--Former Lions coach Steve Mariucci, a northern Michigan native, made some rare comments about the Lions to the Marquette Mining Journal: "Matt Millen has changed 58 coaches already, and he's now finally changing players," Mariucci said. "Sure I've stayed in touch with some of them and some of the coaches, and on occasion Bill Ford Jr. -- I respect the heck out of Bill, he'll take that team over some day."
--Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was born in Michigan and remains a fan of the state's sports teams. When the Rockies visited Detroit, he met Lions coach Rod Marinelli and compared the 2007 Lions to the '06 Rockies. (The '07 Rockies made the World Series.) "I felt the same way about the Rockies as I feel about the Lions, that they'd have their day, and then they'd be off and running," Hurdle told CBSsports.com. "Rod and I talked about the common fabric of their '07 season and our '06 season. Because in '06, we were on top of the division after the All-Star break, and within a three-week period we had fallen to the bottom of the division."
The Lions started 6-2 last year but finished 1-7. "I told him we'd get together and share some of the lessons I think I learned from that ('06) season," Hurdle said. "You never know how close you really are."
--The Lions were one of four NFL teams to attend running back Kevin Jones' workout June 28, but they were probably just doing their due diligence. They cut Jones in the spring. Jones is returning from a torn ACL a year after returning from a serious foot injury. The Lions already have running backs Tatum Bell, Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, Artose Pinner and Aveion Cason.
--The Lions held Joe Cullen's first annual Big Man's Camp at Detroit Renaissance High School in Detroit. Cullen, the Lions' defensive line coach, and other coaches and players worked with offensive and defensive linemen from 16 different schools at the free two-day camp.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Believe in now." -- Lions' new slogan in advertising campaign for season tickets.
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