Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
Most teams come out of their bye week with some personnel and lineup tweaks. As we noted Tuesday, Detroit has apparently halted its rotation at left guard and inserted a third player as a new starter: veteran Jon Jansen. Here's John Niyo's report in the Detroit News.
The move puts two old Michigan teammates -- Jansen and left tackle Jeff Backus -- next to each other on the Lions’ line. Jansen has been almost exclusively a tackle in his career. At 33, most NFL teams thought his career was over before the Lions signed him this offseason.
As we discussed last week, there is some merit to creating a meritocracy that requires accountability and prevents underperforming players from staying on the field indefinitely. But I also think that at some point it would benefit the Lions to settle on a lineup for the sake of continuity and allowing chemistry to build.
Jansen is the shortest of short-term answers at left guard. Hopefully his insertion into the starting lineup signals the Lions recognize they need to improve their line in the long term as well.
Continuing around the NFC North:
Most teams come out of their bye week with some personnel and lineup tweaks. As we noted Tuesday, Detroit has apparently halted its rotation at left guard and inserted a third player as a new starter: veteran Jon Jansen. Here's John Niyo's report in the Detroit News.
The move puts two old Michigan teammates -- Jansen and left tackle Jeff Backus -- next to each other on the Lions’ line. Jansen has been almost exclusively a tackle in his career. At 33, most NFL teams thought his career was over before the Lions signed him this offseason.
As we discussed last week, there is some merit to creating a meritocracy that requires accountability and prevents underperforming players from staying on the field indefinitely. But I also think that at some point it would benefit the Lions to settle on a lineup for the sake of continuity and allowing chemistry to build.
Jansen is the shortest of short-term answers at left guard. Hopefully his insertion into the starting lineup signals the Lions recognize they need to improve their line in the long term as well.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- The Lions are asking their defensive backs to reduce their mistakes, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
- Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette ponders the Packers’ options for blocking Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen.
- A few weeks ago, we had you have at Brett Favre’s comment about the stature of his current team. On Wednesday, Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks to members of the 1996 Packers team about Favre’s contention.
- Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews tells ESPN Milwaukee’s Jason Wilde why he negotiated his rent down $300 from the original price, and much more.
- Minnesota place-kicker Ryan Longwell recounts his returns to Lambeau Field with Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
- Rookie defensive back Asher Allen made a positive impression last Sunday in his first NFL game, writes Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- Chicago coach Lovie Smith has challenged defensive tackle Tommie Harris to begin practicing every day, writes ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson.
- The Bears will pay tribune Sunday on the 10th anniversary of the death of running back Walter Payton, writes Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.
- Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times offers four ways to fix the Bears, including a suggestion to tighten coverage.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.