Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions CB Terrion Arnold wants ‘Primetime’ vibe in Motor City
Breaking down Detroit Lions’ first-round draft pick: Terrion Arnold
Detroit Lions select cornerback Terrion Arnold from Alabama in Round 1 of NFL draft, April 25, 2024. Carlos and Shawn share their reactions, analysis.
Being drafted was great, but it’s what came after that really had new Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold feeling his emotions.
“Just to hear them chanting my name last night, I’ve always dreamed of moments like that as a kid,” Arnold said at his introductory news conference Friday. “I’ve considered myself like a fan favorite. I’ve always wanted the rep that, when they show up to games on Mondays, Thursdays or Sundays, I just get the name that, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen today, but I feel like Terrion is going to do something incredible.’”
One of the last players in the green room Thursday, Arnold was greeted with thunderous cheers from an estimated crowd of 275,000 when the hometown Lions traded up five spots to take him with the 24th pick in the draft.
SHAWN WINDSOR: Terrion Arnold said it: ‘Y’all got a star.’ If he’s right, they’ve got a Super Bowl, too
He addressed the crowd during an on-stage interview with NFL Network immediately after the pick, grabbing the microphone from host Kaylee Hartung and declaring Detroit his new home and telling fans they were getting “a star.”
Arnold, widely regarded as one of the draft’s top two cornerbacks — one of the Lions’ biggest positions of need —said he’s always looked at Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders as the model of flash and excitement he wants to emulate on the field.
On Friday, Arnold said he wanted to “be the Deion Sanders, or have that era in this generation here in Detroit.”
Sanders, ironically, said when he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989 — after the Lions took Barry Sanders with the No. 3 overall pick — that he didn’t want to go to Detroit and would have asked for so much money the Lions would have had to put him “on layaway.”
“When you watch Deion Sanders you just think about excitement,” Arnold said. “Like you’re going to the games to see a show. Same thing with me. When the ball’s in the air, you know who’s coming down with it. And then we play in a tough division, so as far as going against the Bears, going against the Vikings, it’s going to be amazing. Those are the games you live for and it’s going to be a chance to just go out there and really show I am an alpha dog.”
DRAFT NIGHT: Terrion Arnold told Lions to trade up to draft him, shares his ‘Michael Jordan moment’
Arnold said he celebrated his selection for 3 seconds Thursday, the approach he and his grandfather always take with big accomplishments.
“He says it like this: He say, ‘T, let’s celebrate,’” Arnold said, deadpan. “And then we done.”
Arnold did make a special morning-after phone call Friday to his great-grandmother, whose initial reaction to the pick was, “That’s far.”
“So my great-grandmother, I would have had her in the green room with me but she had a crazy experience with a plane and she doesn’t fly,” Arnold said. “So for her to just say, ‘Well, now I might have to get on a plane,’ I feel like, I call it like a Detroit blessing. There’s just something about being in here, being in this city, it’s going to be fun, there’s going to be blessings everywhere.”
Arnold is expected to play a key role in the Lions secondary this fall and should compete for the starting job opposite Carlton Davis.
He tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions last season, in his first full year as starter, and said he plans to come in “humble and just open to learn.”
“I don’t want to come in here and just be that rookie who thinks he’s going to start,” he said. “I know I’m going to have to work for everything. I want to learn from the vets. Even me being in the locker room, I was in there with some of the veterans and they just said that they were grateful to have me here so you can just tell they welcome you with open arms.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
Detroit, MI
Lions News: How Detroit became contenders in just 3 years
It hasn’t been an easy road for the Detroit Lions. At this point, everyone knows the history. For decades, the franchise felt as though they couldn’t get things right. Even when there were glimmers of hope from Hall of Famers like Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, they couldn’t get enough together to make things click.
Then, after an especially embarrassing performance on Thanksgiving back in 2020, Lions principal owner Sheila Hamp said enough was enough. She cleaned house before the end of that season and immediately began laying the groundwork of her plan to make this team a consistent winner—something the city and its fans can be proud of.
That plan led them to hire both coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes in 2021, and the two got to work. Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network joined “The Insiders” to discuss how the Lions have built a Super Bowl contender in Detroit, and how it wasn’t an immediate success by any means.
Wolfe dove into how Campbell leads the team, including some specific examples from left tackle Taylor Decker that really highlights just how good of a communicator Campbell is as a coach. You can listen to the full segment from Wolfe below.
Lions have NFC’s best record and NFL’s best point differential.
Joined @nflnetwork The Insiders to highlight some of “how” behind their 3-year journey from same ‘ol Lions to elite Super Bowl contenders: pic.twitter.com/KulnlVDWW6
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) November 23, 2024
And now, onto the rest of today’s notes:
- Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader handed out 250 Thanksgiving meals at Detroit Edison Public School Academy this Friday and ESPN’s Eric Woodyard was there to speak with Reader during the event.
#Lions’ DJ Reader handed out 250 Thanksgiving meals at Detroit Edison Public School Academy today. Detroit will face the Colts on Sunday ahead of their annual Thanksgiving showdown vs. Chicago. @Djread98 is trying to help the Lions get their 1st holiday win since 2016. pic.twitter.com/4zgSR4avxN
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) November 22, 2024
- Greg Cosell of “NFL Matchup” on ESPN breaks down the dagger concept and how Detroit’s offense executes it so well.
How dominant have the @Lions been this season? They’ve won 8 straight..going for 9 against the @Colts on Sunday…haven’t won 9 in a row since 1934. Also..Detroit has 2 50+ point games this season. All 31 other teams have combined for….1 pic.twitter.com/Czm9q3nQ48
— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 23, 2024
- Best safety duo in the league and it’s really not much of a debate.
- I hope Indianapolis is ready for a different shade of blue to take over their town for the weekend.
Detroit, MI
Romulus residents welcome opening of Sheetz convenience store
(CBS DETROIT) — Neighbors near the only Michigan Sheetz store welcome the addition to their community and believe expansion is good for state.
“It makes my life a whole lot easier and I love it,” said Wendy Drew, who lives half a mile from the first Michigan Sheetz store. “I use a lot of gas and it’s always cheaper there than the two other gas stations we have.”
However, every community isn’t keen on the proposed expansion of up to 80 new locations of the Pennsylvania-based chain of convenience stores.
Earlier this week, the Middle East and Northern African Chamber of Commerce (MENA) held a panel for independent gas station owners who are concerned about the large chains ability to undercut their prices.
“Sometimes you need competition like that,” said Robert White, who lives near the Romulus location. “You have to play the game.”
“The other two gas stations near me are ridiculous,” said Drew. “And my truck takes a lot of gas. I like Sheetz.”
Detroit, MI
How to Watch Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons on Saturday, November 23
ORLANDO, Fla. – After a three-game west coast trip, the Orlando Magic have returned home. They’re set to square off with the Detroit Pistons Saturday night for a one-off home game before again hitting the road. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Kia Center.
The Magic went 2-1 out west, with wins over Phoenix and the LA Lakers sandwiching a loss to the Clippers Wednesday night. Franz Wagner’s game-winner sealed a signature 119-118 win over the Lakers last time out, bringing a Hollywood ending to his 37-point, 11-assist night.
Detroit is no stranger to a thriller either. Their last time out, the Charlotte Hornets took them to overtime and, with the help of Brandon Miller’s 38 and LaMelo Ball’s 35, defeated the Pistons 123-121.
Who: Orlando Magic (10-7) vs. Detroit Pistons (7-10)
What: NBA regular season game
When: Saturday, November 23, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, NBA League Pass
Radio: 104.5 The Beat, Magic Audio Network, SiriusXM
Point Spread: Orlando -10.5
Last Meeting: Orlando 113, Detroit 91 on March 3, 2024
Orlando Magic
Detroit Pistons
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic: Mosley tipped off his fourth NBA season as a head coach this season, all of which having come with the Magic. He’s 113-150 in the regular season all-time, and 3-4 in the playoffs. Before Mosley was named the head coach of the Magic, he was an assistant with Dallas, Cleveland, and Denver. He’s a Colorado alum, and played four years of professional basketball in Mexico, Australia, Finland and South Korea.
J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons: Bickerstaff is in his first season as the Pistons head coach after being let go by the Cavaliers at the end of the 2023-24 season. He got four full seasons with the Cavaliers and led Cleveland to two consecutive playoff appearances in his final two. He also had part of a fifth season after taking over as interim coach during the 2019-2020 season. Throughout his coaching career, he’s been a head coach in Houston and Memphis, as well as an assistant in Cleveland, Memphis, Houston, Minnesota and Charlotte. He;s won 262 games as a head coach in the NBA.
Follow ‘Orlando Magic on SI‘ on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also, bookmark our homepage so you never miss a story.
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