Friday Notes: Recapping Thursday's OTA

by Sean Yuille on May 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT in Notes Comment 10 comments

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, talks with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan during drills at the team's football practice facility in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

6 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, talks with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan during drills at the team's football practice facility in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Browse more photos »

NFL.com has a minute-long video showing some highlights of Matthew Stafford from yesterday's OTA.
Stafford's performance yesterday was nothing surprising. He made some bad throws but threw the ball like a No. 1 pick at times as well. He took reps with the No. 2 group, so he didn't get to throw the ball to Calvin Johnson. Daunte Culpepper, who was "the sharpest," according to Dave Birkett, had that luxury. Drew Stanton was the QB splitting reps with Stafford in the No. 2 group, and he "had a pretty good day throwing the ball." In the end, though, Birkett came to this conclusion:

But Stafford remains the most talented. Even with the veterans, his passes seem to get on the receiver as soon as they turn around.
My guess is that once Stafford learns the ins and outs of the offense, he will get more and more of the No. 2 reps. Obviously the Lions don't want to just forget about Stanton, but I imagine by training camp Stafford will start to pick up more reps, hopefully to the point where he gets to work out with the No. 1 team every once in a while.
Rookies should expect to hear it from veterans for being a rookie; that's just part of getting acclimated to the NFL. If the rookie is the top overall pick of the draft, though, he should expect to hear about how much money he has, as was the case with Stafford on Thursday.

"A guy couldn't catch me coming out of a bootleg, and he said, 'Sorry, I was just picking up all the money falling out of your pockets,'" Stafford said, laughing. "Just funny stuff like that. But they've all been great, welcoming me."
Eric Hicks later admitted he made the comment after Jared DeVries ratted him out.
Don't expect to find Stafford in any GQ photo shoots like the one Mark Sanchez did.

"No, I haven't had any offers, but my abs aren't as cut as those of Mark Sanchez," Stafford joked after Thursday's OTA workout. "But, yeah, I saw that. I'm gonna have to give him a call about that."

Asked if he thought Sanchez's photos were airbrushed, Stafford laughed and shook his head, "I don't know. We're not THAT good of friends."
That would have been the quote of the day if Hicks hadn't used the "money falling out of your pockets" line during practice.
Newly signed offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam only participated in individual drills during the OTA on Thursday.
Jim Schwartz thinks free agent Roderick Hood "was still in the exploratory range" when he visited the Lions, so don't get your hopes up that he will end up in Detroit.
Defensive end Dewayne White missed Thursday's OTA, which was voluntary, for personal reasons. Fellow defensive lineman Grady Jackson hasn't practiced yet this offseason due to the problems with his brother, but he is now back with the team.
Safeties Stuart Schweigert and Daniel Bullocks and defensive end Jason Hunter also sat out practice on Thursday.
Louis Delmas is serving as the punt team's personal protector, which lines up basically as a fullback and barks out different things relating to blocking and blitzing.
I was pleasantly surprised to find no new FanPosts about Michael Vick considering he was released from prison earlier this week. I've reiterated before that the Lions have no interest in him, but hopefully by letting Jim Schwartz do basically the same thing, there will be little to no mention of Vick on this site in the future.
The Free Press and MLive have photo galleries from Thursday.
The 49ers signed Dre' Bly to a one-year deal, and another former Lions cornerback, Brian Kelly, was brought in for a physical.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

ROFL

I was wondering what the Sanchez remark was about. I don’t think I could have stomached (pun intended) that in Detroit. I am happy with our pick.

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on May 22, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re Sanchez

That is exactly the kind of stuff I would hate my potential future star player to do. Maybe once you have established yourself in this league you can do some cute photoshoot, but until then stay low and concentrate on your football…

by Schuxu on May 22, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dirty Sanchez

What a ho**……..

Stafford may be the QB of the future, but Culpepper is the MAN right now.

by KDawg on May 22, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I must admit...

Stafford is growing on me….I was against the Lions picking him because I thought the biggest need was MLB. WIth the signing of Foote and some of the things being said by Stafford, I think more and more this was a solid pick. I had the impression he was kind of a spoiled brat but he seems to be anything but that. Hard working, intelligent, good sense of humor and grounded. He obviously needs to keep this up for more than just a month, but I am coming around! and trust me, that is hard to admit.

by gotothejoe on May 22, 2009 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

you’re thinking like me. Be afraid about that, dude, be very afraid

by JazzyBBP on May 23, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Vick.

by CLF on May 22, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dude the Lions should totally bring him in...

…I think it would help morale IMMENSELY…

by Nate D. on May 22, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

CLF have you been a proponent of bringing Vick in all along, or are you just changing your mind all of a sudden?

by KDawg on May 23, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stafford

I’ve been impressed with the way he’s carried himself so far and he seems to have made a positive impression in the locker room. So glad he’s not doing GQ photo shoots with his shirtt off like Sanchez. There was an E60 special on ESPN where Maria Sharapova picked Stafford as the one guy she’d like to make over so he had to do some photo shoots with her and you could completely tell that it was not his cup of tea.

by Stones1981 on May 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs