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- With 2011 coming to a close, I went back and looked at which five posts had the most comments this year. They are as follows: Lions/Buccaneers first half open thread (1,662 comments), first open thread for the 2011 NFL Draft (1,660 comments), Lions/Buccaneers second half open thread (1,406 comments), Sunday open thread the day before the Lions' Monday night game (1,316 comments) and Lions/Cowboys fourth quarter open thread (1,277 comments). (In case you're wondering, the post with the most comments on the site is the second half open thread for the 2010 Lions/Cowboys game. It had 1,786 total comments.)
- On a related note, I want to thank everybody who reads Pride of Detroit and participates in the many discussions we have. This year, POD crossed the 15-million total page views mark. More than eight million of those page views came just in this year, and that was despite there being a lockout for a third of the year. I'd say that's pretty good. Here's to POD (and the Lions) doing even bigger things in 2012.
- Gunther Cunningham thinks Jim Schwartz should be the coach of the year.
- For the third straight year, Drew Stanton has been named the Lions' Robert Porcher Man of the Year.
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Dominic Raiola had some very, well, interesting things to say about Packers fans earlier this week. First, he had this response to a question about the tradition of Packers fans mooning opposing teams (via Dave Birkett):
"I get to the stadium too early. I don’t see that. But that’d be pretty awesome to see."
Raiola reconsidered the awesomeness of seeing that after thinking about it.
"I don’t know if I want to see any of those people naked. They’re not in real good shape up there."
Raiola then added this (via Chris McCosky):"It looks like they live a simple life. They love the Pack and that's pretty much it."
- The Lions practiced outdoors on Friday in order to prepare for Sunday's game at Lambeau Field.
- With how well the Lions have played this season and with how many talented coaches are on the staff, it doesn't sound like Jim Schwartz would be surprised if some guys are hired by other teams this upcoming offseason. Specifically, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is someone who could be looked at by other teams for vacant head coaching positions. Although Linehan may choose to pass on offers that come his way this time around in order to stay in Detroit, the growing sense is that he will get another shot at being a head coach at some point.
- According to Packers defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, the Lions are the biggest trash talkers in the league, followed by the Falcons. Sounds about right.
- Jason Hanson's 15-year-old son celebrated the Lions' playoff berth in the locker room with the team after last week's game. That had to have been a special moment for both Hanson and his son.