Lions' defensive coordinator Joe Barry contends that the team's Tampa 2 defense isn't the reason for their dismal performance thus far. "If the defense is played right, and if we play it properly and we keep the ball inside and in front of us like we are supposed to, and if we make tackles like we are supposed to, and if the guy coming in off the outside edge makes a sack like he is supposed to," Barry said. "Those are not things that the offense is catching up. Those are us not paying attention to detail. That is us not doing things right all the time. And when we do that, we play better."

The Lions were vague on Wednesday regarding free agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper, whom they met with earlier this week. Coach Rod Marinelli said Culpepper "moved around good" during his workout Tuesday but said little else. "We don't know where we're at with it right now," Marinelli said. "But it's a very good, veteran football player that's been a very good player in this league, and he's young." Starting quarterback Dan Orlovsky appeared to play dumb when informed that the Lions brought Culpepper in for a workout. "Oh, we did?" Orlovsky said. "Didn't even know that. Did not know. Just found out. No thoughts."

Veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper visited the Lions Tuesday morning and has initiated contract negotiations following a workout, according to an ESPN.com report. On Tuesday morning, Culpepper, who announced last week he was coming out of retirement, notified the Chiefs he is looking at the Lions more than the Chiefs.

ESPN has reported that the Lions have yet to pay former president Matt Millen since he was fired in Septembe, and are trying to negotiate a buyout. "I really have no comment on that. That's between Mr. Ford and Matt," Lions' COO Tom Lewand said. Detroit gave Millen a five-year extension in 2005, signing him through 2010. Later that year, the Lions denied a report that the contract did not include guaranteed money, saying it was guaranteed.

Deanna Favre has defended her husband in the wake of reports that he discussed Packers' game planning with the Lions earlier this season. She wrote in the family blog that: "this latest round of media scrutiny has been harder, more disheartening and seemingly unending." "Brett does not, in any way, hold a vendetta against his former team," Deanna continued.

The Lions are in jeopardy of not selling out for the first time since before Ford Field opened in Detroit, a streak of 51 games. About 6,000 tickets remain for Sunday's game against Washington. If the winless Lions don't sell out, the game will be blacked out on local television. "That's our fault," Coach Rod Marinelli said. "That's my fault. If we were playing better and if we were executing better and were winning more, then they would come." The players agree with Marinelli. "It's up to us to change that," quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. "The people of this city deserve a winner. People have been saying that for 40 years. And until they get it, they're not going to be happy."

The Lions brought free agent quarterback Tim Rattay, an eight-year NFL veteran, in for a workout on Tuesday. Detroit could add a veteran quarterback to their roster this season because Drew Henson still has practice squad eligibility.

ESPN recently sent out an internal memo saying that the rumor of Brett Favre disclosing inside information to the Lions about the Packers earlier this season shouldn't be reported on any of its networks. The memo, secured by Pro Football Talk, said the following: "Yesterday, FoxSports reported that Brett Favre spent 60 to 90 minutes before the Week Two game between the Lions and the Packers educating the Detroit coaching staff regarding the Packers' offensive strategies. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY RELIABLE SOURCES THIS REPORT IS NOT TRUE. We did NOT report it yesterday. Today, the NFL responded to the report, saying even if Favre did this he did not break any league rules. We are NOT reporting it today, because that would mean airing the erroneous report. DO NOT REPORT IT." The decision is a strange one because Fox's Jay Glazer, who reported the story, is one of the most respected and connected reporters around the league.

Lions' Coach Rod Marinelli believes that the team's problems involve each and every player. "We?re not getting 11 guys doing what they?re supposed to do," Marinelli said Monday. "It?s nine guys or 10 guys or eight guys, and two or three guys are having a bust or a mental error. That kills the continuity of the play." Marinelli believes that the team could be trying too hard to post their first win of the season. "I think they?re really pressing," Marinelli said. "I?m missing something for them to get it done. If they?re tight, I?ve got to find a way to loosen them up."

Eagles owner Joe Banner took a few shots at the Cowboys on Monday, saying that the team gave up too much in exchange for wide receiver Roy Williams last week. "I mean, they paid a lot," said Banner. "Time will tell. I wouldn't pay that much for a player like that." Dallas sent their first, third and sixth round picks in 2009 to Detroit for Williams.