Notes: Dean Marlowe’s parents were first-responders on 9/11 in NYC

Dave Birkett at the Detroit Free Press has an extended piece on the experiences of Detroit Lions safety Dean Marlowe and his family in New York City during September of 2001. Heading into the weekend marking two decades since 9/11, the memories are no doubt stronger for Marlowe than for most people. According to Birkett, he “is believed to be the only NFL player with two first responders for parents who helped in the recovery efforts.”

Reporting first-hand accounts from Marlowe and both of the Queens native’s parents (who were active duty police officers at the time of the attacks), Birkett’s story captures the chaos and confusion that dominated that day. When Marlowe’s stepfather Mike Neil (a Brooklyn police sergeant at the time) describes how nobody quite knew what was going on and how “eerily quiet” it was at the site of the towers, I’m reminded of what it was like in Washington D.C. in the days immediately after the Pentagon was hit. Nobody on the streets. Nothing in the air except jet fighters running combat air patrol. Everyone glued to their televisions trying to process what was going on.

So, I concur with Dave and hope you’ll take the time to read that story. It was very unexpected, but I’m glad Dave wrote it. Now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:

• MLive’s Kyle Meinke wants you to know that the Lions are “not going to force it” when it comes to running the ball on offense. There’s a nice anecdote from Anthony Lynn in the story on learning why you can’t count on money plays in the NFL.

• Justin Rogers at the Detroit News interviewed team owner Sheila Ford Hamp (subscription required) “to discuss the path forward.”

• Our very own Erik Schlitt was a featured guest this morning on Michigan Sports Network’s X’s and BrO’s with Anthony Bellino. You can listen to the 17-minute segment online at the X’s and BrO’s SoundCloud page:

• Eric Woodyard at ESPN wrote about the die-hard Lions fans who continue to support the team even in the absence of success.

• The NFL’s Big Data Bowl mentorship program is now taking applications. If you are an interested beginner when it comes to football analytics and serious about learning from the best, check it out.

• Whatever the NFL on FOX fans are smoking, we want some: