Lions Notes: Stafford, Caldwell, Megatron

The Lions are 0-5 and they need to make some changes in 2016. Should Detroit to a full on rebuild, or just re-tool around their core pieces? A look at the latest from Ford Field..

  • The Lions need change, but now is not the time for them to start their face lift, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. It’s easy to forget now, but the Lions are just one year removed from an 11-win season in which Matthew Stafford had cut down on his turnovers and Jim Caldwell looked like a strong coach. Five games is not enough to tear those conclusions apart, Birkett argues. Of course, with Stafford regressing, the Lions might opt to drop him after the season. Doing so would not result in any financial penalty for the Lions.
  • Don’t tell that to Jason Fitzgerald of the Sporting News, who says that it’s time for the Lions to clean house by trading both Stafford and star wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Johnson, he estimates, could be traded in-season this year for a third-round pick that could escalate to a second-round choice based on his roster status for 2016. Meanwhile, he thinks Stafford could fetch a first- and a second-round pick thanks to the dearth of quality QBs out there.
  • The Lions will wait 2-3 weeks before making a call on DeAndre Levy, who is having hip surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Levy could return for a month or more but could also be placed on IR. It was reported earlier this week that the Lions were giving thought to shutting the linebacker down for the season. The Lions signed Levy to a four-year, $33MM contract extension in August that, at the time, made him the highest-paid 4-3 outside linebacker in the league. In 2014, he established a new career high in tackles, racking up 155 stops to go along with 2.5 sacks, five passes defended, and an interception.
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