A final decision hasn’t been reached yet, but Lions cornerback Fernando Bryant will likely retire, ending his nine-year career. Bryant, who ended his previous three seasons on the injured reserve list, refused to go on IR this year although he was certainly a candidate.

Bryant, who is just 170 pounds, has been one of the toughest players on the Lions roster recently. He suffered a severe ankle injury against the Cardinals, but was back in the lineup the following week. Bryant was so banged up that he couldn’t play an entire game the rest of the season and had to be rotated in and out of the lineup often.

Poor Fernando. Three seasons pouring your heart and soul and effort into one of the worst teams in NFL history. It’s a wonder the whole team doesn’t retire and eat antidepressants for breakfast.

• Lions’ Bryant is contemplating retirement – Detroit Lions Insider – MLive.com

“Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died early Tuesday, a day after he was shot at home by what police say was an intruder. He was 24.

Family friend Richard Sharpstein said Taylor’s father told him the news around 5:30 a.m.

Sean Taylor was tied for the NFC lead for interceptions with five and was known as one of the league’s hardest-hitting defensive backs.

“His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me,” said Sharpstein, Taylor’s former lawyer. “It’s a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans.”

• ESPN – Redskins’ Taylor dies from injury in shooting – NFL

“Washington Redskins star safety Sean Taylor was in critical condition Monday after emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the leg during what police are investigating as a possible armed robbery at his home.

Taylor, 24, was in surgery for several hours and was being treated in the intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital, said his former lawyer and family friend Richard Sharpstein. Taylor lost a “significant” amount of blood because the bullet damaged his femoral artery, Sharpstein said.

Doctors are “worried about the loss of blood, as to how it might affect the flow of blood to the brain,” said Sharpstein, who was at the hospital with Taylor’s family and friends.

Officers were sent to Taylor’s home at about 1:45 a.m. ET after his girlfriend called 911 and said he was shot in his lower body, Lt. Nancy Perez said…”

• Redskins’ Sean Taylor shot, in critical condition – USATODAY.com

Ron Mexico might be even more evil than we thought. It all started with giving girls VD. Then the whole weed-in-the-soda-bottle incident. Then it was the federal indictment on dog-fighting charges. Now, it appears Mike is in cahoots with none other than Osama bin Laden.

An inmate in South Carolina is suing Vick for “$63,000,000,000 billion” (what is that – 63 billion-billion? 63 gajillion?) claiming Vick stole his dogs, sold them on eBay (this despite a strict no-live-animal-sales rule by eBay), then used the money to buy missiles form Iran, which would presumably be used to help Osama bin Laden, since Vick pledged allegiance to al Qaeda in February.

It’s Iran-Contra all over again. Except, you know, with puppies instead of HAWK missiles.

• South Carolina Inmate Hits Michael Vick With ‘$63,000,000,000 Billion Dollar’ Lawsuit Alleging Al Qaeda Ties (FOX News)

Former Lions and current Falcons QB Joey Harrington is letting it all out about his former team. Days after claiming he was “handcuffed” by the Lions West Coast offense, leaving him scared to throw the ball downfield, Harrington claims he received death threats left on his voice mail and that Ford Field fans tried to start fights with his mother.

To hear that fans would actually consider physical violence against the young quarterbacks mother is deplorable, to say the least. Fans should have been going after Lions president Matt Millen’s mother.

• Joey Harrington says he was handcuffed by Lions (Detroit Free Press)
• Joey Harrington: Detroit fans tried to start fights with mom (Detroit Free Press)