Tuesday Notes: Lions Claim Maurice Williams, Release Ephraim Salaam

by Sean Yuille on Dec 8, 2009 7:48 AM EST in Detroit Lions Notes

The Lions have claimed offensive lineman Maurice Williams. Williams was waived by the Jaguars over the weekend after playing for them since 2001. He is from the city of Detroit and went to the University of Michigan, where he started at right tackle alongside the likes of Jeff Backus and Steve Hutchinson. Williams was also a member of the Wolverines when Jon Jansen started at right tackle. In the NFL, Williams has started 100 of the 105 games he's played in, and it seems like he is a good addition for depth purposes if he can stay healthy. The Lions don't exactly have the best situation at guard, so it looks like Williams could help at that position.
To make room on the roster for Williams, the Lions released offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam.
The Lions might work out punters this week because Nick Harris hurt his knee while making a tackle against Cincinnati.
Jim Schwartz was understandably pissed off over some of the costly and stupid penalties the Lions got on Sunday.
Bryant Johnson's eyes looked a little odd on Sunday, but that was just because he wears tinted contacts.
Louis Delmas went into Sunday's game ready to talk trash with Chad Ochocinco, and considering Delmas knocked #85 out of the game with a big hit, I think he has definitely earned the right to. Delmas went over to Ochocinco to make sure he was alright after the hit, and they had a nice exchange. Ochocinco wasn't out for long and continued to improve on his big game, but overall I thought Delmas did a great job on Sunday.
The Lions' road losing streak is up to 18 games.

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let cullpepper play....

we can rest our 41 million dollar investment and see what the # 2 guy has , he completed some nice passes at the end of the game , and a 245 (285) lbs guy can take hits from an awfull o line alot better than a wounded guy…or put in stanton to and get some work … maybe they do well and we use them as trading stock for veterns or our next draft , this year is shot anyway and what do we have to lose ?
culpepper can throw better off balance because he isn’t dragging a wounded shoulder and he also isn’t afraid to run because he isn’t nursing an injury….
also …I think kevin smith doesn’t get enough credit for what he does , if he continues at his pace , even with our shitty O line , he will exceed 1000 yards rushing and he is the second leading pass catcher ….does he still have to live in the barry sanders shadow ?I would like to see one or two wins to end on a possitive note for next year…and we can take a boy named suh in the draft …or even …A WIDE RECIEVER ???

marc hoople

by spinitnow on Dec 8, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions

Only way we get Suh.....

…..is if we have 1st pick becasuse thats where hes going to get picked.

by BennieBladesFan on Dec 8, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

I said that

@ the beginning of the season…which is exactly why they should’ve built their OL 1st & then get a good QB, or sit him until they improve. He’s only gonna be as good as they allow him to be, if he’s got 1 or 2 secs to throw the ball every down, it’s hard to be successful, though he needs to develope better recognition, accuracy, & not try to force the ball when it’s not there.

by LTownDown on Dec 8, 2009 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Consistency......

I think Culpepper should get to start this weekend…….he’s still upset from the Thanksgiving Day game, and he needs a chance to show what he’s got……I think the biggest thing I wanna see the rest of the season is some consistency…….Stafford was played well at times…..and he’s been awful at times……the same can said of a lot of players on both sides of the ball…….Like B. Johnson, Pettigrew (even though he’s IR), Northcutt, the whole OL, Henry, Buchannon……….Obviously the D-Line needs to get upgraded…….and honestly, I don’t care which needs on defense the Lions upgrade first…….I think its gonna take several seasons to build a 10+ win team……….if they take whoever the best is at the positions they need, then so be it……whether its a safety, corner, ot, de, or dt……just get somebody good…..

by douglazz63 on Dec 8, 2009 1:10 PM EST reply actions

Williams

I really like the Williams move. We get a guard who can backup the tackle spot for 3 years at a cheap price. I really think our O-line next year will look very, very different.

I’m pretty sure we’ll have a new LT (either a pick in rounds 1 or 2 or from a trade with Sims), Williams at LG, Raiola at C, Cherilus at RG, and Backus at RT.

I’d love to see Sims traded for either a LT or a young center who could replace Raiola. The truth is Raiola is too small to go up against any of the d-lineman in the NFC North like Raji, Harris, and the Williams twins.

by Kman23 on Dec 8, 2009 3:39 PM EST reply actions

im not sure if williams is starting caliber

he is a solid back up, but Jacksonville has two rookie tackles starting over this guy, and they are in the playoff hunt, so its not like they are trying to get those guys some experience. If Williams couldn’t start over them, then i question how much he has left in the tank. Still, I agree that he is a solid pickup and should help the team.

As far Sims, I would like to see them trade him for a DE. Send him to the Gaints for a guy like Kiwanuka.

The beginning of the end of the misery

by Latif Masud on Dec 8, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Williams.....

……is not a starter….hes a backup…..a good backup at that…..Not a starter though.

by BennieBladesFan on Dec 8, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Wait, Ochocinco was knocked out?

Awesome….Delmas is awesome….

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.

by Hyperion Ecta on Dec 8, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Not unconscious

But for a few plays…..he came back afterwards.

by KDawg on Dec 8, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

Oh...damn...

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.

by Hyperion Ecta on Dec 9, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions

Jacksonville's Running Game

Has always been good, this might work out, of course … I think back to James Stewert. WHAT THE TIGERS TRADED GRANDERSON. OH as a sports fan I am so sick of the “Trade to make salary cap room” thing. What good is money when now I have to get excited over Phil Coke. I brgin thisup because It seems among fans of the Lions, their is moreplayers we like to watch then last year and even thou both years are bad we get to watch those we enjoy. Of the Field/Batters…Granderson and Inge always got the most appluase and cheers …. the tigers are not expected to be any better this year so, this islike trading Delmas and Peterson forN.E. patriot third stringers.
But hey all are trades with the Yankees work right … ? Matt Nokes and Ivan Rodergiuez got us …. oh wait right, crap. To bad the Tigers can’t trade with the Dallas Cowboys, they’lll take anything from D-town.
hey jerry jones … well give you the 4th or 5th pick in the draft for your 1st-3rd-4th and 6th rounder>?

by Beerhero on Dec 9, 2009 4:06 PM EST reply actions