three cups deep: it begins

As I reach the bitter dregs of the day’s second cup of coffee, I realize it’s time to reflect back on Lions happenings this weekend.  Of course, this being the very tail end of the hard offseason, very little actually happened, so opportunities to reflect are minimal.  However, there are definitely a few things worth discussing as training camp looms at the end of the week:

• Scout.com’s Adam Caplan reported that veteran DT Hollis Thomas recently worked out for his old team, the Eagles.  The 35-year-old Thomas is listed at 335 pounds, and is a natural big body in the Grady Jackson mold.  At his peak, Thomas was one of the best interior lineman in the league—his play with the Saints last season, however, was definitely nowhere near that peak.  Further, Caplan reports that Thomas weighed in at far more than his listed playing weight, and the Eagles let him leave without offering him a contract.  Mike Florio of PFT noted that Hollis’ short list is rumored to include the Rams—and whether the Eagles remain an option is unclear.  John Niyo of the Detroit News blogged yesterday that the Lions remain in the market for a veteran defensive lineman, and Thomas would certainly fill a need.  With Jackson possibly/probably out for the first four games, Thomas would serve a purpose even if he hit the wall by the bye week.  If he were to get in shape and be even a fraction of what he was, he’d be a very valuable rent-a-player to plug into the thin DT rotation.  It’s unknown whether the Lions are on Hollis’ rumored short list, but it would be too natural of a fit for the Lions to not have explored the possibility.
• John Niyo also posted “Ten Hot Topics” going into training camp; he starts with comparing the dramatic roster makeover to the 2008 Dolphins’ offseason, then asks some of the key questions on everyone’s lips, and answers some others along the way.
• Nick Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press published a wonderful article delving deeply into Matthew Stafford’s roots in Highland Park, his rise through the Texas football culture, his connections to Bobby Layne, and his seeming destiny to lead the Lions back to glory.  It’s a great, great read with a lot of info; it layers many details over the broad brush strokes we’ve painted Stafford with over the past few months.  Anyone who booed or cursed Stafford when he was drafted, take a few minutes to read this; it’ll be worth it.
• Tom Kowalski over at Mlive.com has put another log on the Matt Stafford Starting Week One fire with his latest.  I’ve made my thoughts well known both here and elsewhere: Stafford is the real deal and the future of the franchise; pussyfooting around with a washed-up vet for a few games before giving Stafford the reigns does nothing but steal valuable first-team reps in training camp and the preseason.

I absolutely cannot wait for training camp to go live.  From here on out, there won’t be a weekend without football until February!  I’ve also got a couple irons in the fire here at TLIW as well; as your blogger I advise you to watch this space.