Friday Notes: Lions Open Rookie Minicamp Today

by Sean Yuille on May 1, 2009 1:20 AM EDT in Notes Comment 10 comments

The Lions' three-day rookie minicamp begins today. So far the team hasn't released a list of who will participate in the minicamp, but I'm sure one will be out shortly.
The Lions have promoted Sheldon White to vice president of pro personnel. He was the director of pro personnel prior to his promotion, where he was in charge of the scouts that looked at NFL players. He held that position beginning in 2000.
Charlie Sanders seems like he is going to serve as a mentor for Brandon Pettigrew. Sanders also relayed a saying that is a perfect comparison to the Lions.

"I will do it with anybody," Sanders said. "This is my home. This is my team. It might not be the best, but it is mine. Don't disrespect it. It is kind of like the old saying. 'Hey that is my wife. She might be ugly, but she is mine. Don't disrespect her.' "
Hopefully this year's draft, new front office, and new coaching staff is like a bunch of plastic surgery that will make the wife beautiful again.
Kevin Carter, a free agent defensive end who visited the Lions earlier this week, is going to make a decision about where he wants to play sometime in the near future.
The NFL Network was supposed to be removed from Comcast's lineup beginning at midnight, but apparently things are looking better in their negotiations. Comcast has decided to keep NFL Network alive on its system for now as negotiations continue. I was all set to cancel the sports tier, as the only reason I even have it is for NFL Network. Considering how quality of a channel it is, they ought to move it to the non-digital cable package. I would gladly trade one of the crappy channels I never watch for it.
Chris Spielman is a 2009 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Shaun McDonald signed with the Steelers.
Why did a plane fly from Minneapolis to Brett Favre's hometown?

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Comments

Lions will be significantly better....

….this season, if for no other reason but because we have pulled in Jim Schwartz and veteran players such as Grady Jackson, Julian Peterson, and possibly Kevin Carter. There are more reasons too.

The more I see of Stafford, the more comfortable I become. He’s better than Harrington was in college…no doubt about it. I’ve been a Stafford hater all along, and I still want to make him prove himself after signing that contract….but I am starting to believe.

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on May 1, 2009 1:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree to a point...

Then we all the get pleasure of reading that the personnel director for the last 9 years was just promoted to VP. Still plenty of work to do in that front office I think. Couldn’t have been ALL Millen’s fault that they drafted/scouted horrible players.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 1, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree BIGW

I read an earlier article about Mayhew [on this site I believe] and he said he was very happy with the Lions’ scouts and was not planning any changes.

That worried me then, and still worries me now. It is easy to stick Millen with all the bad decisions, but poor personnel selection has been a problem with the Lions since the seventies right up to the present. I would like to believe that there is some ongoing process at Allen Park where a scout’s evaluations are reviewed every year to see if his projections match up with the players actual NFL performance.

But of course they could always blame lousy coaching or injuries, but eventually a bad scout would be found out.

by NorthLeft12 on May 1, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least the Lions are honest

Anyone else think it was kind of funny that on the Lions website the picture they have up is the team in punt formation. Hopefully this isn’t a prelude to the upcoming year. I know they are just trying to show the whole team at once but I would have thought maybe it would have been in an offensive formation.

by qbdoyle1 on May 1, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

kinda off topic but...

I really really DONT like Tom Lewand. He’s a administrator not a talent evaluator.

by I3usdriver on May 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Runnin' Rebel on May 1, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember Lewand and Mayhew’s first press conference like it was yesterday(kinda). Lewand said that Martin was going to handle the player evaluation while he(Lewand) would take care of the signings and legal what-evers. Then they sourced Pittsburgh, and a couple other teams, I can’t remember which ones, saying they have a plan, and they’re consistent, that’s why they’re championship teams.

I hope we can start straying away from the plan of drafting offense before defense…and losing before winning.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 1, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs