Thursday 3-10-11 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles:

Draft picking could be slim for Lions at OLB:  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110309/SPORTS0101/103090399/1126/sports0101/Draft-pickings-could-be-slim-for-Lions-at-outside-linebacker

Kiper breaks down what Lions should do at the draft:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110309/SPORTS01/110309028/1049/sports01/ESPN-s-Mel-Kiper-breaks-down-what-Lions-should-do-NFL-draft

Lions showing signs of class, improvement:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110310/SPORTS01/110310004/1049/sports01/Reader-column-Lions-showing-signs-class-improvement

Two mocks say Lions will take Tyron Smith:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110310/SPORTS01/103100430/1049/sports01/Two-mock-drafts-say-Lions-will-take-USC-OT-Tyron-Smith

Avril spearshead Detroit's DEs:  http://det.scout.com/2/1054264.html

Lions in good shape at DT:  http://det.scout.com/2/1053916.html

NFL draft position overview - RB/WRs:  http://www.examiner.com/detroit-lions-in-detroit/nfl-draft-position-overview-running-backs-wide-receivers

Cream of the 2010 rookie crop (Lions rookie class is ranked 8th):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/03/09/cream-of-the-2010-rookie-crop

Top 10 WRs (CJ is #4):  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/33997/power-rankings-top-10-nfl-receivers

CBA Articles:

Caputo - Picking sides?  I'll take the players in the NFL's labor dispute:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/03/07/sports/doc4d758110cf41b089811130.txt

Agreement reached on rookie scale:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnNn8T18RETh6TgvUt2owh9DubYF?slug=jc-rookiewagescale030911

or maybe not:  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Union-source-No-agreement-yet-on-rookie-wage-scale.html

More on rookie wage scale:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/nfl-labor-talks/story/nfl-players-union-reportedly-agree-on-rookie-wage-scale

Smith - 18 game season not happening:  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/03/09/smith-18-game-season-not-happening

NFLPA wants to see more of the books:  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Show-us-more-of-your-books.html

Draft Articles:

2011 draft visits and workout tracker:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/09/2011-draft-visits-and-workouts-tracker/

Pro Day tracker:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/nfl-draft-pro-days-2011/index.html

Teams looking to get good fast should heed speed:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14788253/teams-looking-to-get-good-fast-should-heed-speed

Where OLB-DE tweeners fit the best:  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/03/07/draft-dose-where-olb-de-tweeners-fit-best

Inside the combine:  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Inside-the-NFL-Combine.html

D-line value is reason to trade in draft:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-draft-defensive-line-daquan-bowers-030611

Prospect comparisons:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/14789313/draft-comparisons-top-50-and-their-nfl-likenesses

DE Cameron Jordan shines, asked to do a little extra:  http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/03/09/cal-de-jordan-shines-asked-to-do-a-little-extra/

J.J. Watt's pro day:  http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/03/09/teams-with-3-4-defense-pay-close-attention-to-watt/

More pro day notes:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/14793773/notebook-ams-miller-reinforces-topfive-status

Carimi - Most scouts think I'm the best tackle in the draft:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/09/gabe-carimi-most-nfl-scouts-think-im-the-best-tackle-in-the-draft/

Amukamara diary:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjgBL7AzcLyM7H5t2TaoKC3Xb6x_?slug=pfw-20110307_prince_amukamaras_draft_diary_part_3

Scouting report - DE J.J. Watt:  http://www.kffl.com/a.php/127393/160/nfl-draft/2011-NFL-Draft-Scouting-Report--J.J.-Watt--DE--Wisconsin

Scouting report - CB Jimmy Smith:  http://www.kffl.com/a.php/127394/160/nfl-draft/2011-NFL-Draft-Scouting-Report--Jimmy-Smith--CB--Colorado

Russ Lande's latest mock (Lions take Tyron Smith):  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2011-01/2011-nfl-draft/story/nfl-mock-draft-mallett-liuget-and-sherrod-moving-up-draft-boards

Don Bank's mock (Lions take Tyron Smith):  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/don_banks/03/09/nfl-mock-draft/index.html

Walterfootball's latest mock (Lions take Tyron Smith in the first round, Stefen Wisniewski in the second round, CB Rashad Carmichael in the 3rd round, LB Nate Irving in the 4th round, OLB J T Thomas in the 5th round, and RB Roy Helu in the 6th round):  http://walterfootball.com/draft2011.php

Mocking the draft in a perfect world (Lions would take Von Miller):  http://det.scout.com/2/1053994.html

Blogs:

Trent Green says Stafford will breakout in 2011:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2011/03/09/lions-stafford-generating-offseason-buzz/

Draft order:  http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/lionsblog/index.php?blogid=2721

Samuelson's blog - I'm all for Suh talking about the Lions going 0-16:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110309/SPORTS01/110309051/1049/sports01/Jamie-Samuelsen-s-blog-m-all-Ndamukong-Suh-talking-about-Lions-going-16-0

Draft watch 2011 - Kiper Mock 3 (Lions take Tyron Smith):  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/25063/draftwatch2011-kiper-mock-3-0