Detroit Lions Notes And Quotes
--As part of their preseason schedule, the Lions will play a nationally televised game against New England on CBS Saturday, Aug. 27.
--Quarterback Matthew Stafford won a charity quarterback challenge Saturday at halftime of University of Georgia's spring game. He competed against other Georgia quarterbacks Eric Zeier, D.J. Shockley and David Greene.
Stafford, who is now throwing after having shoulder surgery, won two of the three events. In one event, he threw a 50-yard pass that was dropped by a fan that had bid to be part of his team. In the tire throw, three of his five attempts from 13 yards away went through a car tire hanging from the cross bar.
Stafford reported that he refrained from doing anything "too crazy" and that his shoulder "felt good."
He said, "I've just been rehabbing with Dr. (James) Andrews and doing whatever he wants me to do and whatever my trainers at the rehab facility have told me to do. It hasn't gone too bad at all, it's actually gone pretty well. Obviously having surgery is not fun and being out is not fun, but being able to come back as quick as I did has been nice."
Green said, "He looked like he was feeling good. But, obviously, if he wasn't feeling great, he never would have participated in this. He's such a naturally good passer that it's good to see him back passing the ball. It was impressive watching him hit three out of five in the tire throw, which I thought was the hardest event of them all because if you touch the tire at all, it's going to kick out."
"He looks great," said Zeier. "We're just playing around out here, but he throws the ball great every time he steps onto the field. As soon as he got here to Athens (in 2006), he had the best arm we'd seen at Georgia and could make every through, and we're awfully proud of him.
"It's been a tough run for him with the injuries, but I think Detroit and the rest of the country are seeing what he's all about - the way he fights back, the way he continues to lead, and his attitude through it all."
Meanwhile, Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson said during an appearance on NFL Network recently 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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