Top Ten Detroit Lions To Interview
By: Dennis Fithian
I haven't personally interviewed every player on the Detroit Lions roster but any players I haven't talked with one-on-one, I've heard interviewed by somebody at some point. Here's my top 10 list of Lions players to interview:
1. Nate Burleson – When Burleson retires he'll easily transition to some sort of media. Burleson knows what people what to hear and he's very good at delivering it.
2. Matthew Stafford – The quarterback is always in constant demand to talk to the media. Good thing for the Lions, Stafford handles himself like a complete professional. Since the Lions picked Stafford in the draft, there hasn't been one time I've heard Stafford say anything where I thought he didn't get it.
3. Cliff Avril – Avril knows what he wants to do after football and it involves talking about the game he plays. He's very approachable, willing and cooperative. Now he just needs to get in camp.
4. Dom Raiola –Raiola doesn't pull any punches or (middle) fingers. Get him on the right day and he could be the best raw interview on the team.
5. Stephen Tulloch – Tulloch seems to have been counted out his entire career. He loves the chance to play in Detroit and you can tell it when he talks.
6. Rob Simms – Gets the nod purely by being the go-to guy after a Lions loss. Dude will stand there and talk about the X's and O's 20 minutes after coming up short on the scoreboard. That's a stand-up guy even if he played at Ohio State.
7. Kyle Vanden Bosch – No stranger to the ins and outs of a media session, Vanden Bosch is pretty good at telling in-game stories. But he is tough to look in the eye when he sports those red contact lenses.
8. Calvin Johnson – Being the best wide receiver in the game presents thousands of chances to talk in front of the microphone. Megatron could play in the NBA if he wanted. When he hit a home run this summer at Comerica Park, his swing looked smooth. Guy could probably head to the MNF booth when he's done playing football if he wanted to.
9. Kevin Smith – Being out of football and on his couch before the Lions gave him a call last year brings a certain humility that comes across well.
10. Jason Hanson – Being in a Detroit Lions uniform for 21 years brings obvious depth in any interview.
