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After speaking so openly about the chaos he experienced during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, wide receiver DJ Chark continues to laud the Detroit Lions’ budding culture shift.
While Chark himself didn’t call it a culture shift, Lions fans know a tide has been turning since Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took the reigns. But he does know a mess when he sees one and has gone on the record about Urban Meyer’s rapid fall from grace in the NFL. Chark told The Athletic that Meyer used threats to motivate.
“He would come up to us and tell us if the receivers weren’t doing good, he wasn’t going to fire us, he was going to fire our coach. He would usually say that when the coach was around,” Chark told The Athletic’s Jayson Jenks and Mike Sando back in March.
That interview was released about a week after Chark signed with Detroit to restart his career. With all of that still fresh in his mind, he can’t help but remark on the massive contrast in team cultures.
‘Guys aren’t here trying to get onto a top 10 list on ESPN; we’re here trying to set a standard for each other.’ — DJ Chark
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) July 28, 2022
In his article, Nick Baumgardner says Chark went on to say: “I like how these guys come to work every day, the professionalism around this building.”
The 25-year-old Pro Bowler said their main focus is setting a standard for one another. I don't need to tell you, as a Lions fan, that a serious culture shift was necessary. Despite a losing record, the Lions won respect across the nation last season for their grit, their heart, and the new culture being sculpted in Detroit. Who knows if this will translate to more wins this season, but I have to imagine is a crucial first step in that direction.
I spoke to DJ Chark after practice today and he said there’s a “night and day” difference in the professionalism with the Lions organization compared to his last season with the Jaguars.
— Kory Woods (@KoryEWoods) July 28, 2022
“It’s no games. It’s no gimmicks. You just come in and do your work.”
And on to the rest of your notes.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown + the JUGS machine = love. Over at the Freep, Dave Birkett explains how he’s getting the other receivers on board. ($)
#Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continues his longtime tradition of 202 catches on the JUGS machine after practice. pic.twitter.com/eQR26Og8qN
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) July 28, 2022
- “Sometimes I get sloppy. Sometimes they be perfect. So just putting that all together, making sure every time that it’s on the money.” Looking to nail down consistency, Jonah Jackson is on the rise — Mlive’s Benjamin Raven explains.
- D’Andre Swift cracks the list of top 10 fantasy football backs over on PFF.
Top-10 running back rankings pic.twitter.com/F8WQPncG47
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) July 28, 2022
- Learn more about the protective helmets the guys are wearing during training camp.
Players league-wide are wearing Guardian Caps during 2022 preseason practices – the latest example of the NFL’s continued work to foster innovation that leads to better protective equipment and makes the game safer for players. pic.twitter.com/gB4aAF7YHG
— NFL (@NFL) July 27, 2022
- I will never get tired of videos that reflect Brad Holmes or Dan Campbell being close with their players.
DC QC@QoDeep_87 | #LionsCamp pic.twitter.com/sYQbLOgZr0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 28, 2022
- Pour me a glass of the Kool-Aid baby!
"Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes will win a Super Bowl here."@RyanEFox2 on the Detroit Lions' future #OnePride pic.twitter.com/o26j6tRE6u
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) July 28, 2022
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