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It's in the air: Stafford will be Lions' No. 1

The Lions will put Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford through a private workout next Tuesday in Athens, Ga.

It won’t exactly be boot camp, but Stafford will have to complete some tough throws, make snap decisions and be careful not to trip over his boot laces.

Provided he doesn’t fall to pieces, the deal will be done and Stafford will be the Lions No. 1 draft pick on April 25.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz didn’t say so in as many words in the salty sea air of Dana Point, Calif., on Monday during the NFL owners’ meetings. But the Offbeat would bet as sure as the swallows return to Capistrano, Stafford is Schwartz’ guy. Schwartz and the Lions brass have broken bread with Stafford. They have studied three years’ worth of game tape and probably watched some home movies of him, too.

They took Stafford to Allen Park —hopefully apologizing for the pot holes along the way on the Southfield Freeway — and watched his pro day at Georgia. Short of studying his baby book, the Lions know more about Stafford than probably any draft pick they’ve ever considered.

Of course, Schwartz is playing hardball and won’t say Stafford is the man. But, with every workout they ask of him, it seems less likely linebacker Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) or offensive tackles Jason Smith (Baylor) or Eugene Monroe (Virginia) will be drafted No. 1 by the Lions.

As the Freep’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika says in the paper today, “the private workout is perhaps the final piece of the puzzle.”

A solid day next week and Stafford will be a Lion, we believe.

On Monday, Schwartz called quarterback the most important position, and the first question you have to answer when building a team, reports Cotsonika.

“I think that player is the most important position on the team,” said Schwartz. “But I don’t know that’s it is the most important thing when you talk about the first pick in the draft.”

Our interpretation: Schwartz wants Stafford, and if he completes his passes next week, he will be the Lions’ king on draft day.

The swallows will have landed.
He makes the list

The police blotter continues to grow on NFL players acting badly.

Oakland Raiders tackle Cornell Green is the latest player to fall afoul of the law, police arresting him on a domestic violence charge over the weekend in Tampa, Fla.

The list is long on pro footballers in trouble in recent years over assaults, carrying concealed weapons, being arrested on drug charges and even shooting themselves. It’s a wonder some have time to run onto the field on Sunday.

Reporters at the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper have even compiled a list of arrests and citations involving NFL players since 2000 that were more serious than speeding tickets. The last time we checked, they had recorded 448 incidents. If you have time to kill, and a lot of it, check it out.
Sticky wicket

As an Aussie, I’m not sure former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice knows much about football here or around the world, but she seemed to be a hit at the NFL owners’ meetings on Sunday.

Rice was invited by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to speak to the group and praised the NFL for internationalizing the game, according to an AP story at CNN’s SI.com Website.

Rice, who apparently aspired to be the league’s commissioner a few years ago, predicted that such places as Britain, Germany and Australia could become hotbeds of American football.

“We need to find countries with a mass sports culture,” Rice said. “Countries where they play either rugby or Australian Rules football or soccer. Not places where they play cricket. I would not go there.”

Rice might know a thing or two about Russia, Iraq and Afghanistan, but she needs to take a refresher course on Australia and England.

For the record, they also play cricket in those countries: Australia is currently rated No. 1 in the world after their Test match series against South Africa. England: well, that’s where most historians think the game of cricket was born.

Rice may have scored a touchdown in Dana Point — but she was also clean bowled in the process.
Where’s T.O.?

Wide receiver Terrell Owens was a no-show at the Buffalo Bills voluntary off-season conditioning program on Monday.

Bills’ strength and conditioning coach, John Allaire, didn’t think it a big deal, according an AP report at SI.com.

“He’s a physical specimen,” Allaire said. “He has a very good history of being in shape, ready to go. We’re not anticipating anything different this year.”

Bills’ receiver James Hardy said he was looking forward to working with Owens when he does turn up for the team’s mandatory mini-camp in June.

“I welcome him with open arms,” Hardy told AP. “I’m going to soak up as much information as I possibly can and try and put it into my game. I know overall, at the end of the road, it’s going to be a great experience for me.”

Yes, it will be an experience, James, but we’re not sure just how great it will be with T.O.

LINK >> It's in the air: Stafford will be Lions' No. 1 | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

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