Stafford listed as one of the top 10 NFL players under the age of 25

NFL.com published “Young guns: Top 10 NFL players under the age of 25” by Daniel Jeremiah.

Amongst those players is fourth-year quarterback Matthew Stafford, who impressed the league with his 5,000-yard season in 2011 following back-to-back injury-shortened years.

Said Jeremiah of Stafford, “Surprised? It’s hard to believe that Stafford is still only 24 years old. After two injury-plagued years, he was able to stay healthy and post some incredible numbers in 2011. He passed for more than 5,000 yards and 41 TDs while leading the Lions back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. He has a tremendous skillset for the position. He has good size, arm-strength, touch and poise. He should be one of the league’s elite signal callers for the next decade.”

Lions place RB Jerome Harrison on Reserve/Non-Football Illness list

The Lions have placed running back Jerome Harrison on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list to make room on their 90-man roster for safety Sam Proctor and receiver Wallace Miles, whom the team signed after their tryouts at this weekend’s rookie mini-camp.

The Lions had to declare that Harrison would not be eligible to participate in the 2012 regular season or postseason for him not to count toward the 90-man roster while on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list.

Eagles doctors discovered a brain tumor in Harrison that nullified a trade that would have sent him and an undisclosed draft pick to the Eagles for running back Ronnie Brown last season. The trade might have actually saved Harrison’s life. He’s currently recovering from surgery to remove the tumor and is “progressing” according to his agent Mitch Frankel.

Harrison signed with the Lions as an unrestricted free agent before last season after playing his first five seasons in the NFL with the Browns and Eagles.

Bill Bentley on Monday’s workout with the Lions’ vets

After participating in this past weekend’s mini-camp, signed rookies are now eligible to participate in the team’s voluntary workout program, putting them with veteran players for the first time.

Cornerback Bill Bentley – the Lions’ third-round draft choice – offered insight into camp and Monday’s workout.

On the rookie mini-camp: “The weekend was great. The first impression was pretty good. I came and learned a few things, got adjusted to speed and am picking up every day as I try to progress and get better.”

On Monday’s workout: “I came out and got good conditioning in and that was pretty good. You’ve got stay in shape and keep your endurance up.”

On working with veterans and rookies together: “I kind of felt more comfortable with the veterans being here because they know more and you learn from them as time goes on. I’m just trying to learn from those veterans and help to contribute in any way that I can.”

On which veterans made an impact: “Alphonso Smith and Aaron Berry. All those guys were reaching out early and helping me try to learn things fast so I can contribute to the team and they welcomed me with hands open. I really appreciate that.”

Source: Lions set to sign WR Wallace Miles

The Lions plan to sign North Carolina A&T receiver Wallace Miles to a free agent contract, Miles’ agent Derrick Fox confirmed.

Miles (6-0, 191) participated in Lions rookie mini-camp this weekend as a tryout player.

Miles became the first player in North Carolina A&T history to record more than 1,000 yards in a season last year, finishing with 70 receptions for 1,048 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned punts.

According to agent, Lions sign Oklahoma S Sam Proctor after weekend tryout

The Lions signed Oklahoma safety Sam Proctor to a free agent contract following his tryout this weekend, according to his agent Bill Parise.

Proctor (6-2, 222) obviously did enough to impress Lions coaches this weekend and will transition right into the offseason training program with the other rookie draft picks and free agents.

Proctor was a mostly a backup at Oklahoma with 13 starts in 53 games. He ended his career with 103 tackles.

The Lions have brought in veteran free agent safeties O.J. Atogwe, Chris Crocker and Sean Jones this offseason. The Lions are certainly trying to bolster the talent and depth on that unit.

The Lions still have room for one more signing before they get to the maximum 90 allowed on the roster.

Broyles: “This weekend has been fun. It’s been a grind, guys coming in, giving all they have.”

“Man, this weekend has been fun. It’s been a grind, guys coming in, giving all they have. Today I just woke up, had an offensive meeting, walk through and then went out here on the field just cleaning up the last few days, running a couple of plays. Today was just for guys to come out here and put in what they’ve learned throughout the process. I felt like guys were more comfortable. Like I said yesterday, they’re feeling comfortable with what they’ve learned, and just fitting in more than anything.

“You leave home, you have to come out here and it’s just a different world for sure. You understand that it’s a business and guys are preparing themselves. They might put too much pressure on themselves, so you have to find a balance. A lot of these guys have been playing football for a long time, so really it’s time for them to turn it on and the next step is making the team or not making the team. I hate that I couldn’t participate. It’s just crazy.

“We started out in the receiver room, I felt like it was eight guys, a few guys got hurt and then continued to move on. Then the last day we had four receivers and then two coaches with the Lions walked over to two players and the others just walked off the field. You come here and everyone is prepared to work and you start to build a relationship over the three days and then it just comes to an end for some of the guys.

“It’s just a sad deal, they have the conditioning test, then they don’t make the team, so it’s like, ‘What was the point?’ But it’s going to motivate guys that don’t make the team, and it will motivate guys that do make the team knowing that they have a place and can feel more comfortable and just go out there and play ball.

“My fiance MaryBeth left this morning, I think she’ll make it half way and then pull over and get a hotel and then make it the rest of the way. I think I’m done around 12 o’clock tomorrow, so I’ll probably hang out a little bit. It will be good to see her. My life has been in this facility for the last three days, between the hotel and here, so hopefully I’ll get to go see some things in the area.

“We start workouts next week. We’ll do some conditioning and weight room things, so I’ll be doing that, and therapy still. I’m just inching closer and closer to getting back on the field.”

Broyles: “Guys are starting to catch on and play like themselves.”

“Today was same old, same old: woke up, ate breakfast, had a team meeting talking about day two and the schedule, then we split up into offense/defense to go over day two install, got a little more in depth into the playbook. Had a little review of yesterday, watched film and went out to practice. Guys are starting to catch on and play like themselves and not really worry about the playbook too much, so it looked a little bit better today.

“The facility is nice. We get here at 6-7 o’clock in the morning and leave here at 9 at night. Everything we need is here. I was texting a friend last night and I said the only thing we don’t have here is a bed. We have everything we need: locker room, film, fields – everything you need football-wise. The food is good too; today there was a healthy choice, chicken, and a corn dog – I had to go with that today.

“Therapy – it hurts, but it’s good. Yesterday I worked out in front of the coaches and the doctors and did a little circuit to see how I was. Today was just going back to the strength part of it, doing some weights. It’s good that they get high on me and it’s always good to mix it up. I started therapy when I was out in California, they have a whole different deal there, then I went back to school and that was a whole different deal and now I’m here with a whole different deal. It’s good to mix it up and shock your muscles a little bit.

“Getting the grasp of the playbook, that’s the most important thing right now. Fitting in with these guys, we’re all rookies, so we’re all on the same page right now being new to everything. Really I’m just building friendships, learning the playbook and getting to know the staff before the older guys get here, which is next week I believe.

“I’m excited for the vets to come in. We watch film on them and it’s crazy, you see them on game day, on TV, and you get to go in there and watch film of them on the practice field and see the connection. Now we’re about to sit in the same meeting room as them, it’s going to be a good deal and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from them.”

Broyles: “Days and hours are all running together right now.”

“I got in yesterday – I had a flight early in the morning – woke up at about 5:30. I got to the facility at 11:00 and filled out papers, had lunch, kind of just hung out and met the coaches. At the end of the day we had a team meeting with the head coach.

“Today has been the biggest day for us. This morning we got up, came over, ate breakfast, had meetings and then had some more meetings, had lunch, had another meeting, a walk through, we were out on the field just now and then the weight room. Today has been non-stop with something to do every hour with probably about 20 minutes in between everything. That’s expected though in a three-day camp. You’ve got to get as much in as possible. Days and hours are all running together right now.

“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.

“They want to hold me back, which is reasonable, but it’s just not fun having to sit back. It is cool though to encourage other guys and be on the outside looking in, being able to talk to the coaches and be one of the guys who can state their opinion on how guys are working their different routes and things like that.

“The coaches know who they’re getting and they know the type of player they’re getting … now they want to see if I can come in and pick up the system. That’s the biggest thing for us now, meeting non-stop to get as much information in as possible. Every coach is seeing if you can take it in. I feel like I’ve done pretty well learning as much as I have that they’ve thrown at me so far. Not having to worry about the physical part on the field, it’s just mainly mental.

“On day three of the draft I hear Ronnell Lewis got picked in the fourth round and then in the seventh round Travis Lewis got picked, so it made me feel a little bit better to have somebody up here. Then they brought in Sam Proctor as well so it’s been a good deal.

“We get to be here and feel comfortable as much as possible and a lot of the other guys don’t have too many friends coming in. I feel very blessed to be in this situation. We’re tight. We are hard workers. Ronnell left school early but me, Sam and Travis all came in the same year so we’ve been through it all together.

“It’s been a fun day and I’m sure things will slow down next week since we’re here for a month. Right now they’re seeing as much as they can in these three days that they’re allowed to get in.”

Lions agree to terms with third-round pick Bill Bentley

Seven down and one to go.

The Lions and third-round pick Bill Bentley agreed to terms on a four-year deal Friday, according to league sources.

Bentley (5-10, 182) and the Lions agreed on his rookie deal just hours before the team begins a three-day rookie minicamp Friday afternoon.

Bentley recorded 232 career tackles, 13 for losses, 1.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 20 pass deflections at Louisiana-Lafayette.

That leaves first-round pick Riley Reiff as the only unsigned draft pick from the 2012 draft class for the Lions. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, all rookies get four-year deals and first-round picks receive a team option for a fifth year.

Lions have invited 19 rookies to tryout at this weekends mini-camp

The Lions have invited 19 rookies to their mini-camp for a tryout this weekend:

RJ Archer, QB, William & Mary
Fabian Connor, CB, Purdue
Gary Gray, CB, Notre Dame
Maurice Hampton, DT, Maryland
Michael Hoag, G, Wake Forest
Armauni Johnson, WR, Idaho
Wallace Miles, WR, North Carolina A&T
Brad Ohrman, DE, Eastern Michigan
Ayanga Okpowuruk, DE, Duke
Aaron Oliver, LB, Arizona State
Phillip Price, T, Clemson
Sam Proctor, FS, Oklahoma
Brandon Rankin, DT, Washington State
Greg Shaw, T, LSU
Todd Storm, DE, Michigan Tech
A.J. Strum, T, Ohio
Jacquis Terry, RB, Kent State
Kris Cavitt, C, Louisiana Tech
Troy Woolfolk, CB, Michigan

The Lions signed the following 17 undrafted free agents who are participating:

Rodney Austin, G, Elon
Samuel Barham, T, Penn State
Pat Boyle, G, Temple
Troy Burrell, WR, Wayne State
Michael Cosgrove, DT, Idaho
Derek Dimke, K, Illinois
Patrick Edwards, WR, Houston
Alex Gottlieb, TE, William & Mary
Stephfon Green, RB, Penn State
Jared Karstetter, WR, Washington State
Alonzo Lawrence, DS, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Edmon McClam, DE, Old Dominion
Carmen Messina, LB, New Mexico
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Joseph Oram, G, Weber State
Ronnie Sneed, LB, Kentucky
Austin Wells, TE, Northern Iowa

First-year players participating (players who haven’t accrued a season credit toward free agency):

James Bryant, FB
Marcus Harris, WR
Terrence Tolliver, WR

2012 Draft picks:

Bill Bentley, CB, Louisiana Lafayette
Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
Jonte Green, CB, New Mexico State
Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion
Ronnell Lewis, DE, Oklahoma
Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
Tahir Whitehead, LB, Temple