Bush, Burleson Say Players-Only Meeting Needed; Stafford Disagrees
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - After losing two straight games for the first time all season, games the Detroit Lions basically gave away with their numerous mistakes, running back Reggie Bush called for a team-wide, players-only meeting. Wide receiver Nate Burleson backed Bush up. Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a different opinion.
When reporters inquired Monday whether such a meeting took place, Stafford said it did not and that it did not need to.
"I don't think it's necessary," Stafford said. "This is a team I've been around for a while, and we have strong leaders on this team. We can get it taken care of just in individual groups. We've got leaders at every position, and guys know what it takes to win in this league and what a fine margin it is. There's no offensive, defensive, special teams overhaul needed. We've got to go out there and just play a little better than what we've been playing."
After Sunday's game, Bush mentioned mental errors as major factors in the team's loss, which included five turnovers, and said the team's mindset was not where it needed to be. Pressed on whether there needed to be some kind of a team meeting, Bush agreed.
"We definitely need to have a team meeting," Bush said. "We definitely need to have a players-only meeting and really dig deep inside and find out what we're made of. It's going to take everybody on this team – coaching staff, players – to really be able to overcome this."
Burleson seconded Bush's idea and noted the mentality and approach of the team could be improved.
"Anything that Reggie says, I'm 100 percent behind him," Burleson said. "Maybe he's right. We've got to talk this week, just players-only meeting, figure out a way to fine-tune our focus. Guys were focused in the beginning of the game, but there was drops in our energy and letting them continue to stay motivated. We've got to figure out a way to kind of snatch away the motivation of opposing teams, especially when we're at home. We didn't do that today."
The Lions get another chance quickly as they face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday in a Thanksgiving Day matchup. In the meantime, whether Detroit needs a team meeting or not, one might be helpful if for no other reason than to get everyone on the same page as far as whether the Lions need one.
