Tate Says Trip To London Will Serve Lions Well In Long Run
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Before the Detroit Lions won a comeback thriller Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, some of the Lions had been less than thrilled about the prospect of playing in London. Center Dominic Raiola said as much Sunday, and wide receiver Golden Tate expressed a similar view Monday. As the team prepared to fly out Monday night, however, their views had changed.
"I was not very excited about this trip up until today just because it's going to throw off our routine that we've had for so long," Tate said, "but going on the road and being stuck with these guys nonstop for a week, I wouldn't do it with another group. These guys are a great group of guys, and especially coming off of that type of passionate win, I think it's definitely good for this team and this organization.
"It's going to help us in the long run, especially late in the season when guys really start to hit those walls and legs are really feeling like they're ready to give up," Tate continued. "You're going to look to your left and your right, and the guys that you go to work with and go to battle with every day, and you're going to be like, 'Wow, these guys are putting everything out there for me. I want to do the same for those guys.' So I think this is going to serve us well, I think, especially if we handle it the correct way."
Head coach Jim Caldwell made it clear the team has made efforts to minimize every negative effect brought on by the seven-hour flight to London, the time change and the adjustments in routine. In an effort to make the week leading up to Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons as normal as possible, the practice squad players will be making the trip along with the rest of the team.
"It would be undoubtedly difficult for us to go over and just practice against the first and second team without having our practice squad guys which make a tremendous difference for us," Caldwell said. "You add the travel along with that kind of wear and tear on the body that's been inordinate for any other week would put you at a real disadvantage in that regard. So yeah, our practice squad guys go, and they'll help us."
The team flew out Monday evening so the players could keep their sleep schedule as intact as possible.
"Just took a melatonin pill - totally legal - and I plan to sleep," tight end Joe Fauria said a few hours before the flight, adding that many other players also took melatonin. "We actually, Coach Caldwell set the whole team up with a sleep specialist. She had a presentation this morning and told us about the time difference and then what to do, told us to wear sunglasses indoors to help us in the morning ... So now we're more informed about what to do overseas and how to prepare more for the game on Sunday without jet lag."
Several players and Caldwell have not been to London before, but the team will not have much time for tourist activities.
"I actually just got a passport for this trip," safety Glover Quin said. "I'm going out there to work, I think that's the attitude of the team, but obviously we'll get the chance to see certain things and we'll get some time. My wife's going out there, she's a little more historian than I am, so it may some stuff that she wants to go see. I'm always down to see stuff, see a different culture, but I'm an American. I love it here, so that's kind of how it is."
Tate said he would like to be able to watch a soccer match while in London, but he does not think that will happen. As Tate put it, the trip is business before pleasure, and he has no doubt players will keep those priorities straight.
"We're all grown men," Tate said. "I don't think there's anything wrong with going to see the city, but I think if it gets to a point where it's affecting how you perform the next day at practice, then there's a problem, but I think we have a very mature locker room who are going to put this organization first and not make any selfish decisions. I know Coach and the leadership committee have total confidence in this group working collectively to make this a successful week for us."
