Tag: NFL owners’ meetings

Dan Campbell ‘absolutely in favor’ of the NFL’s new kickoff format

Lions coach Dan Campbell ‘absolutely in favor’ of NFL’s new kickoff format and has already worked with ST Coordinator Dave Fipp on ideas

The NFL approved a fairly radical change to the way kickoffs and kick returns will be handled this week. During the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando, the league effectively replaced the existing kickoff format and structure with the innovative kickoff and kick returns used by the XFL (now part of the UFL).

Effectively, the league is trying to bring back the excitement of the kick return while making it safer for players.

At his Tuesday morning press conference, Lions head coach Dan Campbell voiced strong support for the change.

“Absolutely in favor of it,” Campbell said when asked about the new kickoff. “Because it gives us a chance to play special teams.”

Campbell elaborated,

“What happened last year, felt like it took a significant amount of plays out of the game. And those were from special teams and, you know, you don’t really make it up anywhere else.”

The coach continued, focusing on the safety aspect of the new play.

“We put an emphasis on (kick return) and I believe in it. I think the argument is, ‘well, you’re bringing more plays back in so now injuries could (increase)’. Yeah, because there are more plays. But it feels like what we’ve done with it — it’s been so condensed that the impact is out of it. Doesn’t mean there won’t be an injury.”

In fact, Campbell expressed his excitement over the potential of exploiting the unknown. After noting that some are afraid of the unknown, he and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp see a big opportunity.

“Fipp and I have already been back there talking about — watching all these XFL clips and you’re looking at different body types and looking at returners and you’re look at scheme. I think the unknown is what the coaching is for. You mess with it, you tinker with it … I’m excited about it.”

The Lions haven’t had a kickoff return for a touchdown since Jamal Agnew took one to the house against the Eagles back in September of 2019. Detroit only attempted 19 returns on 83 kickoffs during the 2023 regular season. THe rule change should make that figure and percentage skyrocket in 2024.

 

Lions get an expanded den footprint with the NFL’s Global Markets Program

The Lions were granted special access to four countries, including Canada and Germany as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program

One of the ways the NFL is seeking growth around the world is through the Global Markets Program. The Detroit Lions are involved and now have four defined countries that are part of the expanded den footprint for the team.

On Monday, the Lions announced they have been awarded the marketing and partnership rights for Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The team gets greater access to local media and fans to help promote the Lions and the NFL overall.

From the press release via the Lions media staff,

First launched in 2022, the Global Markets Program awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities. NFL clubs can apply for rights to international markets by submitting proposals to the International Committee for review each year. Clubs are awarded rights for at least a five-year term through the program, and during this period can pursue activities in that international market that are consistent with what they can do in their home market.

The partnerships last five years and are not exclusive to just the Lions. Detroit is one of 10 teams with partnership rights to Germany. All four of the countries feature at least three NFL teams.

One of the clearer benefits for fans in the three European countries is that the Lions are overdue to play in an international game. With the Lions having territorial footprints in Germany and adjacent countries, it would seem to make a Lions date in Munich or Berlin more likely than a trip to London or Barcelona in the near future.

Rule change proposed by the Lions gets approved

Rule change proposed by the Lions gets approved that will allow a third coaching challenge if one earlier challenge is sucessful

One of the functions of the NFL owners’ meeting every year is the approval of new rules. This year, the league adopted one of the rules proposed by the Lions.

While it’s not the rule change that has everyone talking, it’s a good one for Detroit head coach Dan Campbell. The new rule gives coaches an additional challenge if one of their first two officiating challenges is successful. Previously, a team would have to have two successful challenges to earn a third.

It hasn’t come up for Campbell yet, as he’s unfortunately been one of the least successful coaches in challenging calls on the field. Per Pro Football Reference, Campbell failed on all four of his coaching challenges in 2023.

Watch: Detroit Lions Podcast breakdown of owners’ meetings, draft plans and more

The latest episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast covers what happened at the owners’ meetings and sets up the NFL draft plans

The latest episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down the most recent developments on the Detroit Lions, including what was said and done at the NFL owners’ meetings by GM Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and team president Rod Wood. From free agent moves to what the Lions can do in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft, it’s a fun discussion about where the team is at and where it can still get better over the next few months.

We get into some likely draft targets at the end of the show for each of the team’s first two picks. Remember–what the Lions will do might not necessarily be what the fans hope for at this point. There is also some discussion on the return of Nate Sudfeld and the team’s overarching strategy in finding quarterbacks behind starter Jared Goff. There are also quick hits on DJ Chark, Jamaal Williams and what Goff’s next contract might look like.

The audio-only version of the show is available here or via your favorite podcast provider,

Dan Campbell press conference highlights from the NFL owners’ meeting

Dan Campbell press conference highlights from the NFL owners’ meeting

Highlights from Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his meeting with the media during ownership meetings

Today was the third day of the NFL owner’s meetings and it’s been an eventful day in Phoenix. Much of that is due to plenty of coaches talking with the media. For the Detroit Lions, yesterday was the day that Brad Holmes had a handful of interviews but today was a day for Dan Campbell to sit at the roundtable and talk with the media.

During the interview, Campbell mentioned that this was his first year at the ownership meetings. He mentioned that he was “fired up to be here but there’s a lot to take in and a lot of the time, you’re just reading the room when you walk in.”

I’m sure Campbell makes an impactful impression no matter what room he walks in or with whoever he talks to. His passion for the game of football and coaching shines through every single time he talks. It was no different when talking to the media today.

He opened the media session by talking about how things have been going and how the energy has been in the facility since the season ended: “Was talking with Decker the other and called to see how he was doing. We got talking about our ability to win games last year and the belief in our building was at an all-time high. The foundation is here.”

In addition, here are some other key excerpts from today’s media session for Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell:

Dan Campbell confirms the Lions have interest in signing DL Calais Campbell

Detroit head coach Dan Campbell confirms the Lions have an interest in signing DL Calais Campbell

The “are they or aren’t they” debate got settled pretty quickly in terms of the Detroit Lions rumored interest in signing veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell. Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the team is efforting to sign the 36-year-old, 6-time Pro Bowler, who is a free agent after being released by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason.

Top takeaways from Brad Holmes’ press conference at the owners’ meetings

Here’s what Dan Campbell told reporters in Phoenix on Tuesday about his thoughts on Calais Campbell (no relation),

“Look, we turn the tape on, man, and I’ll tell you what, you talk about a lot of respect for a big man. Oh my gosh, I just keep watching it and I’m like, ‘There’s no way he can feel good, that body can not feel good.’ But it looks like it feels good because he’s just a force to be reckoned with. You put him in a closed end, you’re not running over there. He can rush as a 3-technique still, on third down. Man, he’s got length, he’s got size, he’s still quick. We’ll see. We’re not the only one who is on him.”

As the head man noted, the Lions do have competition for the services of Calais Campbell. He’s been linked to the Jets, Giants and other teams recently. Campbell logged 5.5 sacks in 14 games in Baltimore in 2022, his third season with the Ravens. He has 99 career sacks in 15 NFL seasons across three teams.

Update: Calais Campbell signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

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Top takeaways from Brad Holmes’ press conference at the owners’ meetings

Here are some of the top takeaways from what Holmes had to say at the NFL owners’ meetings on Monday

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes met with the local media on Monday during the NFL owners’ meetings in Arizona. In a roughly 30-minute session, Holmes covered a lot of bases on the team’s offseason, from the free agent acquisitions and moves to the upcoming NFL draft.

Here are some of the top takeaways from what Holmes had to say.

Dan Campbell makes it clear: ‘Goff’s our guy, man’

Lions head coach Dan Campbell makes it very clear: “Goff’s our guy, man”

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell left little doubt about how both he and the team feel about quarterback Jared Goff.

At the NFL owners’ meetings in Arizona, Campbell doubled down on the franchise’s commitment to Goff.

“Listen, feel really good about it,” Campbell said at the meetings. “Goff? Love Goff. Goff’s our guy, man. I think he’s proven over the last two years that, man, he’s made for us. He’s had to endure a lot, just like all of us have. I thought he played his best football last year, and I think he’s gonna come out and play some of the best this year. Feel good about it.”

Goff earned a Pro Bowl berth after leading the Lions to an 8-2 finish down the stretch in 2022 after an uneven first season in Detroit.

Campbell continued, via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com,

“When you’ve got a quarterback, you hold onto those guys, man. If you really believe they can play, then those are your guys.”

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NFL will vote on allowing Thursday Night Football games to be flexed

NFL owners will vote on allowing Thursday Night Football games to be flexed as early as the 2023 season

Tired of some terrible late-season primetime matchups on Thursday Night Football? The NFL just might be, too.

At the upcoming NFL owners’ meetings, the league will vote on a proposal to allow Thursday night games to be flexed for better matchups. The league already does this for primetime games on Sunday and Monday night (new this season), but Thursday’s games have provided more logistical challenges for flexing out of unappealing games scheduled over six months in advance.

From the Sports Business Journal,

Specifically, the measure awaiting owners would permit the league to:

  • Shift Sunday afternoon games to Thursday nights in weeks 14-17, with 15 days’ notice.

  • Schedule teams for Thursday games after a previous Sunday game twice in the same season, up from the current limit of once.

It will not impact the Lions’ traditional home date on Thanksgiving. Voting on the proposal comes next week.

Lions GM Brad Holmes: ‘We’ve had dialogue with a couple of teams’ about trading back from No. 2 overall

Holmes is actively working the trade talks a month before the 2022 NFL draft

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For a relatively new general manager, Lions GM Brad Holmes has quickly learned how to play the NFL draft smoke game. Holmes, now in his second draft season, revealed that he has discussed trade possibilities involving the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

“We’ve had dialogue with a couple of teams,” Holmes told reporters on Tuesday in Florida. “I wouldn’t say it’s been a lot, but it has been a couple teams we’ve had some dialogue with.”

It’s smart of Holmes to put that out there — whether it’s factual or not. Stoking any possible trade fires is good business for the Lions, who might not be in love with any of the options at No. 2 any more than they are at, say, No. 5 or No. 10. Extracting maximum value for the pick is Holmes’ job, and he understands that it’s a marketable commodity.

He’s even let it be known the Lions are willing to deal without even knowing who the Jaguars select with the No. 1 pick.

“Definitely we could pull that trade off, if the other team is willing, before the draft,” Holmes added.

It might not amount to anything. Most preliminary draft deal discussions never advance beyond the kindling stages. However, trying to ignite interest in the pick is part of what Holmes needs to do. With no clear-cut choice at No. 2, there’s almost certainly some validity to Detroit’s willingness to part with the premium spot for more irons in the draft fire a little later on.

Give Holmes credit: he’s been consistent in his approach. Here’s what he said about the idea of trading out of No. 2 at the Senior Bowl in Mobile in February,

“I’m always open for whatever. We’re still in the early stages of it, we’ve got a good feel of the class, we’re at a much better place at this stage of the process than last year. But, still, we’ve got a lot more work to do. But, I’m never scared to move around, so we’re definitely open for business, always.”

Whether another team finds Holmes’ smoke intoxicating enough is largely out of the Lions’ control, but at least they’re making every effort to keep the fire burning bright.

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