Tuesday Notes: Lewand, Mayhew Continue to Leave Public in the Dark

by Sean Yuille on Apr 21, 2009 4:59 AM EDT in Notes Comment 15 comments

Just as they have done all offseason, Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand are doing an excellent job of keeping fans wondering who the top pick will be. Tom Lewand made some comments yesterday that seemed to be setting up fans for Matthew Stafford, as he stressed the importance of building for the long-term.

"Our sincere hope is that (the fans are) going to be very happy, not only this weekend but, more importantly, a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, when the people we select this weekend are part of that cornerstone of the franchise that we're confident they'll become.''

"If we look at just next year, I think that's short-sighted. I think we have to look at -- whether it's the first pick, the 20th pick, the 33rd pick or the 82nd pick -- you need to look at guys who can come in and contribute long-term for this franchise. And that's the goal. When we talk about building our franchise through the draft, that's what you look at. It's not the quick fix, it's not who can come in and help immediately -- although that's important and you want that, too. But if you look only at that, you're missing the forest for the trees.''
If I went off that and nothing else, I would be inclined to go ahead and fill in Stafford's name in my draft tracker. However, Lewand wasn't the only one to speak recently. Martin Mayhew was also interviewed and seemed to be gushing over Aaron Curry. Take it for what it's worth since he dished out compliments to everyone, but it seemed like Mayhew had a hard time holding back his smile when talking about Curry. Take a look:

Fans at the logo/uniform unveiling chanted Aaron Curry's name as well as "don't draft Stafford."
Yahoo! Sports' Shutdown Corner put together a podcast that runs through the first-round of SB Nation's mock draft. We actually phoned in our picks, so make sure to check it out.
The Free Press has a photo gallery from yesterday's unveiling. The Lions have one as well.
The Lions in Winter has a couple up-close pictures of the new jerseys.
Apparently there will be changes made to the atmosphere for Lions games next season, but the team won't be adding cheerleaders. I still don't get that. Throw us a bone, will ya?
Bleeding Green Nation and Mile High Report, SB Nation's Eagles and Broncos blogs, respectively, will be at the draft this weekend as credentialed members of the media. This is awesome news and a big step in the right direction when it comes to the NFL dealing with blogs. I wish I could go to the draft in that capacity sometime in the future, but with the draft falling right in the middle of finals week, the chances of that happening seem slim.
Less than ten players tested positive for drugs at the combine, according to Pro Football Talk, and B.J. Raji, Vontae Davis, Clay Matthews, and Brian Cushing were not on the list. It looks like SI owes Raji an apology, as does NFLDraftBible.com. They need to issue one to all of the players mentioned, as it looks like they were dead wrong.
SB Nation has a new Michigan State blog called The Only Colors, referring to a line from the school's fight song.
Pride of Detroit shattered its single-day record for page views yet again yesterday. Thanks to all of the logo-related news, POD ended up with over 28,000 views. I can't wait to see what the numbers will be for this weekend.

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This weekend will be huge

on here, Sean. I know I’ll be here most of the day and only blogging about the Lions picks on my site.

Probably double your highest view day. That’s my guess. Close to 54,000 page views.

I has a blog

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Apr 21, 2009 7:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We may not have to wait until the draft for that to happen

Over 18k already today thanks to it being the top result on Live search when somebody enters (Detroit Lions new uniforms). :-0

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 21, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the single-day record has been destroyed again

WOW!

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 21, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it’s been amazing to see all the new commenters/fanposts etc ramp up over the past couple of months. Seems like POD, of all the SBNation blogs I read regularly, had the biggest jump since the Yahoo linkage occurred…and all this, for an 0-16 team…incredible….

you’re gonna have to run about 5 POD ff leagues in the fall, Sean….

(on a different note….did I really start coming around here in September 06 like the profile page says? It doesn’t feel that long ago…)

by ahtrap on Apr 21, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding

A ton of people signed up for the FF drawing last year and that was before POD’s popularity took off. I can’t even imagine this summer.

And I had the same thought about how long this site has been up. This is the fourth draft I’ve covered for POD. The 3-year anniversary of the site is next week I think.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 21, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I signed up

at the beginning of March. I wished I had found this site when you first started it. It would have helped me through last year’s 0-16 disaster.

by James L on Apr 21, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congrats on this Sean!

You do a great job here and even if I’m not posting as much as I used to, I’m still checking in on you pretty frequently. Actually, the conversations are going so fast I miss half of them even if I wanted to post!

Anyway, you’ve done a great job making the site the premier place for Lions information and I’ve enjoyed watching this site blossom over the last six months. It’s a great thing for Lions fans!

by DrewsLions on Apr 21, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1000

I’ve watched and participated in this site since almost the beginning and it’s been great seeing it evolve and grow. The last 6 months have been phenomenal for POD. A testament to your great work and that of the SBNation gurus. It’ll be the top SBN NFL site before long, if it’s not already. Lions fans, for the most part, are quite knowledgeable on the team and players and most of us live and die with the Lions. It also nice to see folks who are fans of other teams come on here and participate. Fun time for all!!

I has a blog

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Apr 21, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a testament all your great work Sean

I’m so very happy that the site has become very popular, I’ve been here for nearly a year now and it feels like a home for me. Without this site, I think my I might’nt love the Lions as much as I do right now. A big THANKS to everyone.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 21, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uniwatch

had some interesting stuff to say about the new jerseys and logo.

Some of it I disagree with, like the numbers. I really like the new numbers.

Interesting read nonetheless.

Uniwatch

by explosivo2k2 on Apr 21, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Since you can't make the draft as a corespondent

Maybe you could send one of the faithful contributors to your glorious site in your place?

by ATL Lion on Apr 21, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will be here..

all day. I feel like a five year couple of days before Christmas. You see all the presents under the tree. You just hope that the one toy you really wanted is there.

by JCruize on Apr 21, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

did anyone notice that...

i watched the video of mayhew a few times to see if he showed his hand at all, and one thing does stick out to me: when speaking of both aaron curry and eugene monroe, he used the word “love” to begin to describe said player. he speaks glowingly of the other prospects, but it seems to show that he really likes curry and monroe the best. personally, i’d LOVE to see the lions draft either one of those guys!

by BriansLions on Apr 21, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just don't tell me you zoomed in on his pants.

by NorthLeft12 on Apr 21, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the draft

just get here already!!!

ive been impressed with what the new regime has done in the offseason so far, given that they had to deal with trying to improve a 0-16 team. i believe in what ive seen so far.

its been a long while since detroit has had a road-grater on the o-line, if ever, and would like to see one picked with the first pick. i, too, am on the “dont draft stafford” bandwagon. curry is intriguing, but i would sleep just as well with maleluga as our middle backer.

i cant wait!!!

by big smoove on Apr 21, 2009 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs