Lions coaches and players adamantly challenged the contents of a Pro Football Weekly report that suggested that the Lions were far from the playoff team that many expected them to be when the season began.
The crux of the piece was a series of comments from an anonymous NFL general manager who offered a scathing rebuke of Detroit’s roster and management.
“They are not a team that I think is ready,” the executive told PFW. “If I am going there to take over the job, I am not thinking that is a quick fix.”
The GM then went on to criticize nearly every aspect of the Lions’ organization.
“[The Lions] are a one-dimensional offensive team that, if the quarterback [Matthew Stafford] is not on, people are figuring it out,” the comments read. “If you take [WR Calvin] Johnson out of the game, who else do they have that can beat you?”
Despite being among the league leaders in receiving yards, Johnson has only found the end zone once in four games. Through four games last season, he had eight TDs.
The league official went on to suggest that DT Ndamukong Suh should be a member of an “All-Hype” team, and that the Lions’ vaunted D-line, which has admittedly struggled to create pressure this season, is far from effective.
“For as much as people talk about that D-line and all its depth, where are all the players?” the GM asked.
The unnamed league executive saved his strongest criticism for the top of the Lions’ organization -- GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz. “[Mayhew and Schwartz are]’ both overrated,” the GM said. “What has [Mayhew] really accomplished?”
For his part, Schwartz was diplomatic in his response Tuesday. He acknowledged that his team must earn respect on the field, and he said that his top priority was correcting Detroit’s slow start.
“We’re judged on winning in this League,” he said. “We’re not judged on a popularity contest or what somebody says under the cloak of anonymity. We’re not judged by power rankings…We’re a 1-3 team that’s looking for a win. That’s enough for us right now.”
The most stinging retort toward the Lions’ unnamed critic came from center Dominic Raiola. The 12-year veteran left no doubt how he felt about the executive taking pot shots at the team from afar.
“That’s a cowardly act to be ‘unnamed,’” he said. “Why don’t you come out and say who you are?"
Raiola went on to characterize the executive’s decision to criticize another NFL team a slight against the Lions’ “family.”
“You’re taking shots at my family. That’s not cool,” he said. “We’re talking about GMs now. The media’s gonna take shots all around the league. That’s fine. We’re talking about people in the same profession, the same business. F--- them.”
He then called on his teammates to respond to the executive by getting much-needed wins.
“If you don’t take [the GM’s comments] personal, you’re in the wrong place,” he said. "It’s on us to have each other’s back, and the place to do that is on the field.”
Delmas, Avril practice, two Lions sit out Tuesday workout: S Louis Delmas [knee] and DE Cliff Avril [back] practiced during Detroit’s first workout after the bye week. Delmas’ ability to participate in workouts both before and after the team’s five-day recess is a positive sign, but his ability to play Sunday in Philadelphia will likely be determined by whether he's able to practice on consecutive days this week. If he doesn’t suffer a setback during practices, expect him to try to make his 2012 debut at Lincoln Financial Field.
Avril returned to practice after missing Detroit’s bye-week workout. He was forced to leave the Lions’ Week 4 loss to the Vikings after injuring himself late in the fourth quarter. He was officially listed as having a back injury but said the incident happened after his leg gave out on him. Avril said he was happy that the Lions’ fortuitously timed bye week gave him ample opportunity to rest but that he likely would have been able to play if Detroit had been scheduled to play in Week 5.
DT Corey Williams [knee] and TE Brandon Pettigrew were the only Lions players to miss Tuesday’s workout. Williams is week-to-week following knee surgery, and Jim Schwartz described Pettigrew’s absence as an extra day of rest.
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.