After reading this article, it seems that Matthew Stafford might actually be healthy:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6248337

Here is the quote from farther down int he story...

"It's all because of the" collective bargaining agreement, Condon said. "Otherwise, we could've had Matthew Stafford come out here and throw."

Stafford, another Condon client, stood nearby chatting with former Georgia teammates and coaches. Two years ago, Stafford left the Bulldogs after his junior year and was drafted No. 1 overall by Detroit. 

To me that seems like Condon had Stafford on standby, just in case he was allowed to throw to A.J. Green.  Otherwise, why would Stafford be there?

Then again, maybe I am reading wayyyyyy to much into this.

Please keep your thoughts to yourself from now on. I am really sick and tired of people coming on this blog and defending Jeff Backus. He whiffed on Peppers at least three times yesterday, and one of those times our star QB was taken out for at least a third of the season.  I don't care what website you went to where it said that Backus was a good left tackle, and I don't care about statistics put together by people who obviously don't watch football. 

The truth is, Backus makes at least three awful plays a game.  I know, I have the Sunday Ticket and watch the Lions every Sunday without fail. He sucks, and he is ruining Matt Stafford's career at a very quick rate. I thought that there would be mass hatred of Backus in the comments of POD this morning, but instead it was a couple of people saying things like:

- I like Jeff Backus but...

- It was Julius Peppers, so he actually did okay...

Please just freaking stop. He makes mistakes against nobodys and good players in every game, he is terrible. STOP WITH THE FREAKING JEFF BACKUS LOVE. 

p.s. I just watched this video of Stafford wired again, and it is still really awesome.

Well, as you all know, I am a big proponent of the Lions going with a Left Tackle at the #2 spot.  I was last year with either first rounder, especially the #20 pick, that in hindsight, nobody can argue was a bad decision.  So my question is, are we going to do the same thing this year? I have said on these boards that regardless of how Suh is regarded, we need to protect Stafford and give him time to get the ball to CJ.  By drafting a DT, we once again settle for mediocrity on the OL and endanger Stafford.  This following article sums up all of the reason I have given for drafting Okung, and some that I haven't.  Please read and discuss with me why the Suh love is so overpowering here at POD.  Thanks.

http://www.walterfootball.com/nfldraftlionsokung.php

Hello from PrideOfDetroit, the Detroit Lions Blog on SB Nation.  Just as I did last year I will be choosing for the Raiders in our annual Pride of Detroit Mock Draft. Last year I had the right position, just the wrong guy (Crabtree instead of DHB). After some research, I have come up with the options below as the ones most likely to be picked by you guys at the Draft, can you please tell me which choices you like or don't like, and why? 

I think these picks all address needs, except for the Eric Berry pick, but that is a tough one, and would you guys pass on him if he fell to #8? It also seems that Haden is becoming more likely as Asomugha rumors (Eagles, Jets) heat up.  #8 might be a little high for McClain, but he definitely fills a need, and could be a great center-piece for any defense.

Thank you for all the help and good luck this year, I hope you guys can get McNabb and keep Asomugha.

I live in the Los Angeles area and was at the Red Wings-Ducks playoff game earlier where a late and horrendous call took back a game-tying Detroit goal.  Well I was pissed all the way home thinking about Foote leaving and not signing earlier today and the damn refs and then....I get home and do my last check of POD of the day and.... We signed Larry Foote!!!!!!!!! I am really happy about all of these signings today especially Foote, but don't we have plenty of cap space and the ability to give him a longer contract, or did he maybe not want that?

Anyways, thanks for the quick updates Sean, I might have a couple less beers tonight than I would have. My liver is indebted to you.

Hey Guys,  this is an email i quickly wrote up to the lions website email address (lionsfans@fans.detroitlions.com).  Maybe with a couple hundred like this (or a better version for you wordsmiths out there) the Lions would understand that we need this move to cement a confusing though somewhat successful off-season.

"Can you guys please trade for or pick up Larry Foote?!  It would put the icing on the cake and really make this a successful off-season.  We need someone experienced to captain the new defense, and a sure tackler and leader like Foote should be the way to go.  I will seriously consider season tickets this year but only if Larry Foote is running around the middle of the field.  Please respond with the organization's thoughts on this player and the prospects of getting him in a Lions uniform.

Thank you"

Also let me know if there are better emails to blast and I will do that too.

It sounds like there is some mild interest from others in the League for Foote.  So should we just make a marginal trade for him right now, and then negotiate?  If we let him go to FA some of the other teams might be willing to pay more than us, and despite him saying Michigan is #1, more money is a big motivator.  What would we need to give to get him, a future 7th, 6th, or 5th Rounder, since they are going to release him anyway?  Just some questions about a signing that seems like it could be a big deal.

To me the most glaring need not covered in this draft was the addition of a starting offensive lineman, meaning someone who could step in and start from day one.  I believe we could have had those into the late fifith round, when Jamone Meredith and Duke Robinson were drafted.  I really don't understand this draft, or what it points to, but without run-blocking or pass-blocking what are our shiny new offensive toys going to do?

Is it just me or is right now the first time that Mayhew and Lewand have looked bad this off-season?  I really feel like we are being jerked around by a junior QB with some, but not a ton, of promise.  It really looks lame for us and I think that Mayhew and Lewand dropped the ball and gave ALL of the power over to Condon.  Why can't for once the Lions just decide who they want and go for it decisively.  Also, does it seem like everything was going fine until the influence of William Darth Sidius Clay Ford came into the mix?  I was happy with the way things were going, but once WCF came into the mix, and was mentioned in some stories, it seems like all power and mystique we once had went out the window.

Please tell me if I am just a conspiracy theorist, or did we pull a Donnie Avery and drop the ball right before the goal line?

Hey Guys,

I am from the Pride of Detroit (Lions) SB Nation site and we are doing a Mock Draft of our own.  It's a great site so please check it out.  I live in California so I asked for a couple of Cali teams and am now picking for the Raiders.  I will start right out with it because I know my eyes glaze over with longer posts.  ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED, THANK YOU!

I see your guys biggest needs, in no particular order, as DT, WR, and RT.  Please see the top choices below and tell me where I messed up.

DT - BJ Raji / Peria Jerry

Even at #7 Raji might be a slight reach, but will be a good NT selection and could definitely help divert runners around to your LB's.  And with Raji upfront and Asomugha over the top, you would free up the rest of your draft to get some LB help.  Jerry is too much of a reach here, and Ron Brace might be available in the second round.

WR - Michael Crabtree / Jeremy Maclin

Crabtree has everything you want in an early selection except for an injury that does worry me somewhat.  #7 would be a reach for Maclin.

RT - Michael Oher

Oher is the only one that I think will fall here, other than Andre Smith.  However, I think Oher will make a better RT than Smith, but this might be a reach for Oher the way he is falling on the draft boards.

Here are a couple options of the way things could go, so please let me know your guys preferences.

#7 - Crabtree WR(if he falls), #40 - Ron Brace DT, or Clint Sintim OLB/DE

#7 - BJ Raji DT (if Crabtree isn't available), #40 Darius Heyward-Bey WR or Hakeem Nick WR.

#7 - Michael Oher OL, #40 - Ron Brace DT, then take best available WR in third...

Thanks again guys and good luck this year.

Does pride of Detroit do a mock draft like other sites?  I am fairly new posting here so I don't know.  I have seen them on the Arrowhead Pond site and the Mile High report site, and it looks like fun. I am only writing this part to fill my 75 word requirement, but I now live in los angeles and could take one of the California teams if necessary.  Just a thought! Oh crap, I just submitted and was at 74 words, so here you go.

If indeed the trends are right, and the Lions pick up Curry, would it be worth it to pick up Derrick Brooks on the cheap to be a player/coach?  Also, what is our best MLB choice? Paris Lenon is there, but not as good as Eric Barton, though I think they are the same age.  Is Dizon in the mix?   I haven't heard anything about him and that is never a good thing with the Lions.  Just some random thoughts about the center if the Defense, let me know what you think!