the starting role next season.

Maurice Morris , entering his 10th season, will have the first shot to win the backup role, but the Lions are expected to bring in one and probably two other backs.

They will have to decide whether to bring back Kevin Smith , who has had health issues the last three seasons, and underachieving second-year man Aaron Brown . The guess is Smith comes back, not Brown.

FB Jerome Felton could be a restricted free agent, but the Lions are expected to bring him back.

Receivers

Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson will be back, as will return ace and jack-of-all-trades Stefan Logan .

But the Lions will be looking to upgrade the depth.

Bryant Johnson , who has one year left on his contract ($3 million), was unproductive all season.

Derrick Williams , a former third-round pick, has been a disappointment the last two seasons.

Tight ends

Absolutely set with Brandon Pettigrew , Tony Scheffler and Will Heller signed through next season.

Line

The starters are expected back, although there is some concern about RG Stephen Peterman , who struggled at times (partly due to a lingering foot injury).

Corey Hilliard , who filled in admirably when RT Gosder Cherilus went down, can be a restricted free agent. It’s hard to imagine the Lions letting him go, but some team could swoop in and steal him.

The Lions signed veteran T Tony Ugoh late, but he wasn’t able to get on the field before rookie Jason Fox did, so it’s doubtful he’s part of the plan.

Defense Line

At end, Kyle Vanden Bosch is expected to make a full recovery from neck surgery and start. E Lawrence Jackson also will return. And it seems improbable the Lions wouldn’t re-sign Cliff Avril and Turk McBride .

It will be interesting to see what they do about rookie Willie Young . They love his athleticism, but he’s going to have to show them a lot more maturity and a stronger work ethic next season.

At tackle, starters Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams , as well as top reserve Sammie Hill , are back. The Lions will have to make a decision on backup Andre Fluellen , who can be a restricted free agent.

Linebackers

This is one of the biggest areas of need.

DeAndre Levy will return and probably start at middle linebacker. But there he might be moved outside, depending on whom the Lions draft or acquire through trade or free agency.

Most likely there will be two new starters on the outside. The Lions aren’t bringing back Julian Peterson and his $8 million contact. And Zach Follett , the starter before suffering a serious neck injury, may not be ready.

Bobby Carpenter and Ashlee Palmer will likely return, but not as starters.

Landon Johnson is a tricky one. They loved his play, but he has a history of concussions.

The Lions also will have to make a decision on Jordon Dizon , an undersized middle linebacker who blew out his knee in the first exhibition.

Backs

The Lions probably will invest significantly to bring Chris Houston back. He showed he could be a shutdown cornerback on the left side and drafting at No. 13, they aren’t likely to get the impact player they hoped for.

The right side corner spot is wide open. Alphonso Smith probably will get the first shot to win it. Tye Hill , Aaron Berry , Brandon McDonald , Prince Miller , Jack Williams and Eric King could be in the mix.

At safety, Louis Delmas is the only sure bet.

The Lions liked the development of rookie Amari Spievey , and veteran John Wendling is a valuable special teams player.

Special teams

The Lions may have a camp battle for the kicking spot.

Jason Hanson is coming off surgery the last two seasons. Although he is the incumbent, and coach Jim Schwartz said Monday his confidence hasn’t wavered, Dave Rayner has earned at least the right to compete.

Coaching staff

All the coaches are under contract and expected back.

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan ‘s name may come up regarding coaching vacancies, but he has said numerous times he is content with his role in Detroit.

Lions coordinator Scott Linehan survives season of changes

Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Allen Park – Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is earning his paycheck this season.

A plethora of injuries at key positions on offense forced Linehan to game plan on the fly. He’s prepared three different quarterbacks to start games this season and also been through three starting running backs.

Consider the challenges Linehan has faced: Franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford has started only three games with backup Shaun Hill starting nine (before Sunday’s game against the Vikings). Third-stringer Drew Stanton got pressed into duty for three.

Rookie running back Jahvid Best battled turf toe most of the season, Kevin Smith recovered slowly from knee problems and Maurice Morris didn’t emerge as a real contributor until Week 15 (109 yards against the Bucs). But through all the scrambling, ups and downs, and plenty of patchwork, the Lions offense has maintained a steady flow of production. Lions coach Jim Schwartz credits Linehan for finding answers.

“It’s not just playing with those guys, it’s finding a way to keep being productive and I think Scott and our offensive has done a good job at both,” Schwartz said.

“It’s about production and putting points on the board and I think we’ve done a good job at finding a way to do that.”

Despite all the lineup changes, the Lions offense has scored at least 20 points in 10 games this season and 32 or more four times.

Linehan doesn’t appear to get too caught up in the pats on the back he’s received lately.

“It’s your job,” he said. “What happened this year is certainly the exception and not the rule.

“It’s challenging, but that’s why you’re a coach. If you have adversity you’ve got to be able to step in and go with somebody else and trust (them).”

Linehan has found of ways to get the football into the hands of his playmakers.

None has benefited more than Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson, who’s been targeted 134 times this season, seventh-most in the NFL. Eight of Johnson’s 12 touchdowns on the season have come in the red zone.

Best also has benefited from Linehan’s guidance. He’s struggled to run the ball effectively all season, but has 52 receptions and is averaging 8.9 yards per catch with three touchdowns.

Stafford sees Linehan’s body of work as a reason to get excited about the future — when he envisions a healthier team.

“We’ve had a lot of different starts and he’s had to do a lot of work,” Stafford said.

“The best thing is that he’s stuck to his system. He knows it works. We know it works.”

Johnson to play?

Schwartz said Monday that Johnson could play in the season finale against the Vikings even if he wasn’t able to practice on his sore ankle all week. And that’s exactly what could transpire. Johnson did not practice again Friday and will be a game-time decision.

… Cornerback Chris Houston didn’t practice all week and has a shoulder injury that will require offseason surgery. Tye Hill will start in his place.

Lions’ Ndamukong Suh, Calvin Johnson named Pro Bowl starters

Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Allen Park— The Lions are back in the Pro Bowl.

Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and receiver Calvin Johnson were named as starters to the NFC roster, the NFL announced Tuesday.

The game will be played Jan. 30 in Honolulu.

Selections are based on a voting system that includes fans, coaches and players, with each getting a third of the vote.

The Lions took a three-year hiatus from the Pro Bowl after struggling to a 9-39 record over those seasons.

But the Lions became relevant again this season and with that comes recognition from fans, coaches and peers. It’s the first time since 2005 (CB Dre Bly, KR Eddie Drummond, DT Shaun Rogers) that the Lions will send more than one player to the game.

“The Pro Bowl is a great honor for a player because the vote comes from the coaches and players as well as the fans,” coach Jim Schwartz said.

“Both Calvin and Ndamukong had outstanding seasons and today’s announcement confirms the NFC coaches and players felt the same way.

“While this is an individual honor, Calvin and N-D’s success would not be possible without the help of their teammates and coaches.”

Suh was a no-brainer as a starter after blowing away the competition in the fan voting. He more than doubled the number of votes from his nearest competitor, Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji.

Obviously, the players and coaches agreed with the fans.

Suh already has become one of the league’s premier defensive players and becomes the first Lions starter in the Pro Bowl since defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in 2006.

Suh is the first Lions rookie since Barry Sanders in 1990 to be named to the team and the first defensive rookie since Al “Bubba” Baker in 1979.

“It’s a tremendous honor, obviously, being a rookie and getting my feet wet in the NFL,” he said.

“I can’t expect anything more and it’s truly a blessing and something that I’m definitely elated about. It’s only going to make me want to work harder to get back there again.

“I definitely owe it to my coach (Kris Kocurek) and especially the guys I’ve been playing next to in Cliff (Avril), Corey (Williams), Kyle (Vanden Bosch), Turk (McBride), L.J. (Lawrence Jackson), Sammie (Hill), Flu (Andre Fluellen) and every guy on that defensive line because if it weren’t for them, who knows what would have happened this season. I definitely got to thank them and Coach Schwartz and the rest of the defense because it’s a total team effort — defensive effort — and I can’t say much more than that.”

Suh’s nine sacks are tops among all NFL defensive tackles. He leads rookies, regardless of position, in sacks. His 60 tackles are the third-highest among defensive linemen in the NFL and the most in the NFC.

“From day one, Ndamukong has come in here with a great attitude and a great work ethic,” said defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. “He’s tried to get better from week to week, and if you watched him as the season progressed, he has gotten better from start to finish.

“He played a totally different scheme in college than what we’re doing now. The transition that he has made into our scheme, I don’t know that a whole lot of defensive tackles in particular could make that transition as fast as he has.”

Johnson’s selection might be a bit overdue.

He was left off the 2008 Pro Bowl team despite finishing the season with 78 receptions, 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The team’s historic run to 0-16 that season was certainly a contributing factor in the snub.

“This is a tremendous honor and I appreciate the recognition from by peers and the fans,” Johnson said. “I especially owe thanks to Coach (Shawn) Jefferson and all the guys in our (receivers) room along with the rest of my teammates and coaches.”Johnson’s numbers this season are similar to what he put up in 2008. He leads the Lions with 77 catches for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Johnson becomes the first Lions offensive player to be elected to the original Pro Bowl squad (non-alternate) since tight end David Sloan in 2000 and first receiver since Herman Moore in 1998. Receiver Roy Williams was an alternate in 2007.

Johnson ranks first in the NFC among non-kickers in scoring (74 points) and he’s tied for first in touchdown receptions and third in receiving yards.

The selections mark the first time the Lions will be represented on both sides of the ball in the Pro Bowl since 2000 (LB Stephen Boyd, DT Luther Elliss, DE Robert Porcher and TE David Sloan).

ttwentyman@detnews.com

Lions place Matthew Stafford on injured reserve

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Allen Park— There was hope in his heart right up until the moment he was told that his season was over. But in his head, and certainly in his ailing right shoulder, he knew it was over a couple of weeks ago.

The Lions, needing a roster spot because of the uncertain health status of safety Louis Delmas, placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve Friday.

“I would have loved for it to have felt better and have a chance to come back and play, but with the roster situation, I completely understand,” said Stafford, who has twice separated his right shoulder this season, the second time Nov. 7 against the Jets. “I am disappointed it had to end like this but it’s part of the business.”

Delmas, still feeling post-concussion symptoms from last Sunday, hasn’t practiced all week and is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Safety Randy Phillips was signed off the practice squad and will be in uniform.

“We were hoping Matt would’ve been able to come back; his rehab was going good,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “But when he threw a couple of weeks ago, he wasn’t at the point where he could keep throwing. We were waiting for that time to come, and when it passed this week it was obvious he wasn’t going to play this week and his chances for next week were slim.”

Stafford said doctors have assured him the rehab process is going well and surgery will not be required. He said he expects to be at full health when the Lions begin off-season training in March.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I threw (two weeks ago) and it just didn’t react great,” he said. “It was a little bit sorer than I had hoped. I talked to the doctors and I don’t need surgery; it just takes time. You do it twice (the injury) in a season and it’s going to take time.”

Stafford, 22, now has finished his first two professional seasons on IR. His rookie season was ended after 10 games because of left shoulder and knee injuries. He played in three games this season, finishing only one, separating his right shoulder in the opener in Chicago and then again against the Jets.

He has started 13 games and finished only eight in two seasons. Still, he won the only game he finished this year (vs. Washington) and the Lions were leading in the other two when he got hurt. He completed 59.4 percent of passes this season, with six touchdowns and an interception.

“The administrative detail of putting him on IR has nothing to do with his long-term prospects,” Schwartz said. “We wanted him to come back and play if he passed all the various criteria that we set up, but it never got to that point.

“It does nothing to take away what his long-term prospects are as far as leading this team next year and into the future. We don’t expect any kind of carry-over. This is a setback for this year. It doesn’t change anything for 2011 and beyond.”

Stafford said he didn’t consider this a lost season.

“I think I learned a lot this year, even though it was different than the way I wanted to learn it,” he said. “Mentally, I was in every meeting. I’ve been at every practice and every game. I took a lot away from this year in terms of learning what it takes to win. It was just not on the field, but off the field.”

The hardest part, Stafford said, was not being able to play on Sundays.

“I am not disappointed in the fact that I didn’t get to go out and throw a bunch of touchdowns and no picks,” he said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get to be out there on Sunday with the guys. That’s the best part of being in this profession. You work all week and you practice, but playing in front of the fans and being out there with the guys, that’s what I miss most.”

The Lions spent this week readying two quarterbacks to start against the Dolphins, but it looks like Shaun Hill will get the nod.

Hill, four weeks after breaking a knuckle on his right index finger, took first-team reps during the early portion of practice both Wednesday and Friday.

Drew Stanton, who has a separated left shoulder, took first-team reps Thursday.

The Lions have divided the reps between them this week, obviously, because with the injuries, both are one hit away from being knocked out of the game.