Lions select Ezekiel Ansah in first-round of 2013 NFL draft
The Detroit Lions selected BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah with their first-round pick (fifth overall) on day one of the 2013 NFL draft.
Ansah was drafted to replace Kyle Vanden Bosch, who was released earlier this offseason.
Last season, Ansah had 62 total tackles, 13 going for a loss, including 4.5 sacks in 2012. He finished the Senior Bowl with seven tackles, including 3½ for losses (1½ were sacks). (MLive.com)
Lawrence Frank fired by Detroit Pistons
ESPN.com reported two weeks ago that Frank was the most likely coach in the league to be ousted, which, according to sources, had Frank himself resigned to his fate for several days.
A meeting Thursday with Pistons owner Tom Gores finally confirmed Frank’s ouster, after Gores offered very tepid public support of his coach when speaking to local reporters earlier this week. Frank was believed to be largely Gores’ choice to replace John Kuester in the summer of 2011, although NBA coaching sources maintain that Dumars preferred current Knicks coach Mike Woodson for the job.
After the Pistons’ season-ending loss in Brooklyn, Frank acknowledged that the mounting speculation about his future had taken its toll.
“Unfortunately, it’s been too long a talk for too long,” Frank told reporters Wednesday night. “It’s been going on for a while, so it’s not like this just jumped up and it’s news flash.
“Because you have to answer the question every day, it’s something you do give some thought to.”
Gores said before the season that he expected the Pistons, despite their youth, to reach the playoffs this season. Dumars is expected to survive despite Detroit’s rough season, thanks largely to the considerable salary-cap space that the Pistons are positioned to have this summer along with the promise shown by two young big men Dumars drafted: Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond.
Lawrence Frank fired by Detroit Pistons – ESPN.
Lions kicker Jason Hanson announces retirement
Longtime Lions kicker Jason Hanson announced he is retiring from the NFL after 21 seasons.
Hanson released a statement through the team this afternoon, shortly after the retirement was announced at 4pm.
“It’s time,” Hanson said. “I gave serious thought and consideration to playing in 2013. While the determination and willpower are still there, the wear and tear on my body, especially the issues I had and still have with my heel have convinced me that it’s time to retire” (WXYZ).
Report: Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke will leave Michigan early; parents deny
Michigan’s backcourt might look entirely different as soon as this Final Four is over.
A handful of tweets from sports-and-entertainment attorney Darren Heitner today said that both Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. will declare as early entry candidates for the NBA draft and already are narrowing the field for agents (Detroit Free Press).
Michigan sophomore G Trey Burke selected AP Player of the Year
Trey Burke, the sophomore point guard who led Michigan to the Final Four, has been selected The Associated Press’ college basketball player of the year.
Burke joins Cazzie Russell in 1966 as the only Michigan players to win the award. The Big Ten player of the year, Burke was the leader of a team that at times had four freshmen on the court with him but he still managed to average 19.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He shot 40.1 percent from behind the 3-point line (The Washington Post).
