• The Lions went back outside for both practices on Monday and wore full pads in the morning and helmets and shorts in the afternoon.
• In case you missed it, the Lions cleared out their PUP list by moving Shaun McDonald, Dan Campbell, and Daniel Bullocks to the active roster.
• A fan heckling Roy Williams during Monday's morning practice actually was ejected due to his behavior.  Here are the details of what happened:
  

  Mike Lazzara, 42, of Novi stood on the top step of the bleachers amid a sparse, mostly quiet crowd. He repeatedly shouted to Williams about taking plays off.
  
  “I didn’t use any profanity to him,” Lazzara said. “I wanted just to be constructive and tell the guy, ‘You know, I’m not making $20 million a season.’ The guy takes plays off. You guys look at the tape.”
  
  Williams heard Lazzara as he went back to the huddle, then walked over to the fence separating the fans from the field. Williams suggested they switch jobs, as some of his teammates yelled.
  
  “It just came out of nowhere, and I was like, ‘Huh?’ ” Williams said. “And he said it again, and I was just like, ‘What?’ And he said it again.”

  I'm not someone to say that you can't be negative at all, but this fan does seem to be in the wrong.  If you're going to be loud and yell at someone, don't call out Roy Williams for "taking plays off."  Use your frustration to repeatedly yell "Fire Millen" or something like that.  It makes no sense to go after Roy like that, especially in an obnoxious way.
  
• By the way, the final Lions practices open to the public this year are today.  The morning session begins at 8:35 a.m. and in the afternoon there will be a special teams practice at 3:30 p.m.
• Rod Marinelli isn't happy that the Lions lost out on signing Takeo Spikes.
• With Takeo Spikes not joining the Lions, there are many questions that remain regarding who will move to strong side linebacker and who will stay in the middle.  Between Jordon Dizon and Paris Lenon, someone will have to move to strong side linebacker, and the Lions hope it's Lenon.  Problem is, the chances of that happening are slim as Dizon is too inexperienced to be the starting middle linebacker right now, leaving Lions coaches facing quite the conundrum.
• For the first time this training camp, the Lions' entire starting offense practiced together.
• There is a very good chance the Lions could decide to keep five safeties on the 53-man roster, meaning Greg Blue would make the team.
• Stanley Wilson has officially been placed on the injured reserve list.
• The United Football League will welcome Mike Vick out of prison with open arms as it isn't likely he will be able to play in the NFL until 2010 at the earliest.
• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are reportedly going to play the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII.

• After having Friday off, the Lions returned to their indoor field on Saturday and had an early evening practice in helmets and shorts.  The Lions then went back to their usual two-a-days format on Sunday and practiced in both the morning and afternoon.  Both sessions were held in helmets and shorts.
• If you didn't check out Pride of Detroit over the weekend, then you may want to catch up on some transactions that happened and had an effect on the Lions.  For starters, Jason Hanson is out for at least a week (probably more) due to an injury, so the Lions waived Eddie Johnson and signed former Michigan State kicker Dave Rayner.  Similarly, Stanley Wilson is done for the season, so the Lions replaced him with cornerback Kiwaukee Thomas.  Also, Detroit released and signed a pair of offensive linemen.
  
  Finally, in a move that indirectly affects Detroit, the 49ers signed linebacker Takeo Spikes, who at one time appeared to be close to joining the Lions.
• Due to a bruised leg, wide receiver Calvin Johnson didn't participate in practice on Sunday and is day to day according to Rod Marinelli.  Also absent from practice were Jon Bradley, Cory Redding, Langston Moore, John Owens, Gilbert Gardner, and the three players on the PUP list.
• Although Kevin Smith practiced with the starting offense on Sunday, Rod Marinelli says that we shouldn't read into it as "there's no rotation right now."
• Dave Rayner is excited to play for the Lions.
• Decisions about what to do if the Lions win the coin toss will be made on a game-by-game basis.
• Marinelli was "pleased" with the way Lions rookies played in Thursday's preseason opener against the Giants.
• If you caught any of the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills over the weekend, you may have noticed Ben Curtis, who finished tied for second, was sporting Lions gear throughout the tournament.  Quite a few people were wondering if he was a Lions fan or was just doing it because he was in Michigan, but actually Curtis has a sponsorship deal with Reebok to sport NFL clothing, so he was wearing Lions apparel for contractual reasons.
• Also an interesting note from the PGA Championship is that the winner of the tournament, Padraig Harrington, is the second cousin of former Lions quarterback Joey Harrington.

Free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes drew great interest from the Detroit Lions last month before training camp started, but it's evident that the feeling wasn't mutual.  The Lions wanted Spikes to join the team and offered him a deal with the hope that he would sign a contract in time to get into training camp.  However, Spikes decided to wait and see if any other opportunities worth considering came about, and now it appears one did.

Specifically, Spikes appears to be headed to San Francisco as he is supposed to take a physical there today, and perhaps not so coincidentally, the 49ers have waived linebacker Brandon Moore.  That is a sure sign that Spikes will be a 49er shortly if he isn't already.

For the Lions, losing out on signing Spikes does sting.  He appeared to be close to signing with Detroit back in July and would have immediately upgraded the Lions' group of linebackers.  Instead, Detroit will have to survive with what they've got, which is a potential Pro Bowler in Ernie Sims, the always inconsistent Paris Lenon, and possibly the inexperienced Jordon Dizon should he move to outside linebacker. 

As you can imagine, adding Spikes would have been very nice, but the Lions will simply have to play the cards they're dealt.  If that means plugging Jordon Dizon into the starting lineup at outside linebacker or continuing to start Paris Lenon, then so be it.

UPDATE: The 49ers have signed Spikes.

• The Lions placed safety Daniel Bullocks, tight end Dan Campbell, wide receiver Shaun McDonald, and offensive guard Edwin Mulitalo on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.  The good news is that Ernie Sims was not on the PUP list, meaning his injury isn't too severe.  Detroit did still limit Sims somewhat as a precaution as you can never be too careful when dealing with your best linebacker.
• The four players mentioned above that are on the PUP list may return to practice full time shortly.  A player on the PUP list can be placed on the active roster at any time.  Once individual workouts are evaluated, if a player is healthy enough to practice, chances are he would be taken off the PUP list quickly.  That may be the case with at least one of the players currently on the PUP list, so stay tuned.
  
• Both of Detroit's two practices were held outside yesterday.  The morning session was conducted in full pads and in the afternoon players were in shells (only shoulder pads and helmets).
• Detroit filled the void created at linebacker by Caleb Campbell's departure by signing Leon Joe.  Joe has played in the NFL for four years.  Three were with Chicago before Joe played with the Bills last season.
• Rod Marinelli was surprised by Jordon Dizon's arrest.  He doesn't want something similar to happen to rookie running back Kevin Smith, so Marinelli is constantly stressing the importance of staying out of trouble to him.
• Speaking of Kevin Smith, aside from being told to stay out of trouble, he is also finding out about the need to run lower.  Although his upright style at UCF put him in the record books, in the NFL running like that is a good way to get injured.
• Takeo Spikes doesn't appear to be interested in signing very quickly, but Detroit has offered him a contract to join the Lions.  It's a waiting game now to see if Spikes takes the deal.
• Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus has an endorsement deal with Under Armour.
• Center Dominic Raiola and defensive tackle Cory Redding were pumped to get practice started.
• Jamie Samuelsen believes Lions fans will not like what they see this season.  I hope that's not the case, but based on previous seasons I can't disagree.
• MLive has audio of Matt Millen's appearance on WDFN.
• Tom Kowalski ran down a list of tidbits from the Lions' morning practice.
• The Free Press has posted a couple of photo galleries and a short video from the Lions' first day of training camp.
• For more pictures and video, as well as audio, check out the training camp section on DetroitLions.com.

After visiting the Lions last week, free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes has a new job if he wants it.  The Lions want to sign Spikes as soon as today in order to get him in town for the start of training camp, but that doesn't appear likely at this time.  Spikes is still "exploring other options," which I can't fault him for at all.  If he can find a team better than Detroit that wants him, then by all means go for it.

“I think there’s a chance if we can come to terms that we could get him before camp,” coach Rod Marinelli said today.

“There’s an interest there on both sides,” president Matt Millen said. “I think he wants to still look at some things. We’ll be patient.”

Even though Spikes finished last season on the injured reserve, he was having a good year before he was sidelined.  After all, the Eagles' main reason for releasing him was based on saving money, so it's not that he can't play or something like that.

I've previously said that I'm for brining Spikes in simply because he is a better middle linebacker than anyone else on the current roster.  He is an upgrade over Paris Lenon and certainly is better than Jordon Dizon, who is only a rookie.

Spikes would be able to join the Lions and likely jump to the starting spot at MLB fairly quickly.  On top of that, having a veteran like Spikes around would be good for the younger players as he could serve as a mentor to them.

I highly doubt the Lions will be able to get Spikes signed before training camp gets underway, but I do think he'll join the team before long.  There's always the chance that a better offer could come along in the meantime, but for the Lions' sake I hope no other teams come calling.

Free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes did visit the Lions recently.  A Lions official confirmed that to the Detroit Free Press, which confirms an earlier report from the NFL Network.  Spikes was released in March by the Eagles as the move saved Philadelphia $5 million in regards to the salary cap.

"Takeo did a really good job for us last year," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "But we are excited about the young linebackers that have developed over the last year. We wish Takeo all the best. He's a true team player on and off the field."

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this visit in the future as Detroit could use help at the middle linebacker position.  Although the Lions shouldn't go and break the bank for a linebacker that is past his best days, they certainly should consider signing him.

Looking at the currrent MLB situation, there's no way anyone can seriously tell me that Spikes is worse than Paris Lenon or Jordon Dizon, so if the right opportunity presents itself, the Lions definitely should bring Spikes in.  He would improve the starting group of linebackers for sure, and although there is the chance he could get injured or something like that, I'd say the risk is worth the reward if the price is right.

Supposedly (I didn't see the report, but have received a few e-mails about it) the NFL Network recently reported that free agent middle linebacker Takeo Spikes was scheduled to visit the Lions today.  Spikes was released by the Eagles earlier this offseason after only one season in Philly.  The move was based primarily on money as the Eagles saved $5 million in cap space by cutting Spikes, but performance was undoubtedly a factor as well. 

Spikes' better years are definitely behind him, but he would probably be an upgrade at the MLB position for the Lions.  Let's be honest, Jordon Dizon doesn't really seem like someone that is ready to come in and make any type of impact at MLB, so having a veteran like Spikes on the roster can't hurt.

I suppose we'll find out more in the coming days about whether or not this visit actually happened, and if it did, what it means for the Lions.  If Detroit could sign Spikes for the right price, I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Lions uniform this season.