The cover is nice, and...and...well, the cover is nice.

1. The first thing anyone brings up when discussing the Madden gaming franchise is the so-called "Madden Curse." Sorry, folks. The curse is just so much BS happily kept alive by EA and the media, taken as gospel by dumb fans. If you believe in things like the Madden curse, I'm thinking you also believe voodoo is real, the "Paranormal Activity" films are documentaries, ghost hunting shows are honest, Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams got a raw deal, and ESPN is all about journalism. To shut the door completely on this ridiculousness, the guys over at SideLion Report did actual research, and called out the Madden curse for what it is...a silly myth. 

2. EA was voted the worst company in America by readers of The Comsumerist. The attention the Madden cover competition received was ill-deserved PR for a company that has gone over the top in finding ways to remove money from the wallets of gamers. For example:

EA, meanwhile, has made a habit of sniffing out some of the best smaller video game companies, which are then acquired for their intellectual properties or to remove a competitor from the marketplace. Mass consolidation in any industry rarely works out to the benefit of the consumer, but the gaming business is one that regulators, the courts and the mainstream media have by and large ignored.

EA is among the industry leaders in pushing for more and more "microtransactions" in users' gaming experience. For its major titles it seems to be creating exclusive and add-on content, not with the game in mind, but with the sole intention of milking consumers who may not realize how quickly those small purchases add up.

And unlike the fee-happy discount airlines that use the "everything is a la carte" model to keep base prices low, a new EA game will run you $60 for the most basic version available, making it easily the most expensive form of home entertainment.

Many of EA's sports titles — especially its Madden NFL franchise — are bestsellers with annual releases and exclusivity deals with the corresponding leagues. This means that no one else can enter the market to compete with a lower-price NFL game, effectively allowing EA to set the price for new releases.

EA should be reviled, not celebrated. Screw 'em, because EA will screw us over quicker than you can say downloadable content.

3. With all the attention the cover generates, we're only encouraging EA to keep putting out crap ass product. The Madden franchise is amazingly inconsistent when it comes to quality. Sure, some years there will be reason for buying Madden other than having updated rosters. But far too many other years you are paying $60...for updated rosters, and little else. There is no legitimate reason EA couldn't update rosters/uniforms/you name it annually via DLC (one of the few legit uses of it, instead of a way to unlock what should have already been unlocked, bending gamers over in the process), and go 2-3 years between game upgrades, making the purchase of a new version at least semi-justified...if you are a fan of the series, that is.

4. Between you, me and some guy at Mlive who still believes the Lions should have drafted Aaron Curry over Matthew Stafford, I honestly don't remember who was on the cover of Madden '12. Or '11, '10, '09 and so on. The cover is ultimately much ado about nothing. Being on the cover of Madden is an ephemeral "honor," at best.

5. A fanbase making such a big, honking deal over the cover of a video game reeks of desperation. Orr at least reeks of, "Our team has been an afterthought for YEARS, you HAVE to play attention to us NOOOOW!"

6. I stopped playing Madden years ago. It's too expensive, online play is a PITA (What fun is it to have an 11 year old with the online handle BigBoobs69 calling me GAAAAAAY, or a 35 year old with the online handle IronicHipsterKitty calling me GAAAAAAY?) and too expensive (it's bad enough we have 2 teens with Xbox Live Gold accounts, I don't need one too), and I don't care if I have updated rosters down to the 4th string guard on the Panthers. Now if Megatron made the cover of NFL 2K5 or the NES Tecmo Super Bowl, then that is something I could get behind.

Now those were great video games, GODDAMMIT. I'll go to my grave believing NFL 2K5 for the PS2 is the bestest sports video game of all time, and if you try to convince me otherwise, you'll be the one in the wrong. Before I forget...get off my lawn.

With the Detroit Lions badly in need of running back depth and veteran Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant currently a free agent, both parties are mulling if there is a match. The Lions believe so, as they have reportedly made Grant a contract offer.

ESPN Milwaukee:

The Green Bay Packers did not pick a running back during the 2012 NFL Draft, and if they want to keep veteran Ryan Grant in their backfield rotation, they’re probably going to have to make a decision soon on the unrestricted free agent.

Grant, who visited the New England Patriots on April 20 and is thought to have received an offer from them, is now considering an offer from the Packers’ NFC North division rival Detroit Lions, agent Alan Herman said Thursday.

A couple things to keep in mind before anyone even thinks of getting excited. There's a few caveats in regard to Grant.

1. NFL running backs rarely age well. Grant is 29 years old, turning 30 in the final month of the 2012 season. 

2. After heavy use in 2008 and 2009, with 312 and 282 carries respectively, Grant broke down. He suffered a season ending ankle injury in the  Packers' opener in 2010, and bruised a kidney (and other assorted knicks) in 2011. If Grant returned to the Packers in 2012, he would be behind James Starks and quite likely Alex Green on the Packers' depth chart. 

3. Grant's 4.2 YPC in 2011 was the second lowest of his career. He looks to be on the decline, due to a combination of age, wear and tear. At 29 years of age, that's not exactly a surprise.

Would I take a flier on Grant? Sure. He's not going to command an expensive, long-term contract and the Lions might catch lightning in a bottle if Grant can hold off Father Time for a season. It's not likely, but it could happen.

Grant has a solid track record, and if healthy, could take over the role Maurice Morris had with the Lions the past couple of seasons. That of a veteran back who knows how to play the game and can step into in the lineup without missing a beat. That kind of depth is always nice to have around.

But if Grant does come to an agreement with the Lions, I suggest keeping expectations in check. He is not the same back who had 16 touchdowns and 2769 yards from scrimmage in 2008-2009, and won't ever be again. But Grant could have enough left in the tank to be a serviceable veteran backup for the Lions.

This is a screen cap from the front page of DetNews.com Wednesday night:

I want to sue the News for the 30 seconds of my life I'll never get back.

Really? The Detroit News is talking up a mock of a draft to be held 11 months and 3 weeks from now? WHY?

Marcus Lattimore might be a perfect pick for the Lions next year.  Might be, but probably not. Regardless of current fit (which could change by this time next year, or even next month), the odds Lattimore is playing for the Lions a year and a half from from now are zero, because it's too damn soon to even venture a reasonable and educated guess...unless you work for those click whores at ESPN, and your job as a draftnik is to make unreasonable and ridiculous guesses.

I've said it loudly and often. I am not a fan of mock drafts. I find the vast majority of them to be a waste of everyone's time, especially mine.

But a mock draft done a year in advance? I hate those with the fury of a million burning Ford Pintos. 

2013 NOCK DRAFT IN MAY 2012 = EXPLODING PINTO + HATE X 1,000,000

The 2012 NFL draft is over, thank God. It's time for Todd McShay, Mel Kiper and the rest of their ilk to crawl back under their rocks for the next...Well, I'd be happy if I they didn't spew any nonsense until April of 2013.

Won't happen, but a man can dream.

As of Sunday, the Detroit Lions had added 13 undrafted free agents to their roster. Well, things change. The Lions announced the signing of 7 more undrafted college free agents to contracts, bringing the number of new signees to -- counts fingers, takes off shoes -- 20!

When it comes to players of note from the 7, there's 2.

The Lions inked a local player, Wayne State WR Troy Burrell, who had quite the career at WSU:

Wide receiver Troy Burrell (Detroit Lions) had a reception in 47 of 49 career games played and concluded his career with a 38-game reception streak.  He recorded 12 100-yard receiving games and set the WSU career mark for receptions (187), while finishing second in career receiving yards (3,132) and touchdowns (27).  Burrell is fifth in average yards per reception (minimum 40 catches) at 16.75 ypc, eighth in career touchdowns (28), ninth in all-purpose yards (3,299) and 10th in scoring (168 points)

Troy Burrell's 2010 highlight reel:

The Lions also signed a RB, Penn State's Stephfon Green, who has a history of injury and discipline issues. The most recent problem was a bust for buying alcohol for minors, which almost ended Green's PSU career before his senior season. Only by vote of the PSU players was Green allowed to play for the Nittany Lions in 2011. Green never lived up to the promise shown his freshman season, when he averaged 5.5 YPC, rushing for 578 yards and adding another 278 receiving. As a senior, Green only rushed for 266 yards, but did have 6 TD's.

Stephfon Green showing off his unrealized potential, taking a screen pass 80 yards for a TD against Michigan in 2008:

Here's the latest batch of 7 Lions signees, make of it what you will:

Pat Boyle, G: Temple
Troy Burrell, WR:  Wayne State
Michael Cosgrove, DT: Idaho
Stephfon Green, RB: Penn State
Alonzo Lawrence, CB: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Edmon McClam, DE: Old Dominion
Austin Wells, TE: Northern Iowa

It's official. We fans are being trolled by the the NFL, the NFL Network, and NFL players.

Via the New York Post:

Tim Tebow might be the No. 2 quarterback on the Jets’ depth chart, but he’s the only one considered one of the best players in football by his peers.

Tebow was ranked 95th on the NFL Network’s list of the Top 100 players in the league as voted on by the players. Jets’ starter Mark Sanchez is not on the list.

The only explanation I have for the vote...

Words fail me. Pictures will have to suffice. 

Regardless of the vote, I'm sure the players of at least one NFL team didn't think Tim Tebow deserved to be anywhere near a best players list...

With NFL roster sizes having been increased to 90 players, the race is on for teams to ink undrafted free agents to fill out their training camp rosters. Multiple warm bodies are a must have when in midst of August two-a-days under a withering sun. The Detroit Lions are no different, and have signed 13 players since the draft came to an end on Saturday.

The biggest name the Lions picked up is Boise State QB Kellen Moore, who is expected to become their developmental 3rd string QB. Moore has all the intangibles you want in a QB, but his lacking in size and arm strength is why he made it through all 7 rounds undrafted. 

The Lions are a good match for Moore, with their need for a 3rd stringer behind Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's excellent reputation for developing young QB's. 

But Moore isn't the only player the Lions have signed, though by far the biggest name. Including Moore, they have added 13 players to the roster:

• Rodney Austin, G: Elon
• Quinn Barham, OL: Penn State
• Michael Cosgrove, DT: Idaho
• Derek Dimke, K: Illinois
• Patrick Edwards, WR: Houston
• Alex Gottlieb, TE: William & Mary
• Jared Karstetter, WR: Washington State
• Monte Lewis, DE: Jacksonville State
• Carmen Messina, LB: New Mexico
• Kellen Moore, QB: Boise State
• J.C. Oram, OL: Weber State
• Sam Proctor, S: Oklahoma
• Ronnie Sneed, ILB: Kentucky

Will any of these players, Moore excluded, be expected to make any kind of impact, let alone the 53 man roster or practice squad? To be blunt, your guess is as good as mine. Odds are, no one will. But if 1 or 2 diamonds in the rough are found, then the Lions can consider themselves extremely successful.

With the draft over and 13 more players under contract, are the Lions done? Not even close. There could be more undrafted free agents on the horizon. Don't forget there should be veteran players available via the waiver wire as rookies begin to sign their contracts, leading to rosters being semi-purged. The Lions will be on the lookout for any released veterans who could help, especially in the secondary.

The NFL Network is reporting Boise State's star quarterback, Kellen Moore, an undrafted free agent, is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions. With Drew Stanton having moved on via free agency, Moore is going to compete for the now vacant 3rd string QB position, behind incumbent starter Matthew Stafford and veteran backup Shaun Hill.

Mlive's Anwar S. Richardson details Moore's stellar college numbers:

Moore was 50-3 as a college starter at Boise State. Last season, Moore was 326-of-439 (74.3 percent) for 3,800 yards, nine interceptions and a career-best 43 touchdowns. In 2010 as a junior, Moore was 273-of-383 (71.3 percent) for a career-high 3,845 yards, 35 touchdowns and six interceptions. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting (first Bronco ever invited to the ceremony). Moore also earned First Team All-American and All-WAC honors.

So why wasn't Moore drafted? He's thought to be too small for a pro-style QB at 6 foot even, and has an average arm, at best. Looked at in that vein, Moore is the anti-Matthew Stafford. But productivity talks, and Moore was a very, very productive college QB.

The Lions needed a  developmental QB. Signing Moore as that player is a win-win. The get a young QB with all the intangibles who should make league minimum as their number 3, and they didn't have to burn a draft pick in order to get him.

Kellen Moore Boise State highlight reel (WARNING: Annoying music and Smurf Turf):

Moore with Jon Gruden: (WARNING: CHUCKY)

Moore isn't the only post draft addition. The Freep's Dave Birkett reports the Lions have come to terms with 2 other undrafted free agents:

Kicker Derek Dimke of Illinois agreed to terms with the Lions, his agent Paul Sheehy tweeted. Offensive lineman Rodney Austin of Elon also has agreed to terms with the team, according to a tweet from Atlas Strategies president Mark Magazu.

And the jockeying for warm training camp bodies begins. 

With the 16th pick in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL draft, 223rd overall, the Lions selected Travis Lewis, a 6'1 1/2", 233 pound OLB from Oklahoma. A 4 year starter for the Sooners, leading the team in tackles his first 3 seasons, Lewis posted 83 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack his senior year, which was derailed early on by a broken bone his his left foot.

Lewis started every game of his 4 year Sooners career, is 3rd in OU history in career tackles with 445, 3 time 2nd team all Big 12, and won Big 12 Freshman of the Year. So why was such an acclaimed cllege player available to the Lions in the 7th round? Speed, a lack of it.

Lewis ran a 4.88 40, third lowest among linebackers, at the NFL combine. He ran a 4.75 at his Oklahoma pro day, but it wasn't enough to convince teams he was a mid-round selection, as daftniks had speculated going into the 2011 season.

SI has the goods on Lewis:

Tough, productive college linebacker with limited upside. Displays a terrific head for the ball, instinctive and quick to react. Chases the action hard, takes good angles to plays and remains disciplined with assignments. Fluid moving laterally, makes plays out to the sidelines and relatively effective in space. Squares into ballcarriers and wraps up when tackling.

Lewis is a player who may not have all the physical tools (ie: straight ahead speed), but he's a heady football player who has gotten has far as he has on effort. Considering his pedigree and productivity playing at the highest levels if college ball, I wouldn't bet against Lewis making his mark on the Lions on special teams and as a backup linebacker. 

Travis Lewis highlights:

Lewis in the 2010 Big 12 championship game:

So the 2012 NFL Draft is finally, thankfully over.

After drafting offensive players in the first 2 rounds of the NFL Draft, freaking out Lions fans worldwide, rounds 3 through 7 were a defensive sweep for Lions. The final draft tally was 1 offensive tackle, 1 wide receiver, 3 defensive backs (rounds 3, 5 and 6) and 3 linebackers (rounds 4, 5 and 7).

The Mlive contingent should be damn happy tonight.

With the 27th pick in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL draft, 196th overall, the Lions selected Jonte Green, a 5'10 1/2", 174 pound cornerback from New Mexico State. A 3 year starter for the Aggies, Green was 2nd team all-WAC as a senior with 64 tackles, 1 interception and 14 passes defended. Reports have Green bulking up since the end of season, and is reportedly at 191 on draft day.

Martin Mayhew has quieted a Detroit Lions fan base screaming for defense and more specifically, defensive backs, by making day 3 of the draft all about that one side of the ball. 3 of those picks are headed to the Lions' secondary, Green being the third after 3rd round pick Bill Bentley and 5th round selection Chris Greenwood.

Green did impress in during college All-Star game season, winning the MVP award...of a game I never knew existed:

Former New Mexico State defensive back Jonte Green was named Defensive MVP of the AstroTruf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, National Team, played in late January. Green recorded four tackles, three break ups and an interception in the game.

SI has the skill set on Green:

Athletic cornerback who's displayed a variety of skill in his game. Plays with an aggressive nature, works hard to defend the run and makes a lot of tackles up the field. Keeps the action in front of him, gets a nice jump on the throw and displays a good move to the pass. Can burst to the ball out of his plant and works to make plays. Solid return specialist who sets up blocks, finds the running lanes and quickly gets through them.

In other words, he has special teams written all over him, as you would expect from a late 6th round selection. But the reason the Lions took a flier on on Green is raw athleticism, shown by his 4.40 40 time. The one con which the drafniks consistently bring up with Green is he suffers from a dreaded case of "Short arm disease."

But you can't teach speed, which gives Green a shot at sticking with the Lions.

Here's a 2010 New Mexico State interview reel interspersed with DB practice clips. Green turns up at 2:40:

Best I could do, it gets harder and harder to find video the draft drags on...and on, and on.

The Lions have 1 pick left, the 16th in the 7th round, 223 overall. Will it be a clean sweep in the defensive side of the ball, or will Mayhew take a flyer on a RB or QB.?

Mayhew can be such a wild card, a slave to his best player available philosophy, I really have no idea what he will do at this point.

After standing pat in rounds 1 through 3, Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew is rolling the dice with trades in day 3 of the 2012 NFL Draft. He made his third deal of the afternoon, moving up 10 spots in the draft. He sent the Lions' last 2012 pick  (7th round, number 230) to the Oakland Raiders for their 5th round selection, moving up to the 148th overall pick. With the Raiders' pick in hand, the Lions selected a Detroiter who remained in state to play college ball, Chris Greenwood, a 6'1", 193 pound CB out of Albion College.

Greenwood's career stats at Albion: 27 games played, 27 games started, 62 tackles, 54 solo, 13 interceptions, 4 returned for TDs, 14 pass break-ups, 26 passes defended.

I'll defer to Mlive's Anwar S. Richardson for Greenwood's bio:

Greenwood, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association defensive player of the year for Albion He had 24 tackles and two interceptions last season, earning a reputation that kept opponents from throwing the ball in his direction. He was an American Football Coaches Association All-American, and first-team all-conference pick for the third time.

Obviously, the big concern with Greenwood is his DIII small college status. Will he be able to adjust to the speed and talent of the NFL? But by trading up in the draft to select Greenwood in the 5th round, it says very loudly the Lions believe he will.

SI has the scoop on Greenwood's upside:

Nice sized defensive back with outstanding measurables. Effectively reads and diagnoses the action, works well with teammates and fights hard to make positive plays. Battles throughout the action, relatively instinctive and easily runs with opponents in every area of the field. Displays a good degree of explosion in his game, has a burst to the ball and effectively times or anticipates pass defenses. Fluid changing direction, plays with a large degree of quickness and aggressive. Reads receivers eyes and gets his head back around to make plays on the ball.

When you get late into day 3 of the draft, the picks are all about possible upside. You likely aren't going to find a star. But these are the selections where you build depth, fill out special teams, and hope a few ultimately develop into legit NFL starters.

Here's video of Greenwood's career highlights straight from Albion College. Unfortunately, their video department can't afford a telephoto lens, thus the loooong shots. But to Albion's immense credit, it was much easier finding video on Greenwood compared Temple's Tahir Whitehead. Albion >>> Big East: 

Greenwood playing against Alma:

The Lions have made defense a priority in day 3 of the NFL draft. With 2 picks left on the day in rounds 6 and 7, we'll see if the Lions make it a defensive sweep, or look to add depth on offense. Say a RB or developmental QB?