DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY

TODAY'S NEWS The Lions completed their seventh day of two-a-day practice sessions today at the team's practice facility with a morning and afternoon workout.

TODAY'S NEWS

• The Lions completed their seventh day of two-a-day practice sessions today at the team's practice facility with a morning and afternoon workout. Both practices were held on the outdoor fields in helmets and shorts.
• The team announced today that they have signed P Eddie Johnson to a one-year deal. Johnson entered the NFL as a sixth round draft pick (180th overall) for Minnesota in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played in 14 games for the Vikings as a rookie and had 56 punts for 2,191 yards (39.1 avg) with 12 kicks downed inside-the-20. Johnson was last with Denver for the 2007 offseason. The Lions also released WR Eric Fowler. Fowler, who was a standout receiver at Grand Valley State, hails from New Haven (Mich.) and had signed with Detroit July 27.
• The Detroit Lions will open additional training camp practices to the general public at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park. The general public is invited to attend Lions training camp Thursday, July 31, Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12. Training camp practice viewing areas at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park have been increased to accommodate approximately 700 fans and access will be limited on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are two full squad practice sessions scheduled for Thursday, July 31 that begin at 8:35 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Gates will open 30 minutes prior to each session. 
• The Detroit Lions announced that the team will hold its "Black & Blue Fan Day" brought to you by Wireless GIANT Saturday, August 2 in Allen Park. The public practice will start at 3:30 p.m. at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility, and gates will open for the event at 2 p.m. Due to the limited space, tickets, free of charge, will be needed for admission and are available for fans to pick up at 32 Wireless GIANT stores in the Metro Detroit area beginning Thursday (July 31) at Noon. A complete list of Wireless GIANT stores distributing tickets to Saturday's event is available on Detroitlions.com. Among the festivities taking place prior to the start of practice include visits by Lions' alumni and Roary, the team mascot. The Lions' flagship station 97.1 The Ticket will broadcast live from training camp throughout the day, featuring Detroit Lions Radio Network play-by-play announcer Dan Miller from 2-3 p.m. Miller will emcee Saturday's practice session and provide announcements throughout the workout. Additionally, live music will be a part of the events leading up to the start of practice. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled and practice moved indoors and closed to the public. Fans are encouraged to visit Detroitlions.com for weather updates and any changes to Saturday's schedule. Information is also available through the team's Training Camp Hotline (313.262.2882).
• S Daniel Bullocks, TE Dan Campbell, WR Shaun McDonald and G Edwin Mulitalo all remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not participate in practice today.
• The 12th annual Detroit Lions Kickoff Luncheon presented by Tribute Restaurant and the Wisne Family and hosted by the Detroit Economic Club will be held on Wednesday, August 27, at Cobo Center, downtown Detroit. Lunch will begin at noon followed by the program that will feature Lions' head coach Rod Marinelli and the introduction of the 2008 Detroit Lions. The entire team annually attends the luncheon and awards from the 2007 season will be presented. Players receiving awards will include: Most Valuable Players Dominic Raiola (offense), Ernie Sims (defense) and Alex Lewis (special teams). Other awards will go to Gerald Alexander, JaredDeVries, Mike Furrey, Stephen Peterman, Cory Redding and Keith Smith. A portion of the proceeds from the luncheon will go to Detroit Lions Charities, the Lions' non-profit foundation that has donated more than $4.8 million to charities in Michigan. The primary recipient of Charities' proceeds from the luncheon will be Think Detroit PAL youth football, which includes approximately 3,000 Detroit children playing football in the nation's largest after-school tackle league. Tickets for the luncheon, which is open to the general public, are $60. To purchase tickets or for more information go online to www.econclub.org or www.detroitlions.com.

TRAINING CAMP ACCESS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC
Thursday, July 31 will be the next 2008 Lions training camp practice sessions open to the general public. Practices begin at 8:35 AM and 4:30 PM. Training camp practice viewing areas at the team's headquarters and training facility in Allen Park have been increased to accommodate approximately 700 fans on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking is available in designated lots on Republic Drive near the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility. Gates will open 30 minutes prior to the start of each practice session (ex: 8:05 a.m. for 8:35 a.m. practice). Re-entry is not permitted and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Personal belongings are subject to inspection upon entry and items not permitted into open practices include: professional cameras (lenses over five inches long and/or 50mm or above), any video camera, food, beverage, coolers, lawn chairs, blankets, umbrellas, backpacks or large bags. The fan viewing area features: bleacher seating areas, additional standing areas, a shaded tent area, The Roar & More team store, offering items such as official 2008 Training Camp and Sideline apparel, and concessions. Though autographs are not guaranteed, it is common for Lions' players and coaches to meet fans following practice sessions.

 

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI
On why he decided to have the team practice without pads today: "I'm conscious of the 80, really it's not even 80 when you get down with PUP's, we're down to about 70, I'll let you ask Dean (Kleinschmidt) exactly the numbers-71 or 72. But we just got bumped up in the offensive line a little bit yesterday. Hey, I'd like to get back in them tomorrow, I just have to space it out a little bit more right now. I don't like getting out of them. I think if you're trying to run the football, that's something important to have. We've got to be smart, too. We've got a game in a week, too, that we've got to be able to finish with second and third groups."

On limiting CB Brian Kelly reps in practice: "We're (being) smart; we're kind of about a one-a-day with Brian. We're just smart with him. We're limiting certain reps, there aren't any problems; he's just been to a lot of camps and wear and tear, so we're just trying to be smart.

"I'd love for him to take every snap if I could, but I just want to be smart with him. We've got some depth back there right now that we can work with."

On WR Devale Ellis having a good camp: "He's had a really good camp. I mean, a really good offseason, too. He's catching the ball extremely well. He can return kicks, which we like. He's in his third year with us, so we'll let the preseason kind of work it out."

On how Ellis has bounced back from injuries: "He hasn't missed anything. That's all you can do is judge now. He's a good player. So we'll wait for the preseason, but he's had a really good camp with what we're doing so far."

On what he's been happy with so far in camp: "I just think the tempo. I think the tempo has really been good every day. I don't think we've really come out here and just had a bad day in terms of lack of effort. We've got to clean up penalties and mental errors and some of those things, but their energy each day has been very good. It's got to continue."

On how much he stresses the importance of energy and consistency: "Everyday. Good teams are consistent. That's what we've got to work at each and every day, but you can't have penalties-that's not part of consistency. The mental errors, you've just got to keep eliminating those things, fighting those things. Every day they've come out, they've gone after it pretty good."

On if the QB/Center exchange was better today: "Yeah and Dom's (Raiola) back too. So that goes way down. But that was a good wake-up call for us. All of a sudden you have a game, and we have to make sure that's backup center is working with all the QB's.
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On why they didn't practice in pads today: "The biggest thing is that: I'm conscious to the numbers that we're at. We're probably at 72 right now with PUPs and guys that are banged up. We had a few guys nicked up yesterday that are going to be out for a few days. What happens is, if you go back to pads today, you're not going to add any numbers. That's when your injuries come more and more. It's not something I like to do. I'd prefer to be in pads today, but I think it was the smart thing to do for us. I'll try to get back in them tomorrow.

On how practicing without pads affects drills and what he's trying to accomplish: "You're still trying to run the ball; you're still working on pad level and footwork and all them, but you don't get the push and the movement. This game is meant to be played in pads. With the hand we're being dealt, with the numbers, we've got to be able to figure it out, too."

On LB Jordan Dizon always seemingto be around the ball: "He does; (he had) 400 tackles or whatever it was (in college), I can't remember. That's something that usually doesn't go away. When you're evaluating a guy with that tackle production, that's what I like. It's was like when Dwight Smith came out of Akron way back, I think he led the country in interceptions. I remember the meeting with Coach (Tony) Dungy saying that this guy's got ball skills. That doesn't go away. Some of those things, you do in high school, college, and professional, it's all there and it'll stay there."