--The Lions, for the first time in a decade, are scheduled to play a Monday night game this season. On Monday, Oct. 10 -- 10 years and two days since they lost 35-0 to the Rams at the Pontiac Silverdome - the Lions will host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

"Obviously, we are very excited about it," said president Tom Lewand. "First and foremost, it's a great testament to our team, to our players and coaches and what they accomplished at the end of last year and the interest that generated.

"And, it's a testament to our fans in Detroit for the excitement and enthusiasm they showed for our team down the stretch and also for the hospitality they showed for the Giants-Vikings game we hosted last year."

Lewand made it clear, though, that being awarded a MNF game was about the team and not a reward for opening Ford Field, and filling it, for the Vikings and Giants last season after heavy snows collapsed the roof at the Metrodome.

"The fact of the matter is, while I know the NFL, Vikings and Giants appreciated what we did and the passion our fans showed for the game of football, the most important thing is have teams the entire country want to watch play on Monday night," Lewand said. "To be selected not only to play but to host shows we are a team that people want to watch."

--Gil Brandt, former Dallas general manager now with NFL Network, isn't buying the talk of the Lions taking an offensive lineman with the 13th overall pick. "Everybody seems to think it's an offensive lineman," Brandt said. "I have a little bit of a connection with your head coach there (Jim Schwartz), and I don't think that they will take an offensive lineman. I personally don't know who it's going to be, but I think it's probably going to be a defensive player."

--The Lions took a long look Wednesday at a player they probably have no chance of drafting - Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley. He was among a group of four players that visited, including Pittsburgh receiver Jonathan Baldwin, Louisiana State running back Stevan Ridley and Virginia Union offensive tackle David Mims.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"The feedback that I'm getting on Twitter is nuts. Guys were going crazy about it, saying Detroit finally made it, so we're back on the map ... Since I've been in the league, we've never had a night game or anything like that, but I kind of understand why. I feel like us having a Monday night game this year, that's just proof that a lot of people see the potential in us." -- DE Cliff Avril on playing on Monday Night Football.

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