Lions notes: Quandre Diggs wins NFL’s inaugural ‘Way to Play’ award

With its new rules attempting to cut down on brain injuries, the NFL is doing all it can to promote what they consider proper tackling form. That includes educational videos on what is and is not a foul and threatening helmet-first contact not only with fines and penalties, but possible ejection, as we saw with Colts defender Shamarko Thomas, who was thrown out of the game last weekend for this hit.

Another thing the league is doing is reinforcing and rewarding proper hitting technique. Thursday, the NFL announced on their network show “Good Morning Football” that Detroit Lions defensive back Quandre Diggs won the first ever “Way To Play” weekly award. Here’s how the league describes the award:

A distinguished panel of NFL Legends and coaches selects the player who most positively impacted the game through proper technique (i.e., tackling, blocking, footwork, discipline, vision).

Diggs won the award not for his phenomenal pick-six that kicked off Monday night’s contest with the Jets, but for a solid tackle he made on Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa. Here’s the segment from Thursday morning:

Diggs doesn’t just get a pat on the back for his performance, he’s also rewarded a $2,500 equipment grant to the youth football program of his own choosing.

• Justin Rogers of The Detroit News has five observations from Monday night’s coaches film (with GIFs!). Solid breakdown of what went right and wrong against the New York Jets.

• This webcomic is a little too real:

• Here’s an update on a couple of former Lions/wannabe Lions. Johnathan Hankins has officially signed with the Oakland Raiders. Meanwhile, former Lions wide receiver Jace Billingsley was cut from the Patriots’ practice squad.

• Brandon Thorn did a GIF thread of his own Lions - Jets film breakdown. Needless to say there’s a lot of bad stuff in there, but here’s one good, and one bad play from the Lions’ point of view:

• What does Glover Quin’s cut in playing time mean for his future? Dave Birkett pulled some quotes from Quin and Matt Patricia this week on the topic.

• Former Lions offensive tackle Brian Mihalik has a new home: