Lions Notes: Thursday's Preseason Finale To Air Live Locally

• The Detroit Lions' game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night will be aired live locally at 7 p.m. ET. Amazingly, the Lions have made it through the preseason without any blackouts/tape-delayed games.
• It has been one year since Tom Kowalski passed away.
• Matthew Stafford had a funny quote about the release of Madden 13 earlier this week:

  Will Calvin Johnson be hooking up his quarterback with a copy of Madden? Stafford: "He better, because I'm not going anywhere at midnight."

  — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 27, 2012

• The Free Press has a look at the day Barry Sanders spent at ESPN this week to promote the release of Madden 13.
• Michael Lombardi has a few Lions listed in his series on blue/red-chip players and coaches.
• Kid Rock's Lions anthem, titled "In Detroit," is out.
• Martin Mayhew has been named to the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council.

• The NFL is planning to start the regular season with replacement officials. I think you can pencil this in as one of the biggest storylines for Week 1.
• The Seattle Seahawks have officially named Russell Wilson their starting quarterback. It's really quite amazing how many young quarterbacks are starters across the NFL.

  That makes 10 first- or second-year guys of 32 starting QBs (Newton, Locker, Gabbert, Ponder, Dalton, Luck, RG3, Tannehill, Weeden, Wilson).

  — Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 27, 2012

• Speaking of the Seahawks, they have traded quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to the Bills.
• Tim Toone wasn't the only former Lions wide receiver to score a touchdown last week. Derrick Williams also hauled in a touchdown reception (he's with the Pittsburgh Steelers).
• Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro isn't headed to injured reserve, but he suffered a serious knee injury last week.
• The New York Jets haven't scored a single touchdown in the preseason. I really think they should've kept Drew Stanton instead of trading him away to the Indianapolis Colts.
• The Chicago Bears released wide receiver Rashied Davis on Wednesday.

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