Monday 5-2-11 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles:

Trades will bolster Lions draft:  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110502/OPINION03/105020343/1126/SPORTS0101/Trades-will-bolster-Lions%E2%80%99-draft

Lions, Mayhew stick to plan:  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110502/SPORTS0101/105020337/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions--GM-Martin-Mayhew-stick-to-strict-draft-plan

With draft over, Lions GM turns to free agency:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110502/SPORTS01/105020362/1049/sports01/With-draft-over-Lions-GM-turns-attention-free-agency

Lions reap benefits by swapping 2011 picks  last season:  http://www.freep.com/article/20110502/SPORTS01/105020398/1049/sports01/Lions-reap-benefits-by-swapping-2011-picks-last-season

Lions add value by sticking to their draft plan:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/05/01/sports/doc4dbdb1518c4ff832321560.txt

Lions draft questionable:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/parkersconfidential/27738612/detail.html

Lions turn attention to DBs, linebackers:  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/01/lions-turn-attention-to-dbs-linebackers

Barry Sanders still popular years after retirement:  http://www.nvdaily.com/sports/2011/05/lion-king-sanders-still-popular-years-after-retire.php

Analysis of the Lions picks:  http://www.mcccagora.com/blog-1.109/jeff-s-view-from-the-press-box?page116=BlogPosting&article116=19.1466623

Draft Analysis:

Ten teams with work to do (One of the teams is the Lions):  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andrew_perloff/05/01/teams.with.holes/index.html

Impact Rookies (Fairley is picked as the impact rookie for the NFC North):  http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81fa05f2/article/defensive-tackles-rbs-could-have-biggest-impacts-as-rookies

2011 draft will make NFC North even stronger:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0502-vikings-lions--20110501,0,689710.story

Grades:

Lions grade high for draft (Niyo gives the Lions an A, Twentyman gives the Lions a B+, and Wojonowski gives them a B):  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110502/SPORTS0101/105020360/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-grade-high-for-draft

Grading the draft team by team (Lions get an A-):  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110502/SPORTS0101/105020358/1126/SPORTS0101/How%E2%80%99d-they-do--Grading-the-draft--team-by-team

Writers weigh in on Lions draft (Gosselin gives the Lions a C, Covitz gives them an A, and Williams give them an A-):  http://www.freep.com/article/20110502/SPORTS01/105020364/1049/sports01/Writers-weigh-Lions-draft

PFW's grades (Lions get a C):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/05/01/rams-giants-excel-with-value-driven-philosophies

Yahoo's Cole's grades (Lions get an A-):  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnxUG_i3lMfDzShdPR_2xexDubYF?slug=jc-cole_2011_nfc_draft_grades_050111

SI's Brynes grades (Lions get an A):  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/05/01/draft.grades/1.html

USA Today's grades (Lions get a B+):  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2011-05-01-nfl-draft-grades_N.htm

NFL draft winners and losers (Lions earn an A):  http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/nfl-drafts-biggest-winners-931369.html

Restoring the roar (this guys gives the Lions an A-):  http://technorati.com/sports/football/article/lions-draft-restoring-the-roar/

Undrafted Free Agents:

Top undrafted free agents:  http://www.nflgridirongab.com/2011/05/01/top-10-undrafted-free-agents/

A look at the top prospects still available:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/01/a-look-at-the-top-prospects-still-available-after-the-draft/

CBA Articles:

Five need to knows about the 8th Circuit's pending ruling:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f9fd85/article/five-needtoknows-about-the-8th-circuits-pending-ruling

NFL still forcing the 18 game season issue:  http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/28983921

2012 Draft:

Prisco's top 32 for 2012:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15014424/flash-forward-top-32-picks-for-the-2012-nfl-draft

Top 10 for 2012:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-05-01/andrew-luck-far-ahead-of-the-field-in-next-years-draft-class