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HOT TOPIC
The process hasn't been entirely obstacle-free, but Lions first-year coach Rod Marinelli seems to be getting his point across to his players.
The message he has been driving at since convincing Lions president Matt Millen he was the man for the job last January is that hard work is the only way for the Lions to lift themselves out of the five-year rut that has produced only 21 victories in 80 NFL games.
Marinelli has encountered resistance to be sure.
Quarterback Joey Harrington came in for an early "quarterback school" and asked to be traded -- not because of the workload apparently but because he was uncomfortable in the setting that had been virtually nothing but grief for the past four years.
But when the Lions got the first taste of Camp Marinelli at a voluntary mini-camp, an unknown player or players filed a grievance, apparently because of the intensity of the camp. The NFL agreed and docked Marinelli two days of organized team activities.
And, most recently, second-year receiver Mike Williams was sent home from a three-day mandatory mini-camp, apparently because he was late or missed meetings and rehab sessions with the Lions training staff.
Gradually, however, the message seems to be soaking in and most of the players are buying into it.
They understand now that their conditioning program of the past simply doesn't measure up to what Marinelli, his coordinators and assistant coaches expect and are demanding of them.
Recently, a huge, heavy rock appeared in the team's locker room at Allen Park. It sits on an equipment trunk for all to see as they pass. And on one side of the rock is the message: "NOT GOOD ENOUGH."
In other words, Marinelli expects them to pound the rock every day of the off-season workouts, through training camp and the regular season. And eventually, he says it will break; they will get the results they're seeking.
"Bam. Focus. Every down," Marinelli explained. "Just pounding that thing with everything you have. Either it breaks or it doesn't break. That's not the issue. It's the swing that counts."
PLAYER NOTES
--Mike Williams, who was criticized during his rookie season for being late for meetings and lackadaisical in his approach to workouts, apparently is still less than diligent in his work habits.
The Lions' second-year wide receiver was dismissed from the final two days of the team's mandatory mini-camp, and sources say it was for the same reasons that got him into disfavor with the previous coaching staff.
Coach Rod Marinelli declined to get into specifics, saying only that Williams had been excused because of a team issue, but reports surfaced that Williams was late for at least one hamstring treatment and missed a meeting before being sent home.
Williams was back at work in the organized team activities the following week. "He's here working and that was the whole thing," Marinelli said. "He's here and he had a good start this week, very good."
Williams would say only that he had been working out during the off-season and would not let the incident overshadow all of the work he had done.
The Lions took Williams in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He caught 29 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown but was criticized for being overweight, out of shape and did not practice or prepare well.
He has been bothered by a hamstring injury during the off-season workouts, but said he had committed himself to losing weight and getting in better condition.
--Two Hall of Famers and one Hall of Fame could-have-been who wore the same number during their Lions career got a chance to spend some time together at the Lions' annual charity golf outing.
The players -- running backs Barry Sanders and Billy Sims, and defensive back Lem Barney -- all wore the number 20, which was retired by the team in 2004.
Sanders and Barney are both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; many feel that Sims would have been a Hall of Famer also if he had not blown out a knee in a career-ending injury midway in his fifth season with the Lions.
The three players were listed as "The Roaring 20s" and honorary co-chairmen of the 16th annual Detroit Lions Invitational golf tournament.
"The three of us always have a good time when we're together," Sanders told The Detroit News. "It's a natural fit."
Sims was the only one of the three who wore 20 before joining the Lions. He wore it at Hooks (Texas) High School and also at Oklahoma, where he won a Heisman Trophy. Barney wore No. 26 at Jackson State but was assigned 20 when he was drafted by the Lions in 1967 and Sanders, who wore No. 21 at Oklahoma State, inherited the number 20 after being drafted in the first round in 1989.
--The Lions coaches aren't saying which of their players has done the best job in the off-season conditioning program, but the consensus among the players is that it must be one of the defensive backs.
Kick and punt returner Eddie Drummond said his vote goes to second-year cornerback Stanley Wilson.
Running back Kevin Jones said he believes safety Terrence Holt is in the best shape of any of the Lions players.
And cornerback Fernando Bryant has a perfect explanation of why he and his teammates in the secondary are the best-conditioned players on the roster.
"We do more running than anybody," Bryant said. "The wide receivers kind of rotate a little bit but if you're a DB, you're in there for your reps."
And who would be the least-conditioned player on the team?
"I don't want to mention any names," said one player, laughing, "but it's got to be one of the big boys."
Interpret that as one or several of the offensive linemen.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The job competition already has begun in at least one area -- the offensive line. Line coach Larry Beightol has 20 players participating in workouts and will have to let at least a few of them go before the Lions even get to training camp.
The mandatory mini-camp in early June provided the only glimpse so far of how the new coaching staff views the team. The receiving corps drew a great deal of attention, although two of last year's regulars -- Mike Williams and Scottie Vines -- did not participate because of minor injuries.
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz had Roy Williams and free agent acquisition Corey Bradford working as the starters in the base offense, with Glenn Martinez and free agent acquisition Mike Furrey in the second group, followed by former first-round pick Charles Rogers and kick returner Eddie Drummond in the third group. Furrey also got most of the work in the slot with the first offense.
Fullback Cory Schlesinger is not a part of all the offensive packages but is still viewed as needed for his blocking ability and running back Artose Pinner worked frequently as the fourth back, an indication he might be scrambling for a roster spot in August.
Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson is excited about first-round pick linebacker Ernie Sims and second-round pick safety Daniel Bullocks, but he didn't have either of them working with the first defense.
Cornerback Fernando Bryant, who missed most of the past two seasons with injuries, was lining up with Dre' Bly as the starting corners.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: OT Jeff Backus (re-signed tendered worth $6.983M).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Matt Grootegoed (not tendered as ERFA).
--LB Earl Holmes (not tendered June 1).
--WR Kevin Johnson (not tendered June 1).
--S Scott McGarrahan (not tendered June 1).
--S Bracy Walker (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--WR Glenn Martinez spent most of the 2005 season on the practice squad but was active for five games, made one catch for 11 yards. Likely to be re-signed.
--TE Sean McHugh played three games late in the season after TE Casey FitzSimmons suffered a concussion and had no catches.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Jeff Backus: Franchise FA; $6.983M/1 yr).
--RB Shawn Bryson: Potential UFA; $4.5M/3 yrs, $1.5M SB.
--LB James Davis: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--DE Jared DeVries: UFA; 5 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR/KR Eddie Drummond: UFA; $6M/4 yrs, $2M SB; 2006 cap: $985,000.
--DE Kalimba Edwards: UFA; $20M/5 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
--TE Casey FitzSimmons: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--C Brock Gutierrez: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Terrence Holt: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--LS Don Muhlbach: ERFA; terms unknown.
--RB Artose Pinner: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DE Cory Redding: RFA; $1.573M/1 yr.
--LB LeVar Woods: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--S Idrees Bashir: UFA Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Corey Bradford: UFA Texans; $7.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--TE Dan Campbell: UFA Cowboys; 5 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Jamar Fletcher: UFA Chargers; terms unknown.
--WR Mike Furrey: Not tendered as RFA by Rams; $540,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--RB Arlen Harris: Not tendered as RFA by Rams; $500,000/1 yr.
--OG Tyrone Hopson: FA; terms unknown.
--DE Tyoka Jackson: UFA Rams; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Jon Kitna: UFA Bengals; $11.5M/4 yrs, $3.5M SB.
--LB Paris Lenon: UFA Packers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Josh McCown: UFA Cardinals; $6M/2 yrs, $2M SB.
--OT Barry Stokes: UFA Falcons; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--OL Rex Tucker: UFA Rams; $3.65M/3 yrs, $1M SB.
--OL Courtney VanBuren (not tendered as RFA by Chargers; terms unknown).
PLAYERS LOST
--WR Troy Edwards: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
--QB Jeff Garcia: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Andre Goodman: UFA Dolphins; $5M/3 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Joey Harrington: Traded Dolphins.
--OG Kyle Kosier: UFA Cowboys; $15M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
--OG David Loverne (released).
--CB R.W. McQuarters: UFA Giants; $6M/3 yrs, $2M SB.
--LB Wali Rainer: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
--FB Paul Smith: UFA Rams; terms unknown.
--LB Nate Wayne (released).
--DT Dan Wilkinson (released).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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