Jim Schwartz addresses Lions off-field distractions

ALLEN PARK (WXYZ) - On the eve of the Lions first training camp, the focus is split between Detroit's off-field distractions and getting players prepared for day one of training camp on Friday, July 27.

7 Action Sports caught up with Lions head coach Jim Schwartz to get his thoughts on Aaron Berry's contract being terminated.

"Knowing what the stakes were going into it, if somebody could make two really bad errors in judgment and bad decisions in that short period of time, you know, what would they do during a big game? What would they do when the stakes were just that high?," asked Schwartz.

With high hopes from Lions nation, Schwartz weighed in on the importance of what it means for his players to kick off training camp on a positive note.

"Our whole objective is to keep focused on what's important right now, and not to get too far ahead of ourselves," said Schwartz. "It's all of our jobs to make sure that doesn't happens to us; everybody has high expectations."

Schwartz, who guided the Lions to the playoffs in 2011, received a multi-year contract extension for getting Detroit back on the winning track.

"I'm very grateful to the Ford family, and I am very excited to be the head coach of the Detroit Lions," said Schwartz. "I look forward to being the head coach for a long time."

The Lions first preseason game is against the Cleveland Browns on Friday, August 10 at 7:30pm.  That game will be broadcast on WXYZ and the Detroit Lions television network.