Well, to detractors, he's not a goat, but potentially a killer. Words like murder and coverup are used to describe Lewis' trip to watch the Super Bowl in Atlanta in 2000.

With the star linebacker's impending retirement and surprise return to the Super Bowl, the leader of the Baltimore Ravens is back in the headlines and columnists' scopes as he is lavished with praise for his on-field skills, his on-field leadership and his off-field charity work and positive lifestyle.

Not all are so impressed, bringing up the double murder charges (even if you don't stab someone, if you are there and part of an effort to conceal everyone's involvement, you are potentially vulnerable to top murder charges) as well as his marital status and offspring.

Lewis, in what was one of the biggest stories of that winter, saw his murder charges dismissed when he agreed to testify against two others. They were acquitted eventually, and he pleaded to a misdemeanor charge related to obstructing police. Many questions still are asked, especially about missing evidence (his clothes, which some insist were bloodied) and about the settled civil suit.

When he did win a Super Bowl, it wasn't Lewis going to Disney, his reputation still sullied. But now, with time passed and his staying with his team and being a positive leader (he doesn't whine about money, playing time, endorsements -- many of the things that sports fan are sick of athletes doing), it's his time to shine, maybe.

Maybe not, though, if enough complain publicly and enough bring up the past, such as USA Today.

I don't know what happened, but lying about an investigation, to me, indicates involvement. There are times to hope to stay hidden and there are times to step to the plate and be an adult and share what you know. A murder investigation is a time to be a man and responsible member of society. Likewise, many people believe 'snitching' is the greatest sin and that is deplorable behavior when lives are taken.


What I do know is that Lewis is a strange character, his emotionally charged behavior after games, almost like a traveling preacher being overtaken by the spirit. Very strange stuff. It makes good photos and good video, but that post-game interview was weird stuff.

Yes, it will be, if a football fan. Well, we'll know tomorrow night, but it's shaping up to be an epic Sunday if a true fan of the games.

And I mean games, English Premiere League and NFL. I get it, soccer is actually football, and the NFL is head concussing military-strategizing mayhem. You got to love both.

Early, we start with struggling Liverpool, perhaps the most storied team in English and thus football history. They go up against Manchester United, the most trophied team in recent decades. Many say Liverpool is the most storied team, but you can't ignore the widespread success of the Red Devils and its leader Sir Alex Ferguson. I'd say that ManU will roll with ease but team leader and superstar Wayne Rooney appears not able to play and ManU has had a tendency this campaign to give up early goals to lesser teams, making for interesting games...though frustrating the way Manchester United keeps coming back.

Next up, Arsenal, another powerhouse goes up against Manchester City, which topped ManU last season for its first title in decades. They trail United by something like seven points and need a win/loss combo to close the gap. If Arsenal wins and United wins, they may get Sir Alex another trophy months early.

THEN, of course, come the NFL playoffs from 1 to 7:30 or 8 p.m. Enough has been said about that except I hope Houston puts up a game and that Seattle does the same.

It could certainly be an epic Sunday, and with limited games, no flipping and no Red Zone back and forth.

Oh, the crazy goals.

So, the Detroit Lions have sold out their Monday Night Football game and all is well with Detroit football. Sorry, I can't see it that way.
Sure, Matthew Stafford is not yet out of the season, awaiting his first body slam. Then we will see what this team and its QB are made of.
I am not buying the high expectations of the season, just as I'm not buying that Monday Night Football is a return to glory for the Lions.
Primetime football is best on Sunday....on NBC, not ESPN.
Sorry ESPN and the tradition of MNF, but that boat has passed. Not just because MNF is now on Cable, but the night features plenty of other viewing opportunities. Also, the announcers and production are just not as good. SNF is the prime football broadcast. They have the players, they have the prime matchups, and they have the talent in the booths.
I'm reading the biography of ESPN's start and losing the SNF to NBC while gaining MNF was not a winning moving. According to the interviews, SNF came with the prime flex schedule and with the traditional MNF schedule, Super Bowl winners and high market teams. MNF is now the old Sunday Night Football.
So we in Detroit should not be acting like MNF is the old MNF.

Yes, we Lions have finally made it.... to the second-tier level of popularity?

Everyone is excited about the Detroit Lions playing a real Monday Night Football game, in October and against the Bears. I'm afraid, though, the people who should be most happy are from Chicago, as they can travel a short distance to see their team. I don't know if the Bears will crush the Lions, but based on recent years, early bets are the Bears. As for the night of the week, it's not that big a deal anymore.

But hey, it's still a night game, so a little bit of primetime celebration is in order.

I was at the last Monday Night Football hosted by the Lions, back in 2001 when a young Marty Mornhinweg was 0-2 and ready for his first win. New team president Matt Millen was ready to reinvent team leadership. I didn't watch the game; didn't need to, it turned out. However, I covered the fans excitement over being on the real MNF on ABC. It was the team's last season at the Pontiac Silverdome, so I ended up covering a few finals .... final Thanksgiving tailgate, final night game, final game.

The Lions ended up getting smoked by Mike Martz and Kurt Warner, 35-0, I believe. They would lose 10 more games before Marnhinweg got to celebrate a victory as a head football coach in a professional league. He didn't ride his Harley to practice to celebrate after that eventual win.

Of course, Mornhinweg's inaugural season ended 2-14. He improved with a 50 percent increase in wins in 2002, the first season in Ford Field in downtown Detroit, ending his career with a 5-27 record for a .154 winning percentage - lower even than Rod Marinelli's .200 career record with Detroit (which included the infamous 0-16 record).

Mornhinweg went on back to Philadelphia, where he leads the Eagles' offense. The Lions went downtown, where they have wowed the world with losing.

And MNF, well, it went to cable, where it is now the second-tier NFL showcase. Not to knock ESPN, but, they aren't like ABC or NBC. Instead of all the rowdy friends coming over on Monday, they come over on Sunday's now, where NBC has led a successful reinvention of how America watches football. It's not important on Monday; it's Sunday that is "football night in America."

But like every Lions fan believes, this is a new season. This could be the year. However, MNF isn't any kind of 'making it' or show of respect. That comes if we're still playing in January.

Well, the NFL has gone and jumped the shark.
It's admitting that its game is too violent and it is making a move to reduce injuries... and take away from the excitement and fun.
The kickoffs go back to the 35, as they always were when I was growing, and from where they were moved in 1994 when the NFL (smart) wanted to increase the excitement of the game. Moving to the 30 yard line meant more returns, which means more fumbles (good), touchdowns or long returns (good), penalties (bad) and injuries (very bad).
The owners, currently embroiled in a lockout with players as they push for more money for ownership, less for players, as well as a longer season, went and made this move with very little debate and very little public discussion.
But I'm not buying it. If it's to say to the players, see we love you and care about your brains, well, it's opening the door to saying, we need to eliminate all injuries.
HELLO, FLAG FOOTBALL.
SO LONG, HELMETS and tackles and sacks and running backs plowing straight ahead for the first down.
So this is the beginning of the end of football as we know it.
I'm glad I'm getting into the ENGLISH PREMIERE LEAGUE soccer, or emmm, football. It's exciting, even if it's the 1-nil variety. Those guys konk their heads, and they don't wear helmets. And games change on a dime and goalies sure can blow it. I LOVE IT.
But I still would like NFL, my favorite sport.
I've always hated the league, going back to how they treat their television customers, which really is most of their customer base as so much money comes from TV. BUT oh, my, don't let the suck-ass Lions be shown OR ANY OTHER GAME.....(I get so bitter, even now during the off-season, I'd just love to the oversized govt come and hold hearing and get its big toe into the league... JUST END IT.).
But really, I'd like the game I used to love to be on TV this fall, I suppose.
I support the 18-game season. Do away with the playoff bye for the two best teams. Then the league would rock on into another glorious decade before common sense dictated that it end.
However, I also support the players and their quest for guaranteed money and a bigger part of the financial pie.
They need better pensions for older retired players and they need to guarantee money for players.
Then let them beat their f-in brains out, please.