Martin Mayhew in Alabama, Shawn Jefferson at Fresno

Lions GM Martin Mayhew attended Alabama's second pro day.

Three prospects worked out:

RB Trent Richardson.

Richardson wins the National Championship

Richardson will be long gone by the time we select at # 23.

DE Courtney Upshaw.

Most project Upshaw as a 3-4 OLB. He carries over 270 lbs. and runs a mid 4.7. For the Lions, he would be a hand in the ground DE. He lacks the explosive burst the Lions need at DE but is a tough hombre. I could see him sliding over the guard on passing downs. I would be surprised if we took him at # 23.

S Mark Barron

Intriguing prospect at #23. Really the only pro ready safety in the entire draft. At about 225 lbs. Barron will run 4.5 when healthy. A force against the run and enough range in the pass game. He will be in the discussion at # 23. I rehabbing from double hernia surgery.


WR Coach Shawn Jefferson has hit the road. He visited Florida International WR T.Y. Hilton and Fresno State WR Devon Wylie.

Coach Jefferson

At Florida International T. Y. Hilton weighed in at 5'9" 183. He ran 4.34 in the 40 and 35.5" in the vert. Hilton I project will be a 4th round pick.

Hilton would be a 4th WR and KR

                                                Hilton vs. Louisville 2011


Devon Wylie at Fresno State has drawn comparisons to Wes Welker. Small, shifty and quick Wylie is the perfect slot in the NFL. He is a daring punt returner with speed in the open field. He ran 4.39 at the Combine and had 39" VJ.

Wylie chewed up Nebraska

I believe the Lions will take a WR in the 4th or 5th round to be groomed to replace Nate Burleson and return kicks. Hilton, Wylie are on the list.

Lions re-sign RB Kevin Smith

Smith a former 3rd round pick in 2008 by Matt Millen is back for another shot with the Lions. He is a veteran of 42 NFL games and 30 starts. He has rushed for 2212 yards and 16td.  As reliable receiver he has amassed 113 receptions for 1003 yards and 4tds. He lost 4 fumbles and made 5 tackles.

Here is a Tribute:

Smith loses a fumble in the 0-16 rookie year

Smith blows out an ACL against the Ravens

Smith celebrates a rare win for him at Oakland

Welcome back to the D

Lions draft process as of 3-23

Here are the Lions interviews, visits and pro day scouting as of Friday:

Pro days:

Georgia, Ga Tech, Illinois, Hawaii, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Miami, Oklahoma State, FIU, OSU, Mississippi St, Marshall, Oregon State, CMU, WMU, Temple, Iowa, Houston, Wake Forest, ODU, Lou-Lafayette, Boise State, Baylor, Boston College, VA Tech, Penn State

Interviews:

Senior Bowl: Doug Martin, Chris Polk, Boom Herron, Zack Brown, Zebrie Sanders, Trenton Robinson, Mike Adams, Janoris Jenkins

Combine: David DeCastro, Melvin Ingram, Stephon Gilmore

Visits: Josh Norman, Mike Adams, Dre Kirkpatrick, Braylon Broughton DE TCU,

Kelechi Osemele, LaMichael James

Lions Sign DE Everette Brown, Re-sign LS Don Muhlbach, TE Will Heller

Lions Re-sign LS Don Muhlbach. Don is an 8 year veteran who has snapped for 116 NFL games.

Longsnapper Don Muhlbach forces a fumble vs. the Saints in 2009

Lions Re-sign TE Will Heller. Heller was released from his last year of his contract. Re-signed for the veterans minimum.

Heller scores the game winning TD vs. the Pack in 2010

Lions sign Free Agent DE Everette Brown. Brown a 2nd round bust for the Panthers in 2009. They traded a 2010 1st round pick for him. He was waived in training camp in 2011. He has 31 NFL games and 3 starts under his belt with 6 career sacks.

This is a guy that could fit into the Lions style of defense. He ran 4.65 at the combine with 26 bench reps. He can rush up field much like Avril. A complete liabilty against the run. The Lions have had luck converting to washouts to functional players on the D-Line. Examples include Lawrence Jackson and Turk McBride.

Here is a tribute:

Brown as a Panther

As a Seminole

Welcome to Detroit

Lions bring back LB Ashlee Palmer

Palmer, a 4 year man out of ole miss, was re-signed today. He was acquired off waivers in 2010. A veteran of 46 NFL games, he has played In 32 Lions games. He started 5 games in 2010. He has been credited with 61 tackles and 3 forced fumbles for the team.

He was not tendered as a restricted free agent, but his value on special teams and the ability to play all three LB spots got him a new one year contract.

Welcome back to the D

Lions sign free agent CB Jacob Lacey

A 4th year man from Oklahoma State was not tendered as free agent by the Colts.

He is a veteran of 43 games and 27 starts. 221 tackles 5 picks two for td.

His pro day at Oklahoma State 3/11/2009 his stats:

4.45 40 41 VJ 11 225 reps 911 Broad 4.25 20 7.51 cone

Here is a tribute:

Pick 6 for Lacey

Pick 6 at OSU

Welcome to the D

Lions Re-sign MLB Stephen Tulloch

a 5 year deal for Stephen Tulloch. He started all 16 games and led the team with 111 tackles. He also chipped in 2 picks and 2 fumbles recovered. With this signing, the Lions return 21 of 22 starters from last years 10-6 playoff team.

Here is a tribute:

Tulloch Tebows

TD vs the Vikes

More Ford Field smoke for #55

Welcome back to the D

Lions re-sign Andre Fluellen

Signing a 1 year deal to return to Lions, Andre Fluellen will be be in fifth year with the club. A veteran of 51 games and 5 starts. He has been credited with 47 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He will compete for the 9th D-line position:

Here is a tribute:

Welocme back to the D

Lions re-sign Backus and Hill

After Losing Drew Stanton to the Jets and losing out on OT Eric Winston to the Chiefs, the Lions re-sign two of their own.

OT Jeff Backus re-upped for 2 years at $10 mil.

2 more years for Jeff

2 years as well for QB Shaun Hill.

Shaun Hill gets a 2 year deal

I believe the Lions will try re-sign LB Stephen Tulloch to a deal averaging around $4 million
per season.

Tulloch praying for $6 mil a year

Losing Eric Wright, Drew Stanton, and possibly Andre Fluellen will give the Lions at least 2 compensatory picks. Likely a 4th and a 7th.

Losing Wright to Tampa could net us a 4th round pick

Drew Stanton signs with the Jets

Lions Third String QB Drew Stanton has signed a one year contract for $1.25 million with the Jets.

He played 13 games starting 4 winning 2. He passed for 1058 5td and 9 picks. he rushed for 172 yard and 2 tds. A superstar in the preseason he had 835 yards passing with 9td and only 1 pick.

Here is a tribute:

Drew Stanton with Mr. C

Stanton cannot ponder another year in Detroit

Peace

Lions re-sign S Erik Coleman

Lions have brought back veteran safety Erik Coleman. He appeared in 4 games last season before an ankle injury vs. Dallas. Coleman is a good special teams player but struggled in coverage. He failed to unseat Amari Spievey.

Here ia tribute:

Welcome back to Detroit

Lions re-sign Calvin Johnson

8 years $130,000,000. Reduces cap # for this year. Makes him the highest paid player in NFL.

He deserves it.

We will see more of this

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and this

Calvin keeps his lockers in Allen Park

Congrats Calvin

Eric Wright signs with Tampa

The Lions have lost starting CB Eric Wright to the Bucs. He was the only CB to start all 16 games and the playoff last year. He 74 tackles and 4 picks. He like the rest of the secondary was wildly inconsistent. His contract with the Bucs is 5 years $37.5 with $15.5 guaranteed. I agree with the Lions no way is he worth that.

This move leaves the Lions with Chris Houston, Aaron Berry, Alphonso Smith, Don Carey and Ross Weaver as corners under contract.

Here is a tribute:

Pick vs. the Falcons

Flexing vs. the niners

Signing via Twitter

Peace

Lions restructure contracts and waive TE Will Heller

In order to get under the salary cap the Lions restructured contracts of Nate Burleson, Matthew Stafford and ndamkong Suh. All of them shifted salary to bonus. None took a pay cut.

In addition TE Will Heller was waived. He played 3 seasons with Detroit. Playing In 48 games starting 21. He caught 39 passes with 4 touchdowns.

He started the playoff game vs. the Saints and caught the first touchdown. He also scored the winning touchdown vs. the Packers in 2010.

Here is a tribute

Heller scores a TD in the Playoffs

Scroing the winning TD vs GB in 2010

Good Luck Will

Lions franchise DE Cliff Avril

This tag means over $10 millions cap hit.

Here is a tribute:

Cliff finds out he is franchised

Cliff Strips Tebow

DeAndre Levy tendered at almost $2 mil. Sammie Hill and Corey Hilliard are tendered at $1.25 million. I estimate the Lions to be about $6 million over the cap. They will have to restructure or release contracts by Monday.

Here are salaries for 2012

Nate Burleson $4 million
Dom Raiola $3.4 mill
Stephen Peterman $2.75
Gosder Cherlius $2.3 mill
Corey Williams $4.9 mil
KVB $5 mill
Chris Houston $3 mil
Jason Hanson $2.5 mil

Spent the day in Allen Park

Attending the 2nd Strength & Conditioning clinic at the Lions training facility in Allen Park:

Here are the scenes:

Front door to 222 Republic Drive

Picture of the 1957 team

Inside the weight room

Ted Rath putting in work

Power platform

The Prowler

Ted Rath and Mr.C

The lockers of Suh and Stafford

The lockers of Calvin Johnson

The Locker of WMU grad Louis Delmas

Great day

GO Lions