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Profiling Mike McMahon

Ed McMahon? Jim McMahon? Please, don't tell us Vince McMahon is back in football? Not the case. New Lions quarterback Mike McMahon will start his first game in the NFL against the Bucs. And he will do it on an 0-11 team. "You don't know if you're ready or not, until you get in there," McMahon said.

So, you want to know who this cat really is? A four-year starter at Rutgers, McMahon was drafted in the fifth round, and was the first Scarlet Knight quarterback ever to be drafted in the NFL. He began the season third-string and was inactive for the first six games. He has played sparingly since then but will start Sunday because of an injury to Charlie Batch.

McMahon is skilled at hitting short passes over the middle and improvising. As a runner, he has 51 yards on 10 carries. "One of the keys is to use his feet and great movement ability, and when he's one the field, something is going to happen," Detroit coach Marty Mornhinweg said.

McMahon is 15-of-34 for 147 yards and one touchdown. His best moments as a pro came on Thanksgiving Day in a 29-27 loss to the Packers. McMahon was 9-of-20 for 89 yards and threw his first career touchdown.

Mobility aside, the Lions are banking on McMahon's willingness to grow as a quarterback, part of which requires knowledge of when it's the right time to scramble and when it's not. "He's about here," Mornhinweg said, cupping his hands as if holding a basketball. "We need to get it down to softball size with his mobility and ability. Then he'll be rocking and rolling."

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