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Mutual connections: Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys

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Mutual connections: Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys


In a pivotal game for the NFC playoff picture, the Detroit Lions are set to face the Dallas Cowboys in the primetime of Saturday Night Football.

It’s hard to go into this game as a Lions fan without remembering the picked-up pass interference flag during the Wild Card game in 2014, or the four straight losses to Dallas that have happened since.

With that being said, there are a few connections on both the rosters and coaching staffs for these two teams that will make this game much more special.

A former Lion

Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Nashville, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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There is one former Detroit Lion who is now playing for the Cowboys: defensive back Jayron Kearse.

Kearse signed with the Lions in the spring of 2020, but his tenure in Detroit was not one worth remembering. Kearse was immediately suspended by the league and had to miss the first three games of the regular season. Upon his return, he immediately was put into action on defense.

Kearse appeared in 11 games for Detroit, starting seven of them at strong safety. In that span, he recorded 59 tackles and a forced fumble.

Kearse was benched near the end of the season for violating team rules, and waived one week later. He was subsequently picked up by the Ravens, and signed with Dallas the following season.

He has started at safety for the Cowboys since joining them and is currently having the best stretch of his eight-year career.

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The former Cowboys

Dec 22, 2019; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper (70) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive lineman Dan Skipper has been an unsung hero for the Lions over the past two seasons, but many don’t know that his career started with the Dallas Cowboys.

Skipper signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and competed for a reserve lineman role during their training camp. He was waived after the preseason and signed back to their practice squad.

A few weeks later, he was let go once again by the Cowboys and signed to Detroit’s practice squad. Over the years, he would bounce around the league but always managed to find his way back to the Lions. Skipper, in his seventh NFL season, is on his fourth stint with the Detroit Lions.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 12: Jake McQuaide #43 of the Detroit Lions gives the game ball to Riley Patterson #36 of the Detroit Lions after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Long snapper Jake McQuaide had a bit of a more prominent career with Dallas. He served as the Cowboys’ long snapper for most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons but missed some time due to injuries.

McQuaide joined the Lions in 2023 but was waived before the season began. He later re-joined the team after another Cowboy-turned-Lion long snapper got injured.

Dec 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions long snapper Scott Daly (47) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

That’s right, Detroit has two former Dallas long snappers on the roster. Scott Daly was the incumbent that McQuaide was brought in to compete with. After a season-ending injury, Daly was placed on injured reserve and McQuaide rejoined the team to replace him.

Daly signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and joined the Cowboys in 2018. He only stayed in Dallas for the preseason of the 2018 season and went to the AAF and XFL before finding a home in Detroit.

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Offensive lineman Matt Farniok, who is on Detroit’s practice squad, played for the Cowboys from 2021 to 2022. He started two games for Dallas last season.

Brotherly love

Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore (24) warms up before the game between Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.

There is one set of brothers who are poised to face off against each other for the first time in their football careers. While they share the same parents, their careers couldn’t be more different.

Stephon Gilmore of the Cowboys  was a first-round draft pick in 2012. He has a Super Bowl ring, was named Defensive Player of the Year, is a two-time All-Pro, and has been voted into five Pro Bowls.

His younger brother Steven, nine years his junior, signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023. The younger Gilmore brother had to fight tooth and nail in order to make Detroit’s roster to begin the season. As an undrafted rookie in his first preseason, he shined with six pass breakups, two interceptions, and a touchdown.

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Steven Gilmore has only appeared in three games as a Lion and will likely not be active for this game against his older brother.

Coaching connections

Oct 23, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell reacts during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit’s coaching staff has two former Dallas Cowboys players in head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Before Campbell took charge of the Lions, and even before he played for them, he was a starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Campbell played there for three seasons, primarily as a blocking compliment to Jason Witten.

Glenn played two full seasons for Dallas from 2005 to 2006, recording 54 tackles and five interceptions over that span.

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Cowboys’ wide receivers coach Robert Prince held the same position in Detroit for a long time. He joined the program in 2014 and worked with players such as  Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Anquan Bolden, and Danny Amendola. Most notably, Prince had to step in as head coach for one game in 2020 when interim coach Darrell Bevell and several other coaches came down with Covid-19.

 



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Detroit, MI

Video recap: Detroit Lions with bounce-back drubbing of Chicago Bears

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Video recap: Detroit Lions with bounce-back drubbing of Chicago Bears


CHICAGO, Ill. — The Detroit Lions smashed the Chicago Bears with a business-like mentality, with a hint of flare on a beautifully designed trick play, in their 34-17 win.

This victory gives the Lions 13 wins on the season, the most in franchise history. They also set a new single-season record for points scored, eclipsing the mark set by the 2011 team led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Not too shabby with two games left on the schedule.

They are undefeated on the road this season, not to mention 5-0 in the division.

Inside the locker room: Lions explain process behind ‘Stumble Bum’ trick play

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Dan Campbell leads Lions to team record 13th win, still ‘not time’ to celebrate

Detroit’s offense was lethal, with a breakout showing in running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ first game in the standalone lead role without David Montgomery. Jared Goff threw for another 336 yards and three scores. And the Lions quarterback got hit clicking with receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Williams hit a career-long 82-yard touchdown catch and finished with a career-high 143 receiving yards. St. Brown caught six of eight targets sent his way for 70 yards and one touchdown.

The Lions and their banged-up defense were hit for a lot of passing yards. But they managed to come up with two takeaways, leading to 10 points, and held the Bears to converting only two third-down tries on 10 attempts in the win.

See below for MLive’s video breakdowns from after this game:

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Detroit, MI

The Glancy Train set continues to attract thousands at Detroit Historical Museum this holiday season

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The Glancy Train set continues to attract thousands at Detroit Historical Museum this holiday season


MIDTOWN (WXYZ) — At Detroit Historical Museum, 74-year-old Peter Dudley really knows how to keep things on track.

WXYZ

“Yes, I’ve been a volunteer since 1997, which was the year we built the current exhibit,” says Dudley.

The Glancy Trains exhibit has been a crowd favorite for years. 13 trains moving along 12 electric-powered tracks, all thanks to a team of 3 volunteers.

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“The main thing the volunteers do is to keep the trains running,” said Dudley.

From keeping the tracks clean to repairing the trains, Dudley is always busy in his workshop over the weekends.

They go from zero to 35 mph in a split second, which is another reason we have to make sure they don’t derail, said Dudley.

The collection, which dates back to the mid-1900s, belonged to Alfred Glancy Jr., a real estate financier and former owner of the Empire State Building in New York City. Detroit Historical Society’s Rebecca Salminen-Witt says Glancy enjoyed hosting “train parties” for friends and family each holiday season at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores. After his death in 1973, the Glancy family donated the set.

Screenshot 2024-12-22 at 11.42.55 AM.png

WXYZ

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“Every kid who comes here wants to see these trains, Mr. Glancy was obviously a train guy himself. His children actually are still involved with the museum. They still love these trains, visit them and support them,” said Salminen-Witt.

Salminen-Witt says that as the exhibit grows, thanks to donations from various sources, it truly highlights Detroit’s rich history.

“Most people are really excited about the renaissance that they are seeing at Michigan Central Station. They were developing that train station right at the cusp between train travel, railroad travel and the beginning of the automotive, well as we know the cars took over,” said Salminen-Witt.

And it turns out a lot of Detroit’s history is baked into the exhibit.

“We’ve got that big tire, people are familiar with on your way to the airport, you pass on I94, on the other end of the exhibit, we have the big stove. So, Detroit was the stove manufacturing capital of the country. And, of course, trains hauled those stoves everywhere,” said Salminen-Witt.

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“I often come out from behind, from the workshop, and I talk to people about local Detroit railroad history,” said Dudley.

“Does this remind you of your childhood?” asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

“I received my first train as a christmas present from my grandparents. That particular December we traveled on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad leaving from Michigan Central Station,” said Dudley.

Now, the Glancy Train exhibit runs year-round at the Detroit Historical Museum. And Dudley says they are always in need of volunteers. To find out how you can become one, just head to this website.





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Detroit, MI

Detroit Mercy visits Wisconsin after Winter’s 20-point outing

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Detroit Mercy visits Wisconsin after Winter’s 20-point outing


Associated Press

Detroit Mercy Titans (5-8, 1-2 Horizon League) at Wisconsin Badgers (9-3, 0-2 Big Ten)

Madison, Wisconsin; Sunday, 2 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Badgers -29; over/under is 148.5

BOTTOM LINE: Wisconsin plays Detroit Mercy after Nolan Winter scored 20 points in Wisconsin’s 83-74 victory against the Butler Bulldogs.

The Badgers are 6-1 on their home court. Wisconsin scores 81.9 points and has outscored opponents by 9.5 points per game.

The Titans have gone 2-4 away from home. Detroit Mercy ranks fourth in the Horizon League with 10.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Stephen Okoro averaging 2.0.

Wisconsin’s average of 8.9 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 9.4 per game Detroit Mercy gives up. Detroit Mercy averages 6.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 7.5 per game Wisconsin gives up.

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TOP PERFORMERS: John Tonje is shooting 46.0% and averaging 20.0 points for the Badgers.

Orlando Lovejoy is shooting 41.5% and averaging 13.7 points for the Titans.

LAST 10 GAMES: Badgers: 7-3, averaging 81.9 points, 31.9 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 5.4 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.1 points per game.

Titans: 3-7, averaging 67.3 points, 33.0 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.8 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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