Earlier today, the ESPN.com staff ran down the key questions for every team in the NFC North. When it comes to the Lions, Michael Rothstein says the biggest question is whether the release of cornerback Chris Houston will hurt them in the short- and long-term. The release of Houston, who had four years left on his deal, puts a lot of added pressure on the remaining Detroit cornerbacks. Here’s more out of the NFC North..
- Weeks before the draft, the Lions told Eric Ebron that they would be drafting him at No. 10 if he was there. Detroit followed through on that promise, but the UNC tight end didn’t believe them at the time, writes Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News.
- Joel Corry of CBSSports.com looks at 30 players who are headed for crossroads in their contracts. Near the top of the list, unsurprisingly, is Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh has leverage in discussions with Detroit thanks to his enormous cap number which makes a franchise tag rather untenable. A contract extension for Suh should be the richest veteran deal in NFL history for an interior defensive lineman because he probably isn’t going to accept a decrease from his rookie contract.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap looks at the recent quarterback rankings by Mike Sando of ESPN.com and matches them up with the salaries for each player. NFC North QBs featured include Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, the Bears‘ Jay Cutler, and the Lions’ Matthew Stafford.