Notes: Mike Disner to have ‘major role’ in Detroit Lions GM search

Many Detroit Lions fans, including the one typing these words, have expressed their concern over the team’s ability to conduct a thorough general manager search given the team’s lack of experience at the top of the organization. Team owner Sheila Ford Hamp has only held her position since July and team president Rod Wood specializes on the business side of football.

However, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press suggests there’s a third key figure in the organization that brings a lot more experience and appears to be heavily involved in the process already. Current vice president of football administration Mike Disner is “expected to play a major role in the search,” per Birkett.

That should provide some relief to Lions fans, as Disner has been in the business for 14 years. Though he’s mostly considered a salary cap advisor, he has worked directly with general managers in the past, including six years with the Arizona Cardinals as the team’s director of football administration. Prior to that, he worked with the NFL Management Council, analyzing player contracts and making sure teams were compliant with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. In other words, he knows his way around how general managers operate.

Of course, I can’t mention Disner without mentioning the fact that he got his start with the New England Patriots. But don’t let that sway you, as he mostly served as a scouting assistant there for just over two years.

• Adrian Peterson was nominated for the Angry Run of the Week thanks to his physical game-winning touchdown run:

• Did the Lions have a big schematic change that helped their defense improve at halftime against the Chicago Bears? Defensive coordinator Cory Undlin suggested it was really more of the team just settling in. Players agreed.

• The Lions can prevent the Packers from clinching the NFC North and/or a playoff spot this week. Here’s how Green Bay gets in:

• On Monday, Darrell Bevell revealed that he had not received a congratulatory message from Matt Patricia following his win. On Wednesday, Bevell elaborated on that, saying that he wasn’t expecting one, and given the circumstances—many coaches want to stay away from football after fired—he’s completely understanding of it. Justin Rogers of the Detroit News has Bevell’s full quote.

• After cutting Isaac Nauta, and his subsequent signing to the Packers practice squad, the Lions have added a new tight end to their practice squad:

• Matthew Stafford did not end up winning Air Player of the Week. Baker Mayfield won the vote by a landslide.