Lions notes: Henry Melton, Dominic Raiola exchange trash talk

• There has been some trash talk in the media between Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears players this week. For example, Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton said he doesn't like the Lions because they're a dirty team. He also called out Lions center Dominic Raiola for all of the trash-talking he does. Raiola responded by calling Melton a "clown" and questioning why Melton was selected to the Pro Bowl.
• In other trash talk news, Bears safety Major Wright said this week that Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford folds if you "put a little pressure on him." I actually don't think Wright meant for his comments to be trash talk, but they came off that way. (Wright actually did make a pretty good point about how Stafford's accuracy suffers when the pocket closes on him.)
• One Bears player at least had some praise for somebody on the Lions, as Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman said this week that Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the "LeBron James of football."
• Johnson said on Thursday that he isn't sure if he will play in the 2013 Pro Bowl. He was also asked about the supposed Madden curse and had a great response:

  Calvin Johnson on the Madden curse: "What curse?"

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 27, 2012

• Scott Mitchell responded to Lomas Brown's comments from last week about how Brown intentionally let him get hurt once during a game. Some current Lions also responded to Brown. Raiola said what Brown did was "kind of bush league," and Stafford had perhaps the best quote of all:

  Stafford on Lomas Brown: "I'm just glad he's not blocking for me."

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 26, 2012

  That about sums it up. Brown should have just kept his mouth shut. He has since apologized, but his legacy has certainly taken a hit because of this story.
  
• Ndamukong Suh wants Warren Sapp to teach him rather than criticize him, and Sapp seems open to working with him.
• The Bears will be on the wrong side of history should they miss the playoffs.

  According to ESPN: The Bears are one of 52 teams to start 7-1 since 1990. Only one, the 1996 Washington Redskins, missed the playoffs.

  — Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) December 26, 2012

• The Lions reportedly put in a waiver claim for tight end Allen Reisner after he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings. He was awarded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which have a higher priority than Detroit.
• Four Lions players made ESPN's All-NFC North team.
• The announcers are Sunday's game between the Lions and Bears are going to be Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa.

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