Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

[jason voorhees]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

Toricda, thanks for bringing all of those days from 1985-1990 back, when my entire life after school would be consumed by imaginary teams who would be undefeated for years, imaginary players who were the greatest Hall of Famers of all-time, and the small fire of pride that would burn low but hot after each victory.

What a waste of life I am.

[blameless]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

Not only was your 2008 season dramatically different from the Lions' feeble efforts this year, your star receiver is also having a much worse time of it in real life:
http://www.freep.com/article/20081209/SPORTS01/812090377/1048/sports

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

So, there we are, folks, all done!

Week 8 would have been quite a year with STRAHAN and DROUGHNS set to retire, and a WR corps of ROGERS, MOSS, PORTER and DILLARD to watch!

Maybe next time!

Thanks for all your interest!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

PRE-SEASON:

Moreno +1 to 76
Wells +1 to 73
Mayberry +1 to 62
Evans +2 to 79

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

CUT:

Lawyer Warren

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

FREE AGENTS:

Andre Carter (33/7)
Daunte Culpepper (35/7)
Jerry Porter (32/7)
Randy Moss (6.5/1)
Mike McKenzie (24/7)
Joey King (2/3)

CARTER is 92 overall and 31, he will replace STRAHAN after next season.

CULPEPPER is ranked 84 and aged 33, fiction following reality in his signing for Detroit.

PORTER is 87 overall and is 32, while MOSS is 33 and ranked 87, what a pair of veteran WRs to add to our high-octane offense.

McKENZIE is ranked 84 and is 34, he will be a useful reserve CB.

KING is ranked only 59 but he is only 24 and is speed 96.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

DRAFT:

1st Maurice Evans (8/5)

We take a big DT ranked 77 and with strength 89 in the first. There wasn't much else available in terms of talent and he fills a need for our 3rd DT/DE.

Also we have renamed our HB from last year CHRIS WELLS.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

NOT RE-SIGNED:

Chris Chambers
Brandon Winfield
Eric Stewart
Earl Holmes
Percy Harvin
Pat White

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

RE-SIGNED:

Charles Rogers (74/7)

Big money deal for our superstar.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

RETIRED:

Robert Porcher
Plaxico Burress
Shawn Springs
Terry Fair

PORCHER had a superb career, concluding with 901 tackles, 138 sacks and 2 PRO BOWLS.

Insert a joke of your choice about BURRESS.

FAIR had a nice career too, particularly given we picked him up off the scrapheap at the beginning of this, he concludes it with 442 tackles and 21 INTs, and regular readers will recall some crucial INTs in playoff games.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

On we go with the final OFF-SEASON!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

So now amid the glory and accolades of our undefeated season, it seems as good a time as any to stop this little exercise in historical revisionism. We have mapped out an alternative history in which DETROIT, rather than finishing a possible 0-16, could instead have gone 19-0.

All it took was some great draft choices and some inspired FA signings

We will do the final off-season and then call it a day.

Thanks everyone for their interest, it's been fun!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

SB: 14-2 BILLS vs 16-0 LIONS

LIONS win 31-28

7-0 Booker 80 yard TD reception
14-0 Rogers 10 yard TD reception
21-10 Rogers 73 yard TD reception
24-0 Swank 31 yard FG
24-7 Aristegui 19 yard TD reception
31-7 Moreno 3 yard TD run
31-14 Henry 11 yard TD run
31-21 Taylor 4 yard TD reception
31-28 Aristegui 9 yard TD reception

DETROIT made history as the first ever 19-0 team in a victory crowned by STAFFORD winning MVP for his 14 of 21 for 335 yards and 3 TDs performance.

The final scoreline makes this one look close, but the truth is DETROIT were blowing out BUFFALO before getting a little lazy and taking their foot off the gas. BUFFALO responded with three quick scores and would actually have had the opportunity to tie it up had JOSH NORMAN not recovered a final onside kick.

MARTY BOOKER was the hero at WR with 4 catches for 121 yards and a TD although CHARLES ROGERS added 3 for 123 yards and 2 TDs to complete a superb post-season.

BAILEY and STRAHAN enjoyed sacks while SURTAIN added an INT.

BLEDSOE finished 23 of 39 for 297 yards, 3 TDs and an INT, although nearly all his yards came against the prevent defense.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

The LIONS are now ONE GAME away from PERFECTION as they take on the 14-2 BUFFALO BILLS in the SUPER BOWL!

DREW BLEDSOE will be playing the final game of his career and will be desperate for victory!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

12-4 SAINTS at 16-0 LIONS

LIONS win 66-24

0-3 Howard 19 yard FG
7-3 Rogers 23 yard FG
10-3 Swank 25 yard FG
17-3 Norman 12 yard TD reception
24-3 McKillop 37 yard INT return
24-10 McAllister 98 yard KO return
31-10 Rogers 67 yard TD reception
38-10 Dillard 68 yard TD reception
38-17 Stallworth 91 yard TD reception
38-24 Hubbard 13 yard TD reception
45-24 Moreno 90 yard KO return
52-24 Bennett 2 yard TD run
59-24 Bennett 77 yard TD run
66-24 Bennett 10 yard TD run

Giddy with relief after the miraculous escape last week, DETROIT steamrollered NEW ORLEANS en route to a dominating victory.

STAFFORD was gunning early and often and ended up 20 of 29 for 391 yards, 4 TDs and an INT.

ROGERS had 4 catches for 114 yards and 2 TDs and DILLARD added 5 grabs for 135 yards and a score.

STAFFORD had 342 yards passing and all 4 TDs by halftime. He could have probably finished with 600 if he had wanted to. In the second half the LIONS just handed it off relentlessly to BENNETT who pounded it out to the tune of 18 carries for 147 yards and 3 TDs.

The LIONS ended up putting up 66 points with ease.

McKILLOP, BAILEY and DAVIS added interceptions in a fabulous all-round performance. DRE' BLY knocked AARON BROOKS out of the game with a vicious hit to complete the agony for the SAINTS.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

So incredibly, the odyssey continues, and the 17-0 LIONS now entertain the 12-4 SAINTS in the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

8-8 CARDS at 16-0 LIONS

LIONS win 39-36

0-7 Johnson 80 yard TD reception
3-7 Swank 23 yard FG
10-7 Rogers 15 yard TD reception
10-14 Johnson 27 yard TD reception
10-21 Gibson 63 yard INT return
10-23 Safety
10-30 Lankford 5 yard TD run
17-30 Rogers 38 yard TD reception
24-30 Surtain 16 yard INT return
24-36 Johnson 21 yard TD reception
(2 point conversion failed)
31-36 Rogers 6 yard TD reception
39-36 Bennett 3 yard TD run
(2 point conversion run)

Our undefeated hopes hung by the thinnest of threads in the second half trailing 30-10 to the upstart CARDS but somehow MATTHEW STAFFORD and CHARLES ROGERS willed the LIONS to victory.

It wasn't though until MICHAEL BENNETT burst round left end for the go ahead TD with seconds remaining that we had the lead. The previous play STAFFORD had hit MARTY BOOKER on 4th and LONG with seconds remaining with the deep ball all the way to the 3 in a play that will live forever in the hearts of LIONS fans.

VONTAE DAVIS iced it with an INT in the closing seconds.

BRYANT JOHNSON had set the tone for a dominating day (he finished with 6 catches for 216 yards and 3 TDs, regularly toasting CHARLES WOODSON) with an 80 yard score early on but the LIONS hung in there and took the lead.

It all began to get a bit nasty though when, trailing by only 4 and with seconds remaining in the first half, STAFFORD's pass was returned for a score to give ARIZONA a 21-10 lead.

The second half then started with a safety and another ARIZONA TD and it looked all over at 30-10.

But a swift ROGERS TD - he would go on to finish with 9 catches for 134 yards and 3 TDs then a SURTAIN INT TD brought DETROIT right back into it.

It wasn't until the very final seconds though that this one was decided.

STAFFORD finished 21 of 36 for 325 yards, 4 TDs and 3 INTs in a somewhat erratic but ultimately effective day.

BENNETT added 17 carries for 93 yards.

CARDS QB ED ALDERMAN completed 17 of 30 for 313 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

So here we go with the playoffs!

To see if we can go from 16-0 to 19-0!

First up are the 8-8 ARIZONA CARDINALS!

[Incandenza]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

Has Charles Roger won an MVP yet? His numbers are sick.

And yeah, I get the naming thing now. I didn't catch on to seeing Matthew Stafford. A UGA fan, I take it?

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

Join me next time when we shall attempt to put the finishing touches to the UNDEFEATED SEASON! 16-0 and 19-0 AWAITS!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

YEAR 7 PLAYOFF STARTERS:

QB MATTHEW STAFFORD (95) - A young Elway, bazooka arm and quick feet, still learning
HB MICHAEL BENNETT (89) - Superlative speed and strength, perfect fit for the offense
FB REUBEN DROUGHNS (76) - Picked off the scrapheap, has great speed, improving
WR1 MARTY BOOKER (89) - Strong and with great hands
WR2 CHARLES ROGERS (99) - The sky is the limit for this fabulously gifted youngster
WR3 JARRETT DILLARD (90) - Hulking and super-fast, hands a bit of a question mark
TE TEYO JOHNSON (74) - Great speed, still a bit raw
LT JEFF BACKUS (94) - Not dominating, but technically accomplished
LG KRAIG URBIK (81) - Behemoth is beginning to really improve
C ALEX MACK (89) - Mighty youngster has HOF potential
RG DALLAS REYNOLDS (84) - Super-strong road-grader is also technically adept
RT STOCKAR McDOUGLE (90) - Very strong, lot of potential, emerging

LE MICHAEL STRAHAN (91) - Incredible pass-rushing talent, plays the run well too
RE ROBERT PORCHER (89) - Great strength and an accomplished pass-rusher
DT SHAUN ROGERS (94) - Good agility and leaping skills
DT AARON BAKER (91) - Amazing agility and great strength
LOLB BOSS BAILEY (92) - Accomplished veteran is very fast with superlative acceleration
MLB NAPOLEON HARRIS (97) - Very fast and very strong, great leader
ROLB SCOTT McKILLOP (90) - Young, fast, strong and mean, what's not to like?
CB1 CHARLES WOODSON (94) - At last, a true shutdown corner
CB2 PATRICK SURTAIN (95) - And another true shutdown guy to pair with him
CB3 DRE' BLY (85) - Accomplished cover guy
FS VONTAE DAVIS (83) - Great agility and acceleration, still pretty green
SS MIKE CARTER (96) - Fabulous speed, hits like a truck

K SAM SWANK (93) - Big legged youngster walks the walk
P KEVIN HUBER (95) - Brilliant youth with enormous kicking power

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

Year 7 PRO BOWLERS:

STAFFORD, BENNETT, MORENO (as a KR), DROUGHNS, ROGERS, DILLARD, JOHNSON, REYNOLDS, McDOUGLE, HARRIS, SURTAIN, WOODSON, CARTER

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

YEAR 7 TOP PERFORMERS:

STAFFORD threw for 4953 yards, 44 TDs and 28 INTs.

BENNETT ran got 1353 yards and an amazing 20 TDs.

DROUGHNS added 367 yards and 2 TDs.

ROGERS caught 116 balls for 1963 yards and 24 TDs.

DILLARD added 78 catches for 1270 yards and 11 TDs.

TEYO caught 75 balls for 555 yards and 2 TDs.

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

So Year 7 has been simmed... and the LIONS have gone an incredible 16-0!

The UNDEFEATED SEASON!

[Torcida]

Rebirth of the SILVER STRETCH in Motown

A few interesting things about the above.

There are still plenty of original Lions on the roster, so it shows we did have an original core.

Secondly, the draft at the end of our first year netted an incredible goldmine of talent - our starting QB, WR, LG, ROLB and K. Not too shabby.

Thirdly, we took both our starting Gs very late in the draft and developed them.

And finally, we took both our specialists very high, but they both really panned out and are now among the best in the league at their position. It shows it can be worth investing in talent there.