Pride Of Detroit

Photo by Cooper Neill/ Games are getting more and more spread out across networks...and streaming services. The 2023 NFL schedule set the Detroit Lions up for some time in the spotlight, though that spotlight will come from a few different places. Thanks to some love from the league in terms of primetime contests, the Lions will experience the whole gambit of television options, with games on FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video. While shared TV packages are nothing new for the NFL, the element of streaming is causing a significant change. “Thursday Night...

The Jameson Williams hype train is just getting started after this highlight-reel catch from Detroit Lions OTAs. Detroit Lions first-round receiver Jameson Williams has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this offseason. But on Wednesday, the Lions dropped a highlight from OTA practice that is sure to get Lions fans’ heart pumping. In the video, Williams hauls in a tough catch—extending his arms completely, securing the ball in his hands, and finishing the play with a toe-tap inbounds, highlighting his awareness on the field. Check it out: Toe-tap...

Photo by Rey Del Rio/ The Detroit Lions defense is already promising to play with some swagger, and that means opposing offenses are going to get an earful. Trash talking in the NFL has become commonplace, and for good reason. While it may be off-putting to some fans, it has real benefits on the field. Getting under your opponents’ skin is an art and can throw them off their game or draw a costly penalty. Of course, there has to be discipline on the trash talkers’ part to make sure their own actions don’t draw a taunting penalty of their own. But more than...

Photo by Stacy Revere/ A majority of Green Bay Packers fans believe the Detroit Lions will win the NFC North in 2023. There aren’t many things in this world worse than Green Bay Packers fans. They’re spoiled, cocky, arrogant, and they think that just because they own some worthless piece of paper that they “own” the team. But they also know a good football team when they see one. In the past 30 years, they’ve witnessed just five Packers teams with a losing record. So as we turn over a new leaf in the NFC North, the future in Green Bay is in flux. With no...

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK Real progress or just summer training chatter? The stench of summer is one for rigorous training. Losing weight, drills, routes, practice and practices. Guys are trying to show up in “the best shape of his life” and want to succeed, and the road to training camp starts in May with OTAs for many. On this episode of the Pride of Detroit PODcast, we’re breaking down the notes we’ve got from Detroit Lions OTAs, and evaluating standout performances—in context. Yes, they looked good out on the field, but the question always...

Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via The Lions brought home former kicker Riley Patterson to crowd an already-tight specialists room. The Detroit Lions had one of the more intriguing kicker situations in the league at this time last week, having brought in All-XFL kicker John Parker Romo to compete with incumbent Michael Badgley. At the time, the Denver Broncos had also just parted ways with Brandon McManus. As such, I asked you guys if you thought the Lions should pursue McManus, to which you gave a resounding yes. Oh, how quickly the times change. A week later and we got...

Photo by Christian Petersen/ DeAndre Hopkins is suddenly a free agent. Could the three time All Pro receiver be what the Detroit Lions need to get to the next level? If the Detroit Lions really want to contend in 2023, they need DeAndre Hopkins on their roster. At least that’s what many writers are arguing across the NFL world. On Friday, the Arizona Cardinals released the star receiver, who turns 31 in June. The three-time All Pro will require a sizable chunk of change, and former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe says the Lions not only have the dough to make it happen,...

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK The Detroit Lions and their explosive offense are elite when indoors, and they’ll get favorable conditions during their entire 2023 schedule. After the NFL schedule release a few weeks back, I did something I usually never like to do. I gave a way too early record prediction. I predicted the 2023 Detroit Lions to finish the season with a 12-5 record and a division title. There are a lot of reasons I went with this prediction. It wasn’t because of great free agency and a great draft. Those reasons matter and will have an impact, but...

Photo by Dustin Satloff/ Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill changed his diet and lifestyle for one particular goal: become a dominant pass rusher. Alim McNeill took a serious approach to this offseason. After some inconsistent play over the first two years of his career, the Detroit Lions defensive tackle took it upon himself to transform his body. With the help of some weekly yoga and a red meatless diet with better portion control, McNeill is noticeably leaner. “I feel so much better,” McNeill said last month. “A lot more lean, a lot more flexible, can bend a...

Photo by Nic Antaya/ Lions first-round WR Jameson Williams shook off criticism about liking a tweet suggesting the Lions add Lamar Jackson. Even before his six-game suspension for gambling on non-NFL games, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had an increasing amount people concerned about his maturity. Much of that criticism stemmed from Williams’ conduct over social media. He regularly goes live on Instagram after midnight, but what drew the most negative attention was him liking a tweet suggesting the Lions make a play to land Lamar Jackson this...

David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports We’ve been excited about Detroit Lions teams of the past, but what makes the 2023 team different? “This year feels different.” That’s a phrase many of us have probably uttered about the Detroit Lions before. Desperate for signs that this franchise has finally escaped its horrific past, we’ve tried to convince ourselves that the Lions have finally arrived after decades and decades of losing. Just about every time, we’ve been wrong. The 2023 Detroit Lions haven’t proven anything, let’s be clear. A good team on paper...

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK The health of rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker gives the Detroit Lions some interesting options when it comes to roster construction, especially with the new emergency QB rule. Hendon Hooker’s health is going to be a storyline to follow all year for the Detroit Lions and their fans. The quarterback is currently recovering from an ACL injury suffered last November, and while many are projecting him to be close to full health by the regular season, how quickly he is up to speed and ready to contribute is debatable. In this...

Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports Why Detroit Lions’ second-year tight end James Mitchell may be the most overlooked player on the roster. Back in 2022 when all the Detroit Lions mock drafts began circulating around, there was one guy that I consistently kept mocking to the Lions over and over again. That guy was Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell. What I like most in a player is when a guy can do multiple things. I like a Swiss Army Knife of a player. That’s what drew me to Mitchell. He did a lot at Virginia Tech. The Hokies didn’t just use him as tight end,...

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports Do the Detroit Lions have a dark horse candidate to make the 53-man roster? One of the side effects of building a competitive roster is that the final few roster spots become tougher and tougher to secure. The 2023 Detroit Lions are significantly more talented than their 2021 counterparts, but that could lead to fewer underdogs sneaking their way onto the initial 53-man roster. By most accounts, the 2022 roster cuts went as expected. Aside from a few surprises like cutting cornerback AJ Parker, Pride of Detroit’s final 53-man roster...

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK The Detroit Lions veteran right guard used his injury as an opportunity to test out retirement, but he couldn’t leave football or his teammates just yet. Halapoulivaati Vaitai will be turning 30 in just a couple weeks here, and for an NFL player, that mark is sometimes a line of demarcation. That age is considered “old” in a league where teams are consistently trying to get younger. So when the Detroit Lions offensive lineman suffered a back injury last preseason that required season-ending surgery, Vaitai used the...