ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Last spring, Matthew Stafford was trying to fit in with the Detroit Lions.

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Last spring, Matthew Stafford was trying to fit in with the Detroit Lions. Things have changed in 11 months. Not only has Stafford become the unquestioned No. 1 quarterback and recovered from knee and shoulder surgeries, he is even helping the team with personnel decisions. Last week, when the Lions were pursuing free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson, they had Stafford make the phone call the minute…

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Perhaps we should have known the Lions would sign wide receiver Nate Burleson as a free agent.

Late last season, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was asked if he was surprised how defenses paid so much attention to wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

“No, I’ve seen Randy get it,” said Linehan, who once was Randy Moss’ offensive coordinator in Minnesota. “I’m sure when they do their PowerPoint presentation getting ready for the game, they’re adding not just one but maybe two people extra—three total people—to defend him.”

Linehan said the Lions needed “some kind of eraser” to wipe out that game plan.

“Something has to give there because you can’t keep trying to get a guy the football that’s being triple-covered and not feel good about some of the…

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The Detroit Lions and their fans are salivating at the prospect of having the choice of Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy at the second overall pick in the draft if the Rams happen to choose a quarterback first overall.

This would be a mistake. Suh is the fan’s choice, there’s no doubt about it, and he’ll likely turn into a hell of a player. But the fact is that there are a number of reasons NOT to draft Suh (or any other defensive lineman) with the second overall pick.

 

1. Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch

The Lions made some solid moves in free agency. They signed a solid DE in Kyle Vanden Bosch who should improve the pass rush.

What they’ve also done is trade for DT Corey Williams, who struggled in the Browns 3-4 defense the last couple years.

What Lions fans are overlooking is the fact that Williams was a beast for the Packers in their 4-3 defense before he was traded to Cleveland.

There’s a good chance that he’ll return to form in Detroit.

Oh, there’s also the fact that Detroit has now dumped a pretty sizeable chunk of salary into their defensive line.

The way top picks are getting paid these days, there’s no way any responsible team would invest that much more money in an already expensive defensive front.

 

2. Sammie Lee Hill

Corey Williams is going to start. The Lions wouldn’t have picked him up if they wanted him to ride the pine—this means that if they draft Suh, then Sammie Hill would have to sit.

Sammie Hill was drafted as a project and he was a very raw player with some top notch physical attributes.

Hill looked good last year, though. In fact, he exceeded just about everyone’s expectations.

Why draft Ndamukong Suh when you already have two solid defensive tackles?

 

3. Jeff Backus

While the Lions have been consistent in their defense of left tackle Jeff Backus, there’s no denying the fact that he’s mediocre at best.

The Lions passed up on Michael Oher last year in favor of tight end Brandon Pettigrew. I can’t possibly see them passing up another franchise left tackle, especially for a defensive tackle they don’t really need.

By drafting Russell Okung, or by trading down to pick up another left tackle, the Lions can bump Backus to the guard position, which will essentially kill two birds with one stone, filling two needs on the offensive line.

 

4. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford was a number one overall pick, and he’s now the face of the franchise, for better or worse.

If the Lions want to be winners, and if they want Stafford to succeed in the NFL, they need to keep him off his back.

The only way to accomplish this is to draft a franchise left tackle.

This is not THAT deep of an offensive line class, and the Lions are in dire need of upgraded pass protection.

Drafting Suh would condemn Matthew Stafford to another sack-ridden season.

 

5. Suh’s not the best player available

I can’t say that I agree with the strategy, but every year the Lions claim that they always choose the best player available.

At the second overall pick, Ndamukong Suh is NOT the best player available.

That honor would belong to Tennessee safety Eric Berry.

Berry has been touted as the second coming of Ed Reed. He’s got tremendous football smarts and is an athletic freak of nature.

Safety is not a position typically drafted this early in the draft, but neither is defensive tackle.

Both positions are big needs for the Lions, and if they follow their usual draft philosophy, they would take Berry over Suh.

Keep in mind, I would be against this pick as well, as I feel Russell Okung is the best possible pick for the Lions.

Read more Detroit Lions news on BleacherReport.com

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For the last decade, the Detroit Lions have been historically unsuccessful during the fall and winter months. That includes an NFL-record 30 losses over the last two seasons. The Lions, however, once again think they are having a great spring. "This week has been quite a challenge, because of all of the new free agency rules and all the moves we feel we need to make," said Lions coach Jim…

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TEMPE, Ariz. – Free agent offensive lineman Rex Hadnot agreed to a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.

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As I was answering the truly well though-out and engaging comments on my most recent Detroit Lions article, and watched the number of reads climb into the thousands, it struck me that people are honestly hopeful about the Lions again and it’s starting to show up on our boards.

For many of us who have been associated with this excellent and appreciated forum for the amateur sportswriter, interest in the team has waned over the last few years, and the number of Lions fans actively participating has dwindled away.

Sometimes it felt like we were talking to an empty room.

I always understood why of course.  It wasn’t that fans had deserted the team, it was that there was really nothing to talk about.  It gets depressing talking about futility too much and if you read my wrap-up of the 0-16 season , it has the tenor of a death march.

But then Millen got fired and we all rejoiced.

And then Mayhew got hired and we all groaned.

And then Lions fleeced the Cowboys in the Roy Williams trade and we started to take notice.

And then the team made some other great free agent moves, including dumping Cory Redding’s contract to Seattle and getting Julian Peterson in return.

We had a solid draft that gave the team an infusion of young, possible pro-bowl caliber talent, and we started to believe.

We tempered this enthusiasm with the cold reality that the team still had a lot of holes to fill, but were still somewhat disappointed with the 2009 record, and the boards quieted down to a dull whisper by season’s end.

Nonetheless the seed had been planted.

Perhaps our record didn’t say it, but we all saw the mighty potential of our young stars, we all saw the unexpected savvy of our new general manager, and we all saw management opening up the pocketbook, taking advantage of the uncapped season to lure solid free agents to Detroit.

And for the last couple months the Lions site at Bleacher Report has been rivaled by none.  Not only have we had a number of great new writers start marketing their wares, there’s been an explosion of optimism from a long silent fanbase that’s been waiting for something good to talk about.

And somehow while I was sitting at my computer today reading a couple articles, a Christmas song popped into my head and just stayed there:

“It’s the most, woondeerful tiiiiiiiime, of the yeeeeaaar!”

Over and over again, and it made me smile.

Granted we always see an increase in team interest around the draft, because let’s face it, that is where hope is born then quickly dies with this team in seasons past.

But this year something’s different.

This year our hope isn’t just a fools hope.

This year there’s just something in the air that has me singing Christmas carols.

This year I have faith that whatever present the Lions unwrap on draft day will amount to more than metaphorical tube socks.

A shiny new bike maybe (Suh), or an Optimus Prime to go with our Megatron (Okung)?

Or maybe just an entire set of G.I. Joes (trade down and take the picks)?

Honestly, I would be pretty happy with any of those scenarios and for the first time in a while I’m absolutely certain that it won’t be a lump of coal.

So happy holidays Detroit Lions fans!

As with the best of all Holiday tales, this one features a bah-humbug team that may have finally discovered its true meaning.

Read more Detroit Lions news on BleacherReport.com

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According to reports , Florida Gators’ god quarterback Tim Tebow scored low on the Wonderlic test.

It’s true—Tebow really doesn’t come across that well in interviews. In fact, it wouldn’t be harsh to say that he might be a great role model, a great leader, but he’s not the brightest thing in the world, is he kids?

ESPN has him going to the ‘Show’ as a second-round pick, and if the system uses him as well as Urban Meyer’s did, he could be a frightening prospect. Hey Pittsburgh—need another rushing quarterback all of a sudden?

Anyway, apparently Sam Bradford kicked the butt of all concerned on his test—and suddenly the Rams might take him as the No.1 overall pick.

That can only be good news for The Boy Named Suh from Nebraska and his new home in warm Detroit. The Lions suddenly have something fun on the other side of the ball. Hey—they don’t need more wide receivers, do they?

Read more Detroit Lions news on BleacherReport.com

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Now that the combine is officially over and Pro Day workouts have begun, I figured now is as good a time as ever to make me first official mock draft (of the year), Detroit Lions style.

This mock will take into account recent free agent acquisitions Kyle Vanden Bosch, Nate Burleson and Jonathan Wade as well as new comers via trade Corey Williams and Chris Houston.

Enjoy!

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The Silverdome used to be a venue that welcomed everyone from the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Pistons to Pope John Paul II, Elvis Presley and WrestleMania III. Its new owners are hoping to make the domed stadium a legitimate place for entertainment again. Toronto-based Triple Investment Group LLC had a news conference Thursday to announce its plans to host six to eight events this year.