He took an odd path to football's biggest stage.
The latter scoring play ended with Fauria's take on N'Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" video and got the attention of TV host Jimmy Fallon,Nike Schuhe Neu Damen, who donated $10,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation after daring any NFL player to do as much.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Joseph Fauria's choreographed end zone dances have earned him fans all over the Internet and even in Hollywood.
"I think there is, in the red zone particularly, another dynamic there that can force defenses to be spread thin a little bit."
Scheffler and running back Theo Riddick did not make the trip to Cleveland because of ongoing concussion issues. Both players, Schwartz said, still are being evaluated.
Johnson, who set the NFL single-season record for yards receiving in 2012, returned Sunday after missing a game with a knee injury and had three catches for 25 yards. Continued production from Fauria could make the Lions, who already have explosive playmakers in running back Reggie Bush and Johnson, harder to defend.
That's not what impresses the Detroit Lions most. They are fondest of how the tall tight end can stretch a defense,Authentic NFL Jerseys Cheap.
"If he starts to get more attention, somebody has to get less," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. "Generally, that's Calvin (Johnson) for us. Not many defenses want to do that.
The Lions signed him after the draft and he made the roster out of training camp. He made a splash in Detroit's season-opening 34-24 win over Minnesota with a touchdown catch and had another in a Sept,Cheap NFL Jerseys. 22 victory at Washington,Cheap Arizona Cardinals Hoodies.
"I wanted to do well with my opportunities. I think I did so."
The Lions were without tight end Tony Scheffler due to concussion symptoms at Cleveland, which gave Fauria an even larger role in the offense.
So did Schwartz.
Sunday's victory helped Detroit (4-2) match last season's win total and ended a season-opening run that saw the franchise play four of its first six games away from home. The Lions welcome Cincinnati on Sunday, then play host to Dallas on Oct. 27 before getting a bye week.
Running back Montell Owens is expected to return to practice this week after starting the season on injured reserve with a designation to return. A preseason knee injury kept him off the opening-day roster but he could be eligible to return after the Lions' bye week,China Jerseys Cheap.
The NFL's other 31 front offices might be wondering why he wasn't worth drafting earlier this year.
Fauria,Authentic Nike NBA Jerseys, whose uncle, Christian, played tight end for four teams during a 13-year NFL career, has just seven receptions for 66 yards this season. Five of them have been for touchdowns. He's scored in each game he's been targeted.
"You understand how it works when one guy goes down and another comes up," he said after Sunday's game. "That's me.
The 6-foot-7 Fauria had three catches in Sunday's 31-17 win at Cleveland — all for touchdowns. His second, a 23-yarder from quarterback Matthew Stafford, gave Detroit the lead for good early in the fourth quarter.
Schwartz did not offer updates on cornerback Rashean Mathis (groin) and running back Joique Bell (ribs). Neither player finished Sunday's game.
The California native began his collegiate career at Notre Dame, but was suspended during his sophomore season and transferred to UCLA. There, he made 88 catches for 1,139 yards and 20 touchdowns, but still went undrafted.
"Not that many players score three touchdowns in a game, particularly tight ends," he said.
The three touchdown catches are the most for a Lions tight end since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. |
