DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007. Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli, Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin, and the Spartan Nation's own Plaxico Burress!

TODAY'S NEWS The Lions practiced on the indoor field in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) today at the team headquarters and training facility in Allen Park.

TODAY'S NEWS

• The Lions practiced on the indoor field in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) today at the team headquarters and training facility in Allen Park.
• The team announced today that they claimed TE John Owens off waivers and re-signed TE Rudy Sylvan to the team's practice squad. Owens, who was originally drafted by the Lions in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2002 draft, spent the beginning of this season with New Orleans. After spending his first two seasons with Detroit, he split the 2004 season with both the Lions and the Bears. Owens has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans and recorded 5 receptions for 48 yards. Throughout his NFL career he has appeared in 29 games with nine starts (eight with Detroit). Sylvan returns to the practice squad after being activated for Sunday's game at Arizona (11/11) and then subsequently waived (11/12). A rookie out of Ohio University, Sylvan has appeared in four games, starting in one (10/21 vs. TB).    
• The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions' injury report: T Jonathan Scott (hand) and DE Dewayne White (elbow) did not participate in practice today; FB Jon Bradley (ankle), CB Fernando Bryant (foot) and QB Jon Kitna (back) had limited participation in practice today.
• The following players were listed on the New York Giants' injury report today: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), LB Antonio Pierce (concussion) and RB Derrick Ward (ankle/groin) did not participate in practice today; WR Steve Smith (hamstring) had limited participation in practice today.
• Fans who attend the Lions vs. Giants game on November 18th will have the chance to represent Ford Field's 5 Millionth Fan! The lucky fan will win a 2-Year Lease on a 2008 Ford Focus, a Suite for the Lions Thanksgiving Day Game including Lavdas Limousine Service, Levy Restaurants Catering and Ford Field Parking, a Weekend Package at Boyne, and much more! Official rules are available at www.fordfield.com.* To recognize the Ford Field attendance of 5 Million Fans, five fans will be randomly selected upon entry to Ford Field to represent the 5 Million Fans. One of the five selected fans will then be randomly selected on the field during halftime as the 5 Millionth Fan grand prize winner. Detroit Lions tickets to the Lions vs. Giants game on November 18th are available now at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 248-645-6666.
• The Detroit Lions return to Ford Field this weekend to take on the New York Giants Sunday, November 18 at 1 p.m. ET. Detroit is looking to win their fifth consecutive home game for the first time since 1991 and improve to 7-3 after a disappointing 31-21 loss against the Cardinals last weekend in Arizona. The New York Giants will make their first ever trip to Ford Field in what marks the first meeting in Detroit since 1997. The Giants will also be looking to rebound after a 31-20 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys which ended their winning streak at six. This week's game will be televised live on FOX with Kenny Albert handling play-by-play, Daryl Johnston adding color commentary and Tony Siragusa reporting from the sidelines. The game will also be broadcast on the Lions Radio Network with announcer Dan Miller handling play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter adding color commentary and Tony Ortiz reporting from the sideline.

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI
Injury Report: "Jonathan Scott, no practice. Dewayne White, no practice. (Jon) Bradley, limited practice. (Fernando) Bryant, limited. (Jon) Kitna, limited practice."

On if Kitna's injury is a lower back: "Just a back problem. I think he just woke up, and it was sore."

On if CB Fernando Bryant did some work: "Yeah. He went through individual (drills)."

On if Bryant will play: "Boy, he's humming to get back after it, which is a great sign. He wanted to go out and get some individual work. That's a good start for us."

On if Kitna will practice tomorrow: "He practiced some today."

On if Kitna will fully practice tomorrow: "We'll kind of give him some treatment. He came back out, and we got a team and a half period."

On the matchup between T Jeff Backus and Giants DE Osi Umenyiora: "Yeah, one thing I can say about Jeff is he's gotten better and better every week. He's a big game player, and I think he's going to go out and play very well for us. I feel very good about it."

On what Umenyiora does well: "He's got the full package. He's a full package rusher."

On the matchup between T George Foster and Giants DE Michael Strahan: "He's a matchup. Matchups in this league... It's just like us, they've got to match up on our inside guys."

On if Foster is still struggling to pick up the offense: "I think a little bit. We've just got to keep working with him on just the mental error part, because the physical, the 'want-to,' the toughness, the hitting: really good. We've just got to keep helping him."

On if dead ball fouls are the most damaging: "No question. It's just concentration. You've just got to get it right."

On if the Giants have four good pass rushers: "I think so. They've had a good rush all year. They've done a nice job with the rush."

On if who can rattle the other team's QB is important: "Yeah, that's a big thing. Two four-man rushes; two teams that believe, I think, in a four-man rush. In this league, its big when it get's bone-on-bone, because when you have to blitz, that's when you have problems. We've got to match-up with their rush, too. Our guys have got to step up and have a big day rushing the passer."

On showing the team the standings: "Yeah, I do it every Wednesday. So I show them. You can see this, that, but let's look at reality. There's perception and then there's reality. Perception is, 'This is going wrong, this is going wrong.' Reality: this is reality; this is where you're at; this is what you've earned. Now, this is where we have to go. It's always good because, with perception, that's somebody else's opinion. Reality is documented."

On if he did that last year: "You know, I kind of did it with quarters, broke it down. But I really felt at that point, I needed just to pick and shovel. I felt at that point, we're going to go out and we're going to pick and shovel to the end. My goal last year: we're not quitting. We're going to finish. Whoever's standing, whoever's up, we're going to go out and practice football, and we're going to finish."

On the saying 'November and December are months to remember: "Yeah, I'm excited. I like this time of the year. I like it. That's all I can tell you, and they know it. So we've worked hard, and late in November and December, that's when they'll remember. We've worked hard to be in a position. I take my hat off to them."

On his core players never having been in this position: "I know. We talked about it today. The energy should be… you should be stepping into a batter's box that we've never been in, and let's go. Let it rip. Let's just let it rip. I don't want to worry anything about it. Let it rip, and let's go. Enjoy this process. You've earned the right. So, as a team, we've earned the right to make meaningful games right now."

On if he wants them not to be too nervous and be afraid of making mistakes: "Yeah, right. For me, I just want to go. Hey, let's go. We've got everything to gain."

On having the players who have been in the playoffs raise their hands today in the team meeting: "Yeah - let's go. I'm excited for this team. I really am, and I told them that. I'm very excited for them, because they've worked hard. You know how much time we've put in here. Not many people have that many all the way through the offseason, all the work. And they've done it as a team. That's the part I'm really excited for them."

On the perception of the team not matching the reality: "People say, 'Well, they're lucky. They're this, they're that, whatever.' Like I tell them, 'negative sells, but I sell positive.' This is where we're at. That's it. That's who we are at that moment. So let's put that on our back, let's get ready to go to work, dust ourselves off, get excited about this time of the year and just wire in and enjoy this stuff."

On if he has a set plan for RB Kevin Jones: "I think he felt pretty good today. I don't want to speak for his foot, but I think he's doing okay. We'll see."

On if he'll play him full-go against the Giants and see what happens: "I believe, I'd like to say 85% yes. That's what I'll plan on."

On if they'll keep an extra RB up for the game: "Well, we've got three. (Aveion) Cason and T.J. (Duckett)."

On activating RB Tatum Bell: "I just really worry about… I look at the kicking game right now and defensive players up. That's probably one of the toughest things at the end of the week for me that you've got to juggle. Guys have got shoulders out here and are banged up with stingers, and hoping this guy can make it all the way through the game. So you get a little bit nervous."

On if he would consider only playing Jones in one of the two upcoming games if he thought Jones would only be able to play effectively in one: "No. I just want this team to be wired in for this one."

On if he'll play Jones against the Giants and then just wait and see how he feels against the Packers: "Yeah. Talk with our doctors and see what their feelings are."

On the fact that Jones may not be ready in four days after the Giants game: "Sure. I understand where you're at. That's a good question. I want to see where he's at as the week goes on, but I kind of feel he's going to be okay. That's my gut feeling right now."

On if he doesn't think it's an 'either/or' scenario: "I'd be telling you something I don't know, but I'm kind of an 'or/or' guy."

On if he can worry about which players can or can't play at this stage of the season: "There's an important game for us this week. That's all my focus is, and I know there's a short week after that, but we're going to do our best to get this team really right and wired in for this game."

On how he sells positivity when the franchise has dealt with so much negativity in the past: "Well, the only thing I can tell you is that's who I am. That's how I've done it my whole life. You say I can't, I don't believe you. I just like this game. For me, I just love the game. I'm not going to go out here with my head hung down and dragging myself around and be in the tank and all that stuff. That's disgraceful for our game."

On how he sells other people to follow that behavior: "I think energy, belief. I get in front of the team and I know what I want to say. It's about rallying men together. It's a belief in fundamentals; that you can do this with proper fundamentals; that if we play as a team and everybody works together, you can really accomplish something special."

On if he ever saw the replay of WR Shaun McDonald's fumble: "You know, I never saw it gameday. On our film, you can't see it. The angle of it, it came down… I have not seen it. The guys that have seen the TV copy thought it could have been a close call either way at that point."

CONFERENCE CALL WITH GIANTS HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN
On if the Giants see this as a big game: "I look at every game as the next game is the most important game. We're really not talking about playoffs or anything of that nature at this point in time. We've just come off a big game at home in the division against Dallas which we were very disappointed in the outcome. We move on and naturally this is another big game with the Detroit Lions with the same exact record in the conference. It's a very big game."

On the health of WR Plaxico Burress: "He is doing ok. He is very sore during the course of the early part of the week, and then he gets a little bit better as the week goes on. By the weekend he is back to a point where he can play."

On if he expects Burress to play this weekend: "I do."

On what jumps out at him about the Lions: "The incredible stat is the 28 takeaways and the +7 turnover ratio which is just outstanding in any way shape or form. I think their record at home is extremely good. Being 4-0 at home, we all wish we could win all our games at home. It's very difficult to do as you know. I look at that and their statistics at home and how they play and the way their team is built and some of their outstanding people and they deserve all the credit that they get."

On Coach Marinelli calling this a statement game: "It's a very important game for us. Every game at this point is. We move into the second half of the season. We have a seven game schedule and this is a very important game. Because as you go along, if you are able to win that makes each game even more important. That's the excitement of this time of the year."

On the biggest reason his defense gets to the quarterback: "We have some good players; we have some guys who can really rush the passer. We have a very good scheme and we count on the players, their positions, the scheme and their ability to get to the quarterback to have something to do with the opponents passing game. We rely heavily on that."

On how his defense will play the run after Detroit rushed so poorly last week: "We talk a lot about balance and we talk about the fact that as you look through the tape and evaluate the different personnel combinations that the Lions use, there are a high number of runs in every category. You know that they do feature that type of an offensive scheme. They've rushed for a 107 yards per game at home. That's something that we are focusing on."

On the maturity level of WR Plaxico Burress and his leadership role: "Each year that Plaxico has been with us he has gotten more comfortable as he has gotten to know us better. He has improved every phase of his game in each year that he has been here. He has done an outstanding job this year dealing with the issue of being injured, being unable to practice, and then playing the games. He has always been a guy that never comes out of a game. That's pretty much the way he's been."

On what that says about Burress' toughness: "It says a lot about his toughness, it says a lot about his makeup, and it says a lot about how badly he wants to play."

On the specific limitations Burress has besides having trouble cutting: "I wouldn't say, no. There are some things that are more difficult for him to do. He can do them all, but some things are more difficult than others."

On if he has had to change how he has played the game: "He is trying not to."

On Lions DT Shaun Rogers: "He is having a heck of a year and he is a good football player. He leads the league with fumble recoveries, he has an interceptions Shaun shows up everywhere and he's done well."

On the Lions level of play at home: "They are 4-0 at home and they have tremendous statistics at home and that is a very, very enviable position. We all want to be undefeated at home. They've been able to do that, and we are looking at that aspect of their team more than anything else."

CONFERENCE CALL WITH GIANTS WR PLAXICO BURRESS
On the ankle injury and how it will affect him this week: "I hurt my ankle on August 2 back in training camp. It's been something I've just had to deal with and tough it out on Sundays and stay mentally sharp. I don't really think it is going to get any better. It is just one of those things I'm going to have to deal with."

On if coming to Michigan is coming back home: "I always say Michigan was my second home. That's where I went to school and where the journey started. It's always good to get back to Michigan and the East Lansing area. I hope we can go get a win. That would make it a lot better."

On going against the Lions in an important game: "For us, we just want to come out and play well; we don't want to do things to beat ourselves like we did last week: commit mental errors and turnovers and things like that. We just want to keep ourselves in the game in the fourth quarter and have a chance to win. Our defense is going to come up and play a lot better than what they did. Those guys are fired up. Also from that standpoint, we are just looking to run the ball against those two big tackles that they have. Hopefully we can hold them off enough so we can win."

On if he thinks it is a big game for the playoff race: "I don't really think we are looking at it from the aspect that it is a playoff game. We are just looking at it as getting a win. Detroit's been a great team playing at home. We were looking at the way those guys play at home and they are just a phenomenal team. We just have to go out there and match their intensity and don't do things to hurt ourselves that will put us behind a good team."

On if the Lions look different home and away: "They are from what I've seen today. Today is the first time that I've looked at them on film. At home their passing game is sharp; they're getting turnovers on defense. They are like +7 or whatever it may be. Those guys are getting interceptions. Shaun (Rogers) is blocking field goals, getting turnovers, and someone is picking them up and running for touchdowns. From what I've seen so far the defense is fast, they can get after it and they're physical. You can't put the ball in those guy's hands because the offense will turn it into points."

On questions about his maturity in Pittsburgh and what he has done to change that: "I haven't done anything to change that. I haven't done anything. I just think that me being in the situation that I have and me coming up here and everybody is telling me what they are going to do with me and we need you to be a playmaker. From day one those guys put a lot of confidence in my ability to go out and make plays and play well. That's what I've been doing since I've been here. Ernie Accorsi is one of the main reasons why I'm here. I told him I wouldn't let him down. Even though he is not here, I still go out and perform at an elite level."

On what his injury does in terms of limiting his play: "I don't really think it's limiting me to cut, I just think it's limiting me as far as practice. Like I've been saying all season, it's kind of scary that Eli (Manning) and I are having a good season. We just practice on Sunday during the games. We don't get a chance to practice during the week because of my injury. The first time I get to run routes and catch footballs is during the game. Early in the season I put in the back of my mind: what if I practiced and we could get more on the same page. How would it look then? I don't worry about it anymore and I try to do the best I can on Sundays."

On if it is an advantage that the Lions are hyping the game up while the Giants are not: "They should. They pretty much took a whooping last weekend and we know at this level playing in this game that when you get beat the way they did last week you are going to come out fired up. I'm pretty sure their coaches have challenged them, called them out on defense to play hard and don't let what happened to them last week ever happen again. Coming from an opponent and being beat up physically I think we know that those guys are going to come out fired up, backs against the wall, play hard and play physical. Like I said earlier, we just have to minimize our mistakes, minimize our turnovers and match their intensity because if we don't they are already a good enough team at home. Now they have a little bit more to play for."