Michigan Matters' Exclusive: Lomas Brown On Mrs. Ford, Matthew Stafford And Donald Trump

Former Detroit Lions All-Star offensive lineman Lomas Brown said during taping of "Michigan Matters" that team owner Martha Ford has been making bold moves that have helped steer the Detroit Lions to where they are at the moment.

That's first place in the NFC North Division. (The Lions play the Jacksonville Jaguars noon Sunday on CBS). Indeed, there are more games to go before the regular season ends and two teams left standing to play in the Super Bowl.

The situation is an about-face from earlier this season when the Lions struggled and there was a battle cry in some quarters to show coach Jim Caldwell the door.

Ford -- widow of William Clay Ford -- who took over the team when he passed away two years ago, stuck with Caldwell and it's paid off, Brown said.

She's made other moves too including letting Lions president Tom Lewand go, he added. Brown also gave kudos to quarterback Matthew Stafford for keeping the offensive line going as they continue to make plays that have helped them stay in the "V" lane.

Brown takes a deep dive into Lions teams of the past 20 years in his new book "If These Walls Could Talk. Detroit Lions: Stories from the Detroit Lions Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box."

He talked about Thanksgiving Day football, which is an institution in Detroit Lions land and how fun former coach Wayne Fontes made it during his playing days.

Brown also appeared on the "Michigan Matters" round table with L. Brooks Patterson, Denise Ilitch and Cain talking about politics.

Ilitch discussed fallout of the president election where students for and against Trump have been vocal at the University of Michigan where she is a regent.

U-M President Mark Schlissel got caught in the student fray and Ilitch defended him.

Lomas, a Democrat, said he and his wife spent time trying to explain Trump's win to their children.

"He's our president and we need to support him," Brown said.

Patterson talked about the Detroit Pistons pending departure from the Palace in his Auburn Hills to Detroit which team owner Tom Gores has been updating regularly.

And there was talk about Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander not getting the nod as the American League's Cy Young award winner this year as some had hoped.

You can hear the conversation by watching "Michigan Matters" 11:30 Sunday only on CBS 62.