Detroit Lions Notes And Qoutes
--Quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to keep everyone updated with his recovery from shoulder surgery via Twitter.
Stafford tweeted Thursday, "Met with dr Andrews yesterday. More than happy with where I am in rehab. Getting real close to 100{
Lions president Tim Lewand recently became a Twitter member, but at a dinner for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Thursday, he said he doesn't' need Twitter to get updates on Stafford.
Said Lewand, "We have a process of getting updates on some of our guys. It's not through Twitter."
Meanwhile, Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson said during an appearance on NFL Network that he believes Stafford can be "a breakout player" this season.
"I was around the set earlier, just looking and listening to you guys, and somebody asked me who's going to be the breakout player this upcoming season, in 2011," Burleson said. "And I'm not just saying it because I play for Detroit, but it really has to be Matthew Stafford. He's been in the league for two years. He's very talented; everybody knows that. I could tell you he throws the ball extremely hard. He has that moxie -- he can go out there and lead the team. But really, it's about health, and it's about staying healthy and enduring what the league is going to bring to you during the season. So for us, with him staying healthy, I think he's surrounded by the right weapons. We just got to make sure he's on the field."
--The Lions still have confidence in RB Jahvid Best, who missed time last season as a rookie because of a turf-toe issue. Best had injury questions coming into the draft last year.
"Whatever we need him to do, he can do it," coach Jim Schwartz said at the recent league meeting. "Obviously, his toes didn't allow him to be able to do that for about eight or nine games in the middle of the season, and obviously he wasn't the player that he can be and that he is.
"But I think it says a little bit about him. If you do some research on turf toes, you look around the league, there's a lot of players that missed a month with a turf toe."
Best missed only one game, but he was affected by the injury.
Said Schwartz, "Jahvid could still do his job. He wasn't as good as he can be, but could he still contribute to the team? Yeah, and I think that's sort of what we tried to balance. Could we have gotten him back a little bit faster (if he had sat for a few games)? Maybe. Would it have lasted just as long? Maybe."
--The Lions are announcing on their website the draft-eligible players that visit the team.
Recent visitors were defensive end Aldon Smith of Missouri, and running backs Mikel Leshoure of Illinois and DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma.
Most teams don't announce visits, but Lions figured they have nothing to lose by trying to be secretive.
Said coach Jim Schwartz, "The fact is, everybody in the league knows. So if everybody in the league knows, it really doesn't matter. And if it's interesting for the fans, then I'm all for it."
Schwartz acknowledged that the Lions see what other teams are doing, but said often it doesn't mean much.
He said, "We didn't bring (running back) Jahvid Best in last year." The Lions traded into the end of the first round to select Best.
--QB Matthew Stafford tweeted on March 26 that he was "Feelin good after throwing a lot yesterday."
Asked about Stafford being affected by the lockout, Schwartz said, "I've heard a lot of people talk about young quarterbacks and the potential of missing offseason workouts and how it sets them back in their development. I know enough about Matt to know we're not really talking about that. We're talking about his health, not that he needs to learn the offense or he needs to become a more accurate thrower or he needs to learn the defenses or his work ethic needs to get better. He's not dealing with issues like that. He's dealing with the ability to be on the field and we are confident he is going to get that behind him."
--C Mike Pouncey from Florida and Pitt DE Greg Romeus visited the Lions in mid-March. Said Pouncey, "I loved the facilities. It's a nice town and I just loved the whole visit, meeting with the coaching staff and everyone."
Romeus said he's impressed with the team's defense. He said, "The Lions' defense is much different compared to other defenses that I've seen. It works. I love the way their scheme is presented with the way they're playing and just the hustling that they have on the field. It would be a great fit for me."
The Lions also have had visits from Colorado CB Jimmy Smith, Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara and Cal DE Cam Jordan. They have workouts scheduled with Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray, Virginia Union OT Dave Mims and Fresno State LB Chris Carter.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I don't think that there will be an agreement anytime soon. I'm saying that I'm not too hopeful, but I'm working out right now as if I'm getting a call any day that things are back on." -- WR Nate Burleson.
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