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Originally posted by whatever_gong82
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That lil yachty walkout was f’ing straight boss. Rockstar shitF#*K OHIO!!!
You're not only an amazingly beautiful man, but you're the greatest football mind to ever exist. <-- Jeffy Shittypants actually posted this. I knew he was in love with me. -
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
-
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
-
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
-
Paywall article from today's Detroit News.
Jared Goff was confident that Ben Johnson would return to Lions: 'I had a hunch'
Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News
Allen Park — Following the Lions’ heartbreaking NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers, many began writing the eulogy for Ben Johnson’s tenure in Detroit.
For a second straight year, the Lions offensive coordinator was thought of as a top-tier head-coaching candidate with plenty of suitors available.
But there was one man who thought he might stay: Lions quarterback Jared Goff. He told reporters on Tuesday that he thought there was a “50-50” or “a little bit more than 50-50” chance that Johnson would return to Detroit as its offensive coordinator for a third straight season.
“I did not think that would be (his last game in Detroit),” Goff said. “You never know, things change so fast in the NFL, but through our conversations throughout the year, I had a hunch that he could come back. No, I didn’t know. He could have been swayed.”
Goff and Johnson have made magic together since the two began their working relationship entering the 2022 season, when Goff made his first Pro Bowl since 2018 with the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions' offense has ranked in the top five in consecutive years.
Their shared success may have earned Goff a longer stay in Detroit, too. Entering the final year of his contract, there’s plenty of momentum from both sides of the table regarding an extension.
“Yeah, there have been discussions, but I’ll leave it at that,” Goff said. “We hope (to get a deal done), but I’m not in control of that.”
In 2023, Goff accumulated a passer rating of 97.9 while setting a new career high in completion percentage (67.3) and throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The last two seasons have been a far cry from Goff’s first in Detroit with Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator.
Lynn was fired during the 2021 season, which opened the door for Johnson, a relatively unknown commodity and first-time play-caller, to slide in. Goff, meanwhile, became a hero in the city, as Detroit’s two playoff wins in January had fans chanting his name from Fennville to Farmington.
“The last three years have been really fun, and not always easy, but fun and hard,” Goff said. “I’ve been surrounded by a lot of good teammates and coaches who have helped me realize some of my potential, and hopefully there is some more there. I’ve had a ton of fun winning in this city and winning for these fans.”
Goff said he’s had a number of surreal experiences with fans around the city after the season.
“It's something that this offseason has been so cool to go around and just the amount of people that have been really heartfelt about what winning here — even though we didn't win the Super Bowl — but winning the playoff games and making the playoffs, how heartfelt they've been,” Goff said.
“They're saying 'Thank you,' you're just like, 'Whoa, I'm just playing football.' But people obviously are really passionate here, and that's been the most rewarding thing is playing for the fanbase here that cares so much, and a city that cares so much."
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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I still don’t get why Goff hasn’t been extended. Should have done it last yearF#*K OHIO!!!
You're not only an amazingly beautiful man, but you're the greatest football mind to ever exist. <-- Jeffy Shittypants actually posted this. I knew he was in love with me.Comment
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My guess is that they are waiting until after the draft to see if they need to use any other space this year to go get another FA. They also have Cam Sutton’s base salary issue to sort out.Comment
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My guess is that they're less negotiating dollars and more length of contract.Comment
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Paywall article from today's Detroit News.
Niyo: After bitter taste of Super Bowl contention, Lions know 'it takes more’
John Niyo
The Detroit News
Allen Park — Taylor Decker tried to watch the Super Bowl back in February, just like everyone else.
But the Lions’ veteran left tackle didn’t even make it to halftime of Kansas City’s win over San Francisco before tuning out.
"Because watching the Super Bowl when you're that close to it, it hurts,” Decker said Tuesday, a day after he and most of his teammates returned to Allen Park for the start of the Lions’ voluntary offseason program. “I mean, I think I watched a quarter of it and then I was just … disinterested.”
Disappointed, too. Probably a little disgusted, if he’s being honest. Because the Lions’ second-half collapse against the 49ers in the NFC championship game left such a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. And for the first time in Decker’s eight-year pro career, it wasn’t a feeling of missing out as he tuned in to see who’d take home the Lombardi Trophy. It was a missed opportunity.
“Yeah, usually I watch the whole thing because I'm like, 'Oh, it's so cool. It's the Super Bowl. I'd love to play in one,'” said Decker, the longest-tenured player on the Lions’ roster. “But I felt like we did belong and I felt like we matched up well with everybody. So, it's one of those, ‘What could have been’ sort of things."
And that’s the thing that’s driving them all now, after the Lions raised everyone’s standards last winter, claiming their first division title in 30 years and then embarking on a playoff run that nearly took the franchise and its passionate fanbase to a place they’ve never been before.
“It’s Super Bowl or bust,” as linebacker Alex Anzalone put it, doubling down on something only the Lions themselves truly believed a year ago. Or, as quarterback Jared Goff explained Tuesday, “It’s about what’s next.”
“Being able to provide a winning culture in the last year-and-a-half or so, and to see (the fans) experience that and be a part of that, has been fun,” Goff said Tuesday. “But by no means are we satisfied, or happy to be here, or any of that.”
That’s part of the message head coach Dan Campbell delivered back in late January, before everyone went their separate ways for a few months to rest and recuperate. (Decker said he “feels really, really good” after undergoing foot and ankle surgeries immediately after the Lions’ season ended.) And it’s a message players say they’re ready to embrace as they return to work this spring, though that’s limited to strength and conditioning activities without coaches on the field these first two weeks.
“Obviously, the expectations and our standards will rise and the outside expectations will rise, but internally, we’re going to be doing the same things we’ve been doing,” Goff said. “I think Dan put it great (when) he said, ‘This is how much harder it’s going to be.’ And we know that. It’s gonna be harder, people are gonna be gunning for us. It’s gonna be hard to defend our division title, and that’s No. 1, then we’ll see where we can go from there. But, yeah, absolutely: Holding that trophy at the end of the year? Only one team gets to do it, and that’s our goal.”
It's a realistic one, certainly. The Lions tied for the best record in the NFC last season at 12-5, and oddsmakers have them listed among a handful of Super Bowl favorites heading into next year along with the Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens and Bills. Goff reiterated Tuesday "that we belong in that position — it's not a fluke," echoing some of the strident comments from general manager Brad Holmes this offseason. The Lions return 18 of 22 starters on offense and defense, all three of Campbell’s coordinators for a fourth season, and, according to Holmes, they had "our best free agency since we've been here," landing their primary target at arguably their four biggest positions of need.
Goff and Decker are two of the Lions’ high-profile starters entering contract years, but both sounded optimistic Tuesday when asked about getting extensions done prior to the regular season. And while one player the Lions did try to retain this offseason slipped away — receiver Josh Reynolds ultimately signed with Denver — Holmes and the front office did keep another from joining the defending NFC champs in San Francisco.
That would be tight end Brock Wright, who plays an unsung role in the Lions’ high-powered offense, yet drew a rare offer sheet from the 49ers as a restricted free agent last month. A three-year contract worth $12 million from a legitimate Super Bowl contender is heady stuff for a guy who went undrafted back in 2021.
“But that goes both ways,” said Wright, who learned the Lions would match that offer just a few hours before the five-day window to do so closed on April 3. “That’s how we are here in Detroit now, too. We’ve kinda been talking around here, and the motto next year is, ‘It takes more.’”
More of what, exactly?
“Everything,” Wright said. “We’ve just got to go above and beyond in every aspect, knowing that we got so close last year and that there’s even more that we’ve got to do if we want to win it all this year.”
john.niyo@detroitnews.com
@JohnNiyo
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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If this PFT article is right, his 2024 salary is voided: Former Lions CB Cameron Sutton enters pretrial diversion program on battery charge - NBC SportsOriginally posted by Mainevent View Post
Extending Goff last year (IMO) was a bit premature. He has proven now that he can play at a very high level and has earned the extension.Got Kneecaps?Comment
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The Lions voided it or requested to void it, but that's subject to league review and approval. I haven't seen anything confirming the league did approve it, but maybe I missed it. Regardless, there's a good chance the union will fight it as well.Comment
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"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
Comment