Hondo Answers Some of Your Lions Email Questions...
Hondo
What is the latest chain of command for draft day decisions?
Patrick
Well you would think Millen, but the Ford’s certainly have the right to do what they want and they have just that before.
Â
Â
Hondo
I think it much more likely that Matt Millen will be more aggressive and trade up for a player. At this time, what do you see as the most likely action; staying put, trading back or trading up?
David
Trading back if they think they can get what they want further down and acquire some picks. I certainly can think of some scenarios of someone they covet dropping so they move up, but that is HIGHLY unlikely, as they have consistently paid top ten dollars. Again, if there is a guy that drops maybe, but I think they stay where they are at or trade down.
Â
Â
Hondo
Hi Hondo,
Why do the NFL's elite teams seem to consistently find the right guy's, via the draft, for their systems yet we continue to 'whiff'?   Do you believe that the talent scouts have not adequately prepared Lions management for these decisions?
Jesse
I certainly don’t think the Lions scouting department is anywhere close to where it should be. In fact I have talked with folks from other teams and NOT ONE thinks the Lions have a good scouting department. With that said, you don’t prove a scouting department in the first round it is the later rounds and that track record speaks for itself.Â
Â
Â
Hondo
I was wondering what other FA are the lions looking at right now?Â
Eric
They would like to get a RB, MLB and CB. I know they covet Kelly and I think that is a deal that will get done. Jones from the Cowboys is also a strong possibility. I can’t imagine them not signing at least Morgan or Wilson.
Â
Â
Hondo,
I think TJ did a good job last year in his limited roll with the Lions.(wish he would have been in there more) I have heard that they haven't even offered him a contract of any kind as of yet. If they would like him to stay why on earth have they not even offered him a deal?
Gary
The Lions have not offered a contract to TJ. They also could have had him for less than half of what he is about to sign for. I will give you the details when he signs.
Â
Â
Hondo
Chiefs DE Jared Allen has only been in for 4 years and is one of the best DEs in the NFL. 15.5 sacks in 14 games? I'll take it. He was given the non-exclusive Franchise Tag and still hasn't worked out a contract. My question is this: wouldn't it be wise for the Lions to offer him a contract and surrender 2 1st round picks?
Mike
Hi Mike. It wouldn’t make sense. The Lions have a lot of holes and simply can’t afford to give up two first rounders. Of course you could argue that they haven’t picked real well at 1?
Â
Â
Hondo
I know Rod said that they're not trading Roy, but I'm sure they'll have some offers to listen to. What do you think it would take for another team to pry him off their hands? A 1st and a defensive starter perhaps.
Greg
I stated that the Lions would not franchise Roy. Things have changed. The Lions will try to sign a long-term deal, but if one doesn’t get done he will get franchised.
Â
Â
Hondo
Can Jonathon Scott handle being the starter at Right Tackle?
Brandon AKA Ozarkruffrider from www.lionsunderground.org
If he stays healthy it is the conventional wisdom that he can. He has played well when healthy. They still need bodies however.
Â
Â
Hondo
I have to wonder what the heck the Lions are thinking by not re-signing TJ Duckett? The guy is a fan favorite and showed great signs last year. If he signs with Seattle I'll be very disappointed.
Steve
When he signs somewhere else and you get all the details you will be even more disappointed.Â
Â
Â
Hey Hondo,
I was wanting to know what the Lions intentions are in filling the
need at MLB.
Jeff
There intentions where to sign Vilma, but that didn’t work out. I think they are reassessing the situation right now. Can Connor come in and be an Ernie Sims?Â
Â
Â
Hondo
Hondo, they are a lost cause. I really feel sorry for you having to waste your time on the Lions. Until somebody else buys the team they will always suck. There is no "glass half full" or even "glass half empty". The glass is totally empty and there is no hope.
Ron
Ron, I know a lot of people that think the Ford’s are the problem. I would agree with that. One thing has been consistent for over 50 years and the track record of those years speaks for itself.
Â
Â
Hondo
It's disgusting to see the dichotomy of a family that owns a car
company that is forced to dismiss thousands of workers whether they have a good track record or not.
Andrew
 The Ford’s are fine. I feel bad for people like me. Those that admittedly love the Lions and care about them 24/7/365. They continue with the dysfunction while the fans suffer. It is sad and truthfully reprehensible.
Â
Â
Hondo
The draft is right around the corner. If you were GM of the lions what player would you target at 15. (RB) Johnathan Stewart (CB) Aqib Talib (DE) Vernon Gholston or would you surprise all of us by picking a player that would have fans saying "what the heck is Hondo doing?"
Matthew
Who I target is irrelevant. I think you have to pick what is your biggest need and see if that player is available. If you think it is DE then you go get Gholston. CB? You assess who you think is the best  Last season the Lions need a OT and MLB as what I thought (and many others agreed) was their biggest needs. Two men where available that were ALL PRO’S as rookies. Willis and Thomas. If I had to stay at 15 and no one really dropped, I have to take the best available CB on the board.
Â
Â
Hondo
Brandon Flowers on NFL.com is #1 rated cb. Appears to be very physical and might be the best corner in the draft vs the run which would be big for us with the Tampa 2 system. What are your thoughts on him? If he, Talib & Mckelvin are all on the board do you still think Talib would be our first choice?Â
Carmine AKA Big Ragu
Talib is a stud. I really think he is the best CB in the draft. I admit that I am getting information from scouts also. Pro Days could change that, but at this moment I would take Talib.
Â
Â
Hondo
Haven't heard anyone else looking at Wilson. Do you think we will eventually get him?
Kevin
I think Dan Morgan at this point. Wilson has not had a lot of interest (one other team) and they could have him. This is really intriguing.
Â
Hondo I am writing while out at sea. Could we be in for a 1st round RB like mendenhall or is a guy like Julius jones really the answer I mean we want to start running the ball more but with KJ hurt all the time and T.J. unsigned it would be tough to watch Julius carry the load.   STG2 Steve
First of all Steve on behalf of a grateful nation, thanks for being a true American hero. Your service is greatly appreciated. I don’t see the using a first round pick on an offensive player unless it was an OT. Jones is a good back and I think KJ will be fine but he certainly has staying healthy issues.
*****I WROTE THIS ARTICLE BEFORE TJ SIGNED HIS DEAL. I WILL BE WITH  TJ LATER THIS WEEKEND AND HE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY HE ISN’T A LION AT THAT TIME.****
Add us as a preferred source on Google