Kritik und Anregungen » n open dialogue, something

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Calvin Johnsons retirement leaves a huge void for the Detroit Lions.Detroit will face defenses for the first time in a decade without one of its players drawing double coverage on almost every snap.Johnson walked away from the Lions and the league in March, announcing his retirement at the age of 30. The move rekindled memories of Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders cutting his career short with the same franchise.As great as Johnson was though, the Lions were not very successful even with the spectacular wide receiver in the lineup. They were 7-9 last season, finishing below .500 for the seventh time in his nine-year career.If Detroit cant protect quarterback Matthew Stafford better and fails to run the ball effectively, whether Johnson suited up for another season will likely be a moot point.Stafford has been sacked 89 times the past two years, ranking among NFL leaders. The Lions averaged a league-low 83.4 yards rushing per game last season.That is on us, guard Larry Warford said. We learned a lot from that and weve got to share that knowledge with the new guys.Detroits rookie general manager Bob Quinn, who worked his way up in the New England Patriots front office, tried to address a glaring need by drafting offensive tackle Taylor Decker in the first round, center Graham Glasgow in the third and guard Joe Dahl in the fifth round.All three of them are great players and I could see each of them playing key roles for us this year, Warford said.Here are some other things to watch as the Lions enter training camp:THE REPLACEMENTS: Detroit signed wide receiver Marvin Jones to a five-year, $40 million contract just days after Johnson announced his retirement. Jones will be the teams No. 2 option in the passing game behind Golden Tate. Jones set career highs with 65 receptions and 816 yards receiving last year in his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Lions also hope one of the veterans they signed -- Jeremy Kerley, Andre Roberts and Andre Caldwell -- can become their No. 3 receiver. Detroit will also count on a pair of younger players, Corey Fuller and TJ Jones, becoming relatively prominent players after having limited roles.NEW BOSS IN TOWN: Quinn has subtly reshaped Detroits roster, making a commitment to bolstering both lines and choosing not to make too big of a splash in free agency. Team owner Martha Firestone Ford shook up the franchise last season, firing a pair of longtime executives, team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew. She gave Quinn his first chance to lead an NFL front office, banking on him bringing some of what he learned from one of the leagues top teams to the Motor City. Quinn was the Patriots director of pro scouting for the previous four seasons after serving as assistant director of pro personnel for two years in his 16-year career with the franchise.COACHING CONTINUITY: Quinn could have fired Jim Caldwell and hired a new coach and staff, but allowed him to return with an 18-14 mark in two seasons with one loss in the playoffs. The Lions also retained offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, who replaced the fired Joe Lombardi midway through last season, and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, a head coaching candidate after last season. That makes things operate a little bit more smoothly, Caldwell said.HOT HAND: Stafford, drafted No. 1 overall by Detroit in 2009, is coming off the best stretch of his career. He threw 19 TDs and just two interceptions over the last eight games, six of which Detroit won after a 1-7 start. If wed have had a couple more games, I think wed have kept it heading even farther in the right direction, Cooter said. But hopefully, were going to pick up right where we left off.LEANING ON LEVY: The Lions are welcoming back linebacker DeAndre Levy, one of their top players when healthy. He played only one game last season, shortly after signing a four-year extension, because of a hip injury that led to season-ending surgery. Levy was a second-team, All-Pro player in 2014 thanks a mix of physical ability and a mental edge. Levy takes off so fast on his reads, Caldwell said. Jim Bob asked the question, `Does he know what plays coming? ... Its really uncanny.---Online:AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLReplica Shoes . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Discount Fake Shoes . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. https://www.fakeshoes.net/ . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Wholesake Fake Air Jordan 1 . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Fake Nike Shoes . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Coach Ben McAdoo has talked with Giants players about making a statement on social injustice in the wake of police shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina, but something other than kneeling or sitting for the national anthem.The rookie coach neither identified the players he spoke with Wednesday nor did he say what type of action was being considered.No Giants players have sat or knelt during the playing of the national anthem either in the preseason or at the opening two games of the NFL regular season. There was also no indication any of them would protest Sunday when the Giants will be home to play the Washington Redskins.Theyre conflicted and they want to make a difference, McAdoo said of his meeting with the players. The league is a platform to make a difference. I encourage them to. I would like to be involved in that. Anything I can do to help.Still, I feel that you can make a difference outside of the anthem. We can do something together to make a difference. It doesnt have to involve the national anthem. I still believe that you pay tribute to the people that sacrifice their lives so that we can coach and play in this great game.San Francisco 49ers quarterback CColin Kaepernick began the anthem protest that other NFL players and athletes in other sports have since joined.ddddddddddddMcAdoo said he would not stop any player who wanted to join that protest.Thats their freedom, McAdoo said. I just want an open dialogue, something that we can do together as a team to make a difference.Running back Rashad Jennings wanted the team to do something seen as more than a gesture that many view as disrespect for the sacrifices of those who defend the country. He wanted the protest to be seen as opposition to oppression and injustice.Cornerback Janoris Jenkins said he felt a little powerless when he heard about the recent shootings.They have to get that fixed, to the top, start with the president or whatever, he said. Man, you just drop your head and move on and hope that one day there will be a change.Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said he would stand for the anthem. He said what others do is up to them.Dont be a follower, be a leader, Pierre-Paul said. Do what you want to do.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '