Detroit Lions

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports 122 catches for 1,964 yards. The numbers Calvin Johnson put up during the 2012 season were ridiculous. More of what was going on behind the scenes has been revealed, making the numbers look even more ridiculous. It had been speculated that Calvin Johnson played at least a portion of the season with multiple broken fingers – perhaps as many of three. That had not been confirmed by Johnson or head coach Jim Schwartz. Until today: Calvin Johnson confirmed that he played with broken fingers last season. Said he’s been trying to straighten them out. No offseason surgery — Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) May 20, 2013 Add in the fact that Megatron was also bothered by a knee injury and it goes to show just what a freak he is. Healthy or otherwise, no receiver in the history of the NFL put up the kind of receiving yardage numbers Calvin had last season. It makes you wonder just what he could do with better health and an offense with the ability to at least occasionally draw defenses away to open up more explosive opportunities. Megatron won’t turn 28-years old until after the 2013 season starts but he is already on the cusp of officially becoming the Lions best receiver of all-time. He needs 1,338 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns to overtake Herman Moore as the Lions career leader in both categories.

A couple weeks ago, ESPN's Kevin Seifert took a look at an interesting stat related to the NFL Draft. Specifically, he examined how many draft picks are still on their original team in the NFC North. In other words, it was a look at which teams have picked the most players who have shown enough to keep a roster spot. In the NFC North, the Detroit Lions are third in draft picks still on their roster. 30 of their picks are still around, meaning the other 59 roster spots that are currently filled are occupied by players who were acquired via a method other than the draft. In the NFL as a whole, the Lions are ranked 21st for how many draft picks remain on their roster. The Green Bay Packers are actually first in the NFC North and first in the NFL in general with a total of 45 picks still on their roster. The Minnesota Vikings are second in the division and seventh in the NFL with 39 picks still under contract. The Chicago Bears, interestingly, are near the bottom of the NFL (28th) with only 27 picks still on their roster. As Seifert noted, part of this stems from all of the trades the Bears have made involving draft picks in recent years. With that in mind, it's important to consider that these numbers don't necessarily reflect the quality of drafts given that picks can be traded away for players already in the league. One other note on the Lions' number: 28 of the 30 picks still around were drafted by Martin Mayhew. Calvin Johnson and Dominic Raiola are the only Lions draft picks left from the Matt Millen era.

The use of performance enhancing drugs, or PEDs, has been a hot topic for Major League Baseball but that doesn’t mean other major sports leagues haven’t had to deal with the issue as well. July 28, 2012; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) completes drills during training camp at the Detroit Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports The National Football League has handed out a total of 50 suspensions related to PED use since 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks leading the way with five. All told, 22 teams have had at least one player serve a PED-related suspension with the Detroit Lions being one of the ten teams to remain clean. The Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers are the nine other teams without a PED-related suspension since 2010. While there certainly aren’t any prizes for remaining clean, the positive in the Lions avoiding PED suspensions lies in the stiff penalties. First-time violators receive a four-game suspension. That doubles to eight games for repeat offenders and a third violation results in a minimum ban of one year with reinstatement subject to league review.

Our scouting report series continues with the Detroit Lions' 2013 undrafted free agents. Next up is Austin Holtz. OT Austin Holtz (Ball State) - UDFA The Detroit Lions signed three undrafted offensive linemen this year. One of them is Ball State offensive tackle Austin Holtz, who was a multi-year starter in college for the Cardinals. Random fact In Holtz's freshman season (2008), which he spent redshirting, Ball State's coach was Brady Hoke, who is now the head coach at Michigan. What the experts are saying NFLDraftScout.com: Holtz, a 2012 All-Mid-American Conference First Team selection, started all 13 games for the Cardinals this season and 33 contests in his career. He anchored an offensive line that helped quarterback Keith Wenning throw for 3,003 yards and become only the second quarterback in Ball State history to throw for over 7,000 career yards. In addition, the offensive line blocked for Jahwan Edwards, who rushed for 1,410 yards, which was the third best single-season total in Ball State history. Ball State's offensive line ranks eighth in the nation for fewest sacks allowed in the latest NCAA statistics. The Cardinals' offensive line allowed only 0.83 sacks per game in 2012. - Ball State football Videos Outlook for 2013 Given that Riley Reiff, Corey Hilliard and Jason Fox are the only returning offensive tackles on the roster, Holtz could make the team as the final backup at the position. His chances of making the team will greatly go down if the Lions sign a veteran tackle, but he could still stick around as a member of the practice squad if that does happen. Previous scouting reports: Draft picks: DE Ezekiel Ansah, CB Darius Slay, OG Larry Warford, DE Devin Taylor, P Sam Martin, WR Corey Fuller, RB Theo Riddick, TE Michael Williams UDFAs: QB Alex Carder, RB Steven Miller, WR Cody Wilson

Johnson said he might watch some of Fuller's rookie mini-camp film from last weekend to get a better feel of what he's working with heading into organized team activities

In light of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley topping NFL.com's list of best defensive tackle tandems, Mike O'Hara looks at who formed some of the best pairs, at a variety of positions, for the Lions since 1957

It's hard to put your finger on what's different about the Lions' Nick Fairley, other than to say he just sounds different.

Defensive tackle Andre Fluellen wanted to stay in Detroit. After all, the Lions picked him in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, and he still has a home downtown near Eastern Market.

Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports The NFL Network Top 100 list has been rather kind to the Detroit Lions so far. As this series–ranking the best NFL players of 2012–barrels down toward the 50s, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch came in at No. 63 to join No. 76-ranked Matthew Stafford in undeserving Lions players on the list. “People don’t realize that when you play the game of football you endure a lot and you go through a lot and the players, they understand that,” Tulloch said, via the Detroit Free Press. “So for the players to vote (me in the top 100) and leave the writers out of it, it speaks volumes because we know what it is to go week in and week out and play against one another. ” Yeah, leave the writers out of it. In fact, if no one covered the National Football League at all the league would be so much better off. Players just rating players, that’s pure man. Another flaw in the logic above is that pretty much every player endures a lot, but only 100 deserve to be in these top 100 lists, even the one NFL Network releases. Tulloch will be grateful in receiving it and remain on the defensive towards the media because the veteran linebacker didn’t have one of his best years during a very good career; Pro Football Focus ranked him 35th out of 53 qualifying inside linebackers last season after rating him sixth in 2011. However, this NFL Network Top 100 list proves time and time again that past success can replace quality play in the present. Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Like 28 other NFL teams, the Detroit Lions will have OTAs (organized team activities) this week. The first session is on Tuesday. No contact, no one-on-one drills and also no blocking, tackling, pass-rushing and bump-and-run situations. That’s all in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. They will be allowed 11-on-11 drills which will give us an initial idea of where some players might line up. It’s not like training camp where the competition will be hot at a handful of positions. It is a start, though. Here are five things to look for at OTAs: 1. Will be interesting to see top draft pick Ziggy Ansah line up against veterans. Expect to see him at right defensive end. He looked really quick off the end in rookie minicamp. Let’s see if that sticks against Riley Reiff. 2. Even though one-on-one drills matching defensive backs against wide receivers aren’t allowed, will get our first look at safety Glover Quin who signed as a free agent and should play opposite Louis Delmas. Not sure if we’ll see second-round pick cornerback Darius Slay. He had minor knee surgery a few weeks ago. He’ll be back sooner rather than later, but this might be a little too soon. 3. Of course, it’s early but we’ll get a look at whether Corey Hilliard or Jason Fox lines up at right tackle with the starters. It does not mean that guy will be the right tackle in September, but it’s a starting point. 4. Also will get a first look at the competition at wide receiver. Other than Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles (when he gets healthy) there are no absolutes to make the team. Should be great competition. 5. Reggie Bush in a Lions’ uniform. No doubt he seems excited to get going. Expect it will seem a little different seeing him in Honolulu blue and silver even though we’ve had two months to get used to the idea. (Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book, “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)