New Lions Draft Waited At Home With 92-Year-Old Grandfather For NFL News
PARKSTON, S. D. (WWJ/AP) - It's a good bet there are a lot more Detroit Lions fans in Parkston, South Dakota, population 1,500, after favorite son Riley Reiff was the team's first choice in the NFL draft.
The town's newspaper reports that about 200 residents packed Boog's Bar Thursday night and erupted into applause when the Lions called Reiff's name.
Reiff stayed home rather than make the trip to Detroit, and the offensive lineman out of Iowa put in an appearance at the bar, telling the crowd he takes a lot of pride in being from South Dakota.
Reiff was in the family's pole barn, waiting for the news with his 92-year-old grandfather, Lloyd Reiff. The barn was recently constructed to replace a 100-year-old barn, in Parkston, when Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew called to say the team was taking him No. 23 overall Thursday night.
The former Iowa standout acknowledged being nervous during a news conference Friday at Lions headquarters.
Reiff is comfortable playing multiple positions on the offensive line and coach Jim Schwartz says there's a possibility he'll play for the team soon.
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