Lions president tests at twice legal limit for alcohol

Tom Lewand 's scheduled to be arraigned on July 12.

Lewand, 40, who has been in counseling for alcohol abuse for several months, told a sheriff's deputy he had not had a drink for a year and a half. He issued a statement Saturday night saying he was "deeply sorry" for his actions and adding, "As a person in active recovery, I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

Lewand, in his 16th year with the Detroit Lions, was attending a charity golf event in Houghton Lake, including a kickoff dinner party earlier Friday evening.

According to the police report, Lewand told a sheriff's deputy he was serving as the "designated driver" and went to the Limberlost Fine Food and Spirits in Denton Township "to pick a friend up."

The report also said Lewand then failed sobriety tests, including a heel-to-toe walk, (Calvin Johnson)balancing on one leg, and touching his finger to his nose.

Lewand had no prior drunk-driving arrests, according to the police report. According to Secretary of State records, Lewand has a valid license without restrictions. He was cited in February 2007 for speeding in Oak Park.

Lewand is subject to discipline -- including a possible fine or suspension -- under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking Sunday at the league's annual rookie symposium in Carlsbad, Calif., said he plans to talk with Lewand.

"Our policies apply to everyone: Yours truly, club presidents, players, coaches, everybody involved with the NFL," Goodell said on the NFL Network. "And I think Tom recognizes that and, of course, I will speak to him at some point in the near future. And we'll be gathering the facts. But everybody is accountable and everybody is responsible."

Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. on Sunday issued a statement in support of Lewand.

 

Seattle Seahawks 2010 NFL Predictions, NFL Picks & 2011 Superbowl Odds

Cheap Seattle Seahawks jerseys 2010 NFL Predictions, NFL Picks & 2011 Superbowl Odds: The wholesale Seattle Seahawks jerseys cleaned house after a poor 5-11 showing in 2009. The salvation project is now former USC head coach Pete Carroll's who is looking for redemption of sorts after two failed stints as an NFL head coach. The roster is thin on both sides of the ball so a return to respectability is really all that Carroll can hope for in his first season back on an NFL sideline. Carroll has the benefit of doing his rebuilding in a butter soft division and our NFC West picks staff expects the Seahawks to finish out of the cellar.
 
NFL Predictions Offense: The Seahwaks will run a new West-Coast style offense this year. QB Matt Hasselbeck is still a good player but part of his success was that he knew the Seahawks system inside and out and being in his third system in as many years will hurt. The Seahawks got some upgrades on the O-line and at the running back position but the overall level of talent is modest.  The 2010 Seattle Seahawks NFC West Odds to win the division is at +275 NFL Odds.

NFL Predictions Defense: The Seahawks will run a hybrid 4-3 scheme with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley hoping for better results after ranking 25th in points allowed in his first year. The defense lacks a legit pass-rushing threat but the linebacking crew has some difference makers in Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu. The secondary has some sore spots but getting former Pro-Bowl CB Marcus Trufant back from injury and drafting S Earl Thomas should improve production.

Coaching/Special Teams: Pete Carroll has never proven that he can be a successful coach in the NFL but he has some good minds around him and he should have learned from his mistakes. Special Teams are a team strength with a pair of good legs and a game-breaking returner in Leon Washington. The Seattle Seahawks WIN TOTAL is at 7.5 with the UNDER at -110 on the NFL Betting Moneyline.

NFL Picks:supply  Seattle Seahawks jerseys 2010 NFL Power Rankings 1-10 Scale

Coaching: 6 (x200%)
QB: 7 (x400%)
RB: 7
WR: 6
OL: 5
DL: 5 (x200%)
LB: 7 (x200%)
DB: 5 (x200%)
ST: 7 (x200%)

McCloughan's picks: Where are they now?

Scot McCloughan is now a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He has the nebulous title of senior personnel executive. What will this mean when the 49ers and Seahawks meet this season? Not much, really. Division rivals are like husbands and wives - they know each other's tendencies like they know their own. Besides, players and coaches switch teams all the time. Former 49er Jeff Ulbrich went from the 49ers to the Seahawks in offseason; offensive line coach Mike Solari went in the opposite direction.

I'm hearing that McCloughan eventually will be made the director of college scouting, although that won't be his role this season. McCloughan, Seahawks GM John Schneider and 49ers personnel chief Trent Ballke all like the same type of players. This could make the draft a little more interesting, but again, a lot of GMs and personnel chiefs around the league have worked together in the past. Something else to watch for: ex-49ers landing in Seattle. As it stands now, several of McCloughan's former picks, including Manny Lawson, David Baas and, perhaps, Alex Smith, will be on the free-agent market next year. Will they wind up wearing Navy blue and cat-vomit green? We shall see ...

Speaking of the draft, what kind of evaluator was McCloughan when he was here? Of his 41 picks, 26 are still with the team and three of those - Frank Gore, Patrick Willis and Vernon Davis - have been voted to Pro Bowls. A further breakdown:

The positives: Willis and Davis are perhaps the best players at their positions, which is something any GM would be proud to claim. Beyond that, you can argue that both have legitimate hall-of-fame chances if their careers are long and they maintain their current level of play. Willis led the league in tackles two out of his first three seasons. Davis, meanwhile, just started to reach his potential last season and his "ceiling," to borrow a phrase from NFL talent evaluators, is higher at this point than Willis'. Davis' production should only improve as Smith and the 49ers offense mature this season. Add Gore, Joe Staley, Dashon Goldson and Michael Crabtree to that list, and McCloughan has a nice topper to his resume.

The negatives: The 49ers desperately needed to hit a home run with the 2005 draft. It ended up, at best, ok. And that has hurt the 49ers ever since. As the worst team in 2004, they had four picks in the first three rounds that should have been parlayed into the foundation of the rebuilding squad. Instead, only one true gem emerged, Gore. Smith is still trying to prove himself, there's little chance that 33rd overall pick David Baas will be with the team next season and there are still questions about whether Adam Snyder is a tackle or a guard. Part of that was bad luck. First, the 2005 draft was terrible in terms of talent. Meanwhile, the 49ers had circled Logan Mankins as someone who could anchor their offensive line for years to come then watched as the Super Bowl Champion Patriots snatched Mankins one pick ahead of them. The bottom line is that the foundation never was built. So McCloughan and the 49ers tried again in 2008, picking two more interior linemen, Chilo Rachal and Cody Wallace, in the first four rounds. The team went back to o-line again this year with first rounders Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. When a team focuses on one area three times in six drafts, it's a bad sign.

2005
1st QB Alex Smith. Five years later, the team is still unsure whether he's a keeper.
2nd G David Baas. Injured at inopportune times, Baas likely will play elsewhere next season.
3rd RB Frank Gore. One of McCloughan's three best picks. Gore is looking for his fifth straight 1,000-yard rushing season this year.
3rd OT/G Adam Snyder. He can play all five positions on the line. But is a starter at one of them?
5th DT Ronald Fields. Now the starting nose tackle with the Denver Broncos.
6th CB Derrick Johnson. Bounced around NFL and CFL and is now a free agent.
7th CB Daven Holly. Another former CB looking for a job.
7th WR Marcus Maxwell. Has bounced around NFL and UFL. Now on the Seahawks roster.
7th OL Patrick Estes. Converted TE hasn't played since 2007.
7th TE Billy Bajema. Blocking tight end is now with the Rams.

2006
1st TE Vernon Davis. Arguably the best player at his position; tied an NFL record last year for TDs by a TE.
1st LB Manny Lawson. Has not been the pass rusher the team had hoped but is a well-rounded OLB. Hard to see him returning next season.
3rd WR Brandon Williams. Wasn't dedicated to the game and was cut after just two seasons.
4th RB Michael Robinson. Captain of the 49ers' special teams and a favorite inside the locker room.
5th LB Parys Haralson. The former college defensive end is a solid if unspectacular starter.
6th TE Delanie Walker. A talented receiver who has improved on his blocking each season.
6th CB Marcus Hudson. A liability at cornerback but a talented special teams player. Now in Carolina.
6th DE Melvin Oliver. He hasn't played since 2007
7th S Vickiel Vaughn. Most recently played for the Arkansas Diamonds of the Indoor Football League.

2007
1st LB Patrick Willis. He's the best inside linebacker in the league and the face of the franchise.
1st OT Joe Staley. Very solid starter. Still wish the 49ers had held onto their second-round pick and drafted Tony Ugoh?
3rd WR Jason Hill. Talented receiver who's been stuck at the bottom of the depth chart.
3rd DE Ray McDonald. Has a steady job as a third-down pass rusher
4th LB Jay Moore. Couldn't transition from college DE. Now playing DE with the Titans.
4th S Dashon Goldson. Started 16 games for the first time and is looking for a big contract.
4th DT Joe Cohen. Injured early in his career, Cohen is now on the Lions roster.
5th CB Tarell Brown. A nickel cornerback who's competing with Karl Paymah for the No. 3 job.
6th RB Thomas Clayton. Fan favorite was picked up by the Patriots earlier this year.

2008
1st DE Kentwan Balmer. A disappointment so far, Balmer is coming back from a shoulder injury this year.
2nd G Chilo Rachal. Inconsistent starter at right guard, Rachal should blossom under Mike Solari's tutelage.
3rd S Reggie Smith. Drafted as a CB and switched to safety. He's the No. 3 safety as of now.
4th C Cody Wallace. Has struggled early in his career and is in real danger of losing his roster spot.
6th WR Josh Morgan. The jewel of the 2008 draft, Morgan is a starter opposite Michael Crabtree.
7th LB Larry Grant. Cut after his rookie training camp, Grant is now with the Rams.

2009
1st WR Michael Crabtree. Good shot at becoming SF's first 1,000-yard receiver since T.O.
3rd RB Glen Coffee. Bulked up to 220 pounds and will be Gore's primary backup.
5th LB Scott McKillop. Battling for a back-up spot at ILB. Valuable special teamer last season.
5th QB Nate Davis. Firmly ensconced as the No. 3 QB; Needs to show more progress.
6th TE Bear Pascoe. Couldn't nail down blocking technique and was cut last year. Now with the NY Giants.
7th DT Ricky Jean-Francois. This pick could be a true steal if RJF turns out to be the NT of the future.
7th S Curtis Taylor. Safety position is full, but Taylor has a nice shot at a special teams position.

Some New England Revolution Questions That Needed Asking

So there's this little competition called the World Cup going on. And yet, I'm writing about the New England Revolution—a team that's not actively playing right now.

How could this be?

Well, there are too many pundits talking about the World Cup already, some of which even make sense (some). And something came up about the Revolution that interested me.

The Revolution offered an online question/answer time with Revolution Chief Operating Officer Brian Bilello and VP of Player Personnel Michael Burns.

Being a cynic, I might call this damage control for an increasingly disinterested or frustrated fan base. But given the floodgates that will likely open on them, it is indeed a generous offer.

The offer is appreciated, and I know many fans hope the answers are more than a simple  "you don't get it," "we tried that before," and the ones that nearly say, "hey, this is really hard, you know."  

Yes, we know.

But first, here's what I'd really like to know, and this round—at least—I humbly send to Mr. Bilello. I'll skip the Soccer Specific Stadium questions, since that just hurts my head.

Question: Do the New England Revolution have a "mission statement" from an overall perspective (not specifically on the field)?

Why I ask: Sometimes, the fans could use a sense of what you are trying to accomplish. Here are few couple examples of what those mission statements might be.

- Create the USA's most respected professional soccer club in terms of results, fan energy and involvement, youth development, and management operations.

- Create a respectable MLS club that allows us to maximize our assets, like Gillette Stadium and business-operations staff in the NFL offseason.

Without stating that a driving mission like the first one exists, many fans will continue to believe it is the latter.

Question: Do you have more roles for the Kraft organization than C.O.O. of the Revolution? If so, could you say what they are?

Why I ask: There's been much speculation, even within the comments section of this here blog, about how many jobs you currently hold for the Kraft organization. The presumption here, it goes without saying, is that perhaps the Revolution isn't your main focus. This is quite possibly an unfair accusation, so please shoot it down if possible.

I tried to get the information from LinkedIn, but that had me confused, as it suggested you were: "COO New England Revolution, Director of Strategic Initatives [SIC], and Retail Operations New England Patriots" and also had "COO/Director of Strategic and Business Processes at NE Revolution/NE Patriots" as current.

Question: Relative to your role for the New England Patriots  Revolution, what does your direct management measure to determine your success? Additionally (or alternatively), do most of the front office staff work for you and how are you judging their success?

Why I ask: Frankly, given the plummeting energy level of the fan-base and attendance, the poor on-field record, the scary health record of the team, and an inconsistent web/digital strategy, I would imagine some pretty tough staff meetings. Or let me rephrase, I would HOPE there are some pretty tough staff meetings.

Question: How many of the Revolution "business-side" employees are actually dedicated to the Revolution, and not shared with other parts of the Kraft business? I'd also be curious as to how many speak Spanish or Portuguese.

Why I ask: Frankly, it doesn't seem like there are many soccer-loving, full-time, dedicated people driving this bus, all the way down to the interns working at events that claim they work for the Patriots. Half-hearted work brings results in line with the input.

Question: From a marketing perspective, what would you say has been your biggest success this year? What creative efforts have you attempted that maybe fans are not aware of? Anything at local colleges? Anything during the "special" matches?

Why I ask: I'll offer that Jeff Lemieux 's work and the Revolution Blog are probably the two items that most stand out as valued. Beyond that, local awareness seems to be at record low.

We are in the middle of a recession and I still don't think a casual fan knows there's free parking ("Best Value in New England Sports" might help). Family packs are a decent start, but here's a crazy idea. Kids get in free. Maybe after the second kid, the rest in one family gets in free?  

Let's face it, there are an atrocious amount of empty seats at the stadium, and you still can recoup money (or vendors can) via concessions. It would certainly help expose the game to new fans ("Sure little Tommy, you can bring a friend…").

At the recent Benfica and Cruzeiro matches, there were (I believe) about 14,000 and 12,000 fans in attendance, respectively—most of whom did not appear to be Revolution regulars. 

Despite what should be seen as disappointing attendance to both games, the atmosphere in cavernous Gillette Stadium was much more electric than during a regular MLS match.  

Getting more of those fans back in the stadium—even at some sort of cut-rate price—would go a long way in solving the library like atmosphere of most matches. Maybe a Brazilian night?  Something.

—–

Well, on the note of dragging fans into Gillette by any means necessary, I'll stop.

Sitting here on Father's Day, I'd like to also address some thoughts to Mr. Burns, especially regarding what kind of soccer those fans will get to see and the personnel choices the team makes.

But much like watching the Revs this year, it's a tough schedule. And success is certainly not guaranteed.