The Lions opened up rookie mini camp Friday and their new weapon at wide receiver and NCAA all-time receptions leader Ryan Broyles is champing at the bit to hit the practice field.

It’s what you’d expect to see from a competitor of his caliber. Broyles may not have the fastest 40 time or the towering physical stature of Calvin Johnson, but he is known as a pure football player, someone with a passion for the game. From his college coach Bob Stoops to respected former General Managers and analysts, Ryan Broyles is seen as a true to the heart football player.

With that being the case, it’s no surprise that he is disappointed with standing on the sidelines in his #84 Detroit Lions Jersey and cap.

While blogging for the Detroit Lions team website, Broyles confesses that it’s hard to deal with the Lions’ careful approach.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Not being able to participate brings me back to after I got hurt at Oklahoma when I had to miss four games. I’m sitting on the sideline just so eager and competitive wanting to go in there and show what I have. I’ve been working the last five-and-a-half months to get to where I want to be. I get here and they’re pulling the reigns on me.”
Continue reading “WR Ryan Broyles Tired Of Sitting On The Sideline But Learning Fast” »

When you draft elite-level talent, your team will have highly-talented players that produce immediately and elite-level players that breakout after a delay in progression or unfortunate injuries. The Detroit Lions have had plenty producers on the field the last couple of years, but it’s really intriguing how many difference makers are waiting at bay.

Willie Young (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

I looked more into this after former NFL GM Bill Polian gave his list of 10 pivotal players in the NFL this season and sitting at #3 on that list is Detroit Lions’ defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

So, before I get into our other potential season-changing breakout players for the Detroit Lions, here is what Polian wrote about Fairley:

“Fairley could be the missing piece in making the Detroit defense dominant. If the big Auburn alum can reach his potential, a trio of him, Ndamukong Suh and the emerging Corey Williams could make the Lions’ D-line extremely hard to handle up the middle and wreak havoc on the pocket (which will help an improving secondary).

I still think the Lions need more from the running back position to be legitimate title contenders, but if Fairley steps up, an already improved defense will be taken to another level.”

Although I don’t know how an 8 year veteran like Corey Williams is “emerging”, I agree with everything else Mr.Polian said.

The exciting thing for Lions fans though is that this roster is PACKED with young and talented players who could blow up this year and propel the Detroit Lions to the absolute upper-echelon elite in the NFL. You all know what that means

Here’s is my top 10 Detroit Lions players that could breakout and lead this team to greatness.
Continue reading “Detroit Lions Stacked With Potential Breakout Players” »

When it comes to Jahvid Best, I’m left only able to hope for the best, literally. And from talking with fellow Lions fans constantly, I get the clear indication that they are not expecting much from Jahvid as far as staying healthy is concerned either. But again, they are hoping for Best.

(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Strangely enough, I found encouragement from the fact that the Lions did not feel the need to draft another running back or sign one in free agency. Clearly, even with all of their medical experts on hand, the Detroit Lions have confidence in a healthy and concussion-free Jahvid Best in 2012. But do you? Continue reading “Jahvid Best’s Health Can’t Be Trusted…Yet.” »

I’m positively sure that I was part of a large group of Lions fans that were ecstatic about the prospect of having the big bruising back out of Illinois, Mikel Leshoure getting ready to bring his package of power and speed to the Detroit Lions backfield.

I admit that initially the draft pick caught me off guard because I wasn’t expecting the Lions to select a running back in the second round of the NFL draft, but I certainly got over the surprise of it all very quickly. I was and still am super-excited about Mikel Leshoure and what he will bring to the table.

I know he had to be truly disappointed to go down with his Achilles tear, so was I and thousands of other Lions fans. I really, really felt bad for the guy because of his great attitude and bubbly personality. The minute I saw his homemade video of the Lions drafting him I was happy to have him in the D.

To top off his exuberance to be with Detroit he went and got a Lions tattoo on his arm to show it loud and proud, even though I’m not big on tattoos for me, I became an even bigger fan of the guy. I remember when players could hardly hide the fact that they really didn’t want to be here and now guys are getting freakin’ tattoos!

But besides his high likeability factor (Sorry Suh), Mikel is a pure runner and a talented back. The guy has shown in college that he can be both thunder and lightning. He’s not some slow plodding big back, this 6’0″ 233 lb guy can get it in gear! He is just what the Lions needed this year! EXACTLY what they desperately needed.

So the question came to my mind today… Will Mikel Leshoure be fully recovered for the 2012/2013 season or will it take 2 years?

I must admit when I first heard about the type of injury I cringed and cringed hard. You never want to hear about your running back get an injured Achilles or knee, but especially an Achilles. Why? I don’t really know though because there isn’t really much history to go back on concerning RBs with Achilles injuries so it’s not like it’s some proven kiss of death for backs.

I found a couple of interesting and encouraging pieces of information though, firstly, the Mayo Clinic says recovery from an Achilles tear to full activity takes 4-6 months although they are obviously talking about full activity for normal people and not world-class athletes it’s still good news. But the second piece of encouraging news is the recovery that Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos had this year, he looked pretty good on that electrifying 80-yard touchdown scamper in overtime against the Steelers didn’t he?

Demaryius Thomas came back from his torn Achilles in the same year that he tore it, he tore it in February of 2011 and was playing an important role for Tim Tebow and the Tebowites(A.K.A Denver Broncos) by mid-season, he played his first game of the season on October 23rd 2012. But then again who knows, he might have been miraculously healed by touching Tim Tebow’s jersey or something. Mikel can’t count on that.

All jokes aside, as a Lions fan I’m truly hoping to see Mikel healthy for his own sake and for the team he has embraced so graciously, I have a feeling Mikel Leshoure is going to be a big fan favorite in Detroit. He certainly has a fan in me, I’m rooting for the big guy and looking forward to seeing him take the NFL by storm!

 Mikel LeShoure Highlights