Boiman getting crash course in Lions defense

Football Betting Lines

09/01/2010 -

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - Rocky Boiman isn't going to get a chance to ease his way into the Detroit Lions' defense.

It's going to be more like cramming for final exams in his days at Notre Dame.

The veteran linebacker signed with the Detroit Lions earlier in the week and is scheduled to play in Thursday's final preseason game against Buffalo.

``We didn't bring him in here to stand around,'' Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Tuesday. ``He's here to play. We expect him to be out there against the Bills.''

Learning an NFL scheme in three days sounds like an overwhelming task, especially for a middle linebacker who will be responsible for defensive calls, but Boiman has an advantage.

The 30-year-old started his career with the Titans, with Schwartz as his defensive coordinator and Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham as his position coach. Then he later played for the Chiefs when Cunningham was the defensive coordinator.

``He knows the scheme and he knows the terminology,'' Schwartz said. ``That will help him a lot.''

Boiman's history with Schwartz and Cunningham is the reason he was called to Detroit this week. The Lions were already struggling with inexperience at linebacker before injuries to DeAndre Levy, expected to start in the middle, and Jordon Dizon, his main backup.

``We worked Rocky out before training camp, and he did a nice job, so we knew he was in shape,'' Schwartz said. ``We kept him in mind in case we ended up in this kind of situation, where we found ourselves short-handed late in camp. He was a guy that we knew we could fit into the system fairly quickly.''

That doesn't mean Boiman is having an easy week.

``Learning this is going to take every waking minute I have before the game,'' he said. ``And there's still going to be stuff I don't know.''

Boiman won a Super Bowl ring with Indianapolis in 2006, but has bounced around the league in the past two seasons.

``I've been in Cincinnati, my hometown, just trying to stay in shape and waiting for someone to call,'' he said. ``I knew I had a really good workout with the Lions before camp started, and I have a comfort level with coach Schwartz and coach Cunningham, so this was a good place for me to land.''

Boiman also brings versatility, which will help him after Levy returns from a groin injury.

``He's a guy that we can use in the middle or on the outside, plus he can play special teams,'' Schwartz said. ``That's what you need from that part of the roster.''

Boiman said he doesn't have a preference, since he's never had a chance to settle at one linebacker spot.

``My whole career, I've been bouncing around from one position to another, so that's what I'm used to doing,'' he said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

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