Jeff Backus News

The formula seems simple: Keep Matthew Stafford healthy and the Detroit Lions could be headed to the NFL playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Not every NFL rookie is able to step onto a depth chart and compete for Pro Bowls from day one.

As Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was whisked off the practice field by team security -- prevented from talking to the media after his weekend DUI arrest -- his teammates were left to field the questions about the recent transgression.

Titus Young took the first steps away from the disturbing incidents of the past few weeks Tuesday, apologizing to his offensive teammates and issuing a statement.

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz and the veterans on his team have a problem that needs to be addressed with organized team activities resume today.

South Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it's never too early to consider the coming season.

After 10 consecutive losing seasons and 11 consecutive years ending prior to the postseason, the Detroit Lions finally turned the corner and made it back to the playoffs last year with a 10-6 record.

The future! While it isn't as relevant as the present, and while the focus of every NFL should be on the 2012 season, the future is still tantalizing.

But believe it or not, the next few months still count as an audition process for some of those recently-drafted rookies.

Detroit Lions fans have been clamoring for an improvement at left tackle for years even though Jeff Backus has started 177 straight games.

The Detroit Lions are coming off a 2011 season that pumped the blood back into the city of Detroit, after going 10-6 and making the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Today marks the start of the process, the four-step process, toward winning a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.

Sims said he has gained 15 pounds this offseason, hoping to increase his power after weighing less than 300 the past two years with mixed results against bigger players such as Minnesota's 311-pound defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

There is a certain expectation that a first-round NFL draft pick is ready to contribute right away, but there's no guarantee Riley Reiff will be in the starting lineup for the Detroit Lions when the season starts.

Coming off the franchise's first playoff appearance since the Clinton Administration, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford feels the team should benefit from its continuity on the coaching staff .

Regardless of everyone's arbitrary grades and analysis on the 2012 NFL draft, the one thing we can all agree on is it's going to create a whole bunch of positional battles in training camp.

Lions top draft pick Riley Reiff lined up at left tackle Friday during the first practice of rookie minicamp in Allen Park.

The Detroit Lions' coaching staff will have their first on-the-field look at this year's rookies today.

The draft is over. Free agency, except for a few possible late signings, is over.

There's no reason to believe Riley Reiff's short arms will prevent him from being a successful offensive tackle.