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Al Wilson wants to return to the NFL. The Lions need an upgrade at middle linebacker. So Wilson visited Lions headquarters Feb. 12.


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It is unclear whether the Lions will sign Wilson. But clearly they are interested in adding the five-time Pro Bowler to their lineup if he is healthy, and he has reportedly been cleared to play.


Wilson suffered a neck injury during the 2006 season and sat out the '07 season. The Broncos agreed to trade Wilson to the Giants for a third-round draft pick during the '07 off-season, but he failed a physical because of his neck, voiding the trade. The Broncos ended up cutting him.


If Wilson can return to his old form -- or even close to it -- he would help fill a hole in the middle of the Lions' Tampa Two defense. The Lions need a middle linebacker who is stout enough to stop the run but athletic enough to handle the deep middle in pass coverage.


When Rod Marinelli took over the Lions and installed the Tampa Two in 2006, the Lions tried to move Boss Bailey from the strong side to the middle. Marinelli said then that if you put together a prototypical linebacker for this system, Bailey is what he would look like. President Matt Millen raved about Bailey's ability to run.


But Bailey didn't work out and moved back to the strong side. Now he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent and probably won't be back.


In 2007, the Lions tried Paris Lenon in the middle. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry said Lenon was going to burst onto the scene, that he was smart, fast and physical, that he had everything this system needs in a middle linebacker.


But Lenon didn't make enough plays, either. The Lions likely will keep him, but he probably would fit better on the strong side.


Notes, Quotes
• Long before he became one of the NFL's most accomplished coaches, the Patriots' Bill Belichick spent two years as a Lions assistant in 1976-77. He was just starting out, in his mid-20s, gaining valuable experience. "I think those were two of the best years I had as a young assistant coach," Belichick said. "I have a hard time picturing my career going the way it did without the two years I had in Detroit." Belichick assisted with special teams and coached tight ends and wide receivers.


• That isn't Belichick's only connection to the Lions. His late father, Steve, went from equipment manager to fullback for them in 1941. Steve Belichick even returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown against Green Bay -- and Bill Belichick showed the film of the play to some of his Patriots last year. "The whole story of the equipment manager coming off the equipment truck to play, it's such a romantic story," Belichick said.


• Giants linebackers coach Bill Sheridan spent 2002-04 on staff at Michigan with Scot Loeffler. He said it was readily apparent Loeffler would end up in the NFL and the Lions made a smart move by hiring him as quarterbacks coach. "They couldn't get a better quarterback coach," Sheridan said. "One, he's very, very smart. Two, he is an absolute tireless worker. He is a football junkie. This guy, there's nothing he likes doing more than devouring film till the wee hours of the morning and thinking of ways to get passes completed against coverages. He's a fantastic hire, and they'll be saying the same thing a year from now. He'll make their quarterbacks better."


• R.W. McQuarters left the Lions for the Giants as a free agent in 2006 and is now a Super Bowl champion. Asked what the Lions were missing that the Giants had, McQuarters said: "As far as facilities, they have them. As far as the organization and how they do things and how they take care of their players, they have that. They have the players in the locker room. You know, sometimes it's attitude. Maybe it's believing. Maybe the players in the locker room have to believe. And I think that's one of the biggest things, belief, believing that you can do it." Do the Lions believe they are losers because they are constantly reminded of the team's dismal history? "Yeah, I think sometimes the players started to believe that," McQuarters said. "They started to believe they can't get past seven wins or can't get past six wins. You don't want them thinking that way. You want them to think that they can be that elite team."


Quote To Note: "Mr. Ford was a great owner and really treated us right. The Silverdome was just built a couple years before that, and it was a very exciting time to be there. I just wish we could have won a few more games." -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, on his years as a Lions assistant in 1976-77.


Strategy And Personnel
The Lions went from 3-13 in 2006 to 7-9 in '07, and coach Rod Marinelli thinks they're closer to being a playoff contender in '08 than some others do.


For the second straight year, he made significant changes to his coaching staff. The most notable: Last year, he fired defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson and replaced him with Joe Barry, who has a stronger background in the Tampa Two. This year, he fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz and replaced him with Jim Colletto, who promises a much more balanced attack.


Now the attention turns to the roster. The Lions don't feel they need to change much on offense. But the defense is a different story.


TEAM NEEDS/OFF-SEASON STRATEGY


The Lions need to see what they can get for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, and if they are going to trade him, they need to decide how they are going to fill another hole in their defense.


They want to re-sign some players eligible for unrestricted free agency, such as running back T.J. Duckett and offensive lineman Damien Woody. But others probably will be let go, including linebacker Boss Bailey, running back Tatum Bell and offensive lineman George Foster.


After using the franchise tag in recent years on players such as offensive lineman Jeff Backus and defensive lineman Cory Redding, the Lions are not expected to use the franchise or transition tag this year.



1. Cornerback: The Lions allowed an absurdly high completion percentage in 2007, and an inconsistent pass rush was only partly to blame. The coverage in the secondary was poor. They say you don't need star corners to play the Tampa Two, but the Lions badly need better corners.


2. Middle linebacker: The Lions don't have a solid Tampa Two middle linebacker, let alone a Brian Urlacher. They have brought in free agent Al Wilson for a visit. Paris Lenon, who played the middle in 2007, could move to the strong side and replace Boss Bailey.


3. Defensive end: As badly as the Lions need a right tackle -- if they fail to re-sign Damien Woody -- they need a right defensive end even more. Kalimba Edwards is an enigma the Lions have not been able to solve and probably will be gone. Dewayne White can start at right end, but he would be better on the left to complement an elite pass rusher.



Medical Watch: The major injury to watch this off-season is running back Kevin Jones' torn ACL. Jones spent last off-season recovering from surgery to repair a serious foot injury. Now he must spend this off-season recovering from surgery to repair a serious knee injury. He is rehabilitating in Birmingham, Ala., and says the Lions don't need to look for another running back. But though the Lions hope he will be ready for training camp, nothing is certain and they need depth.


FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• LB Boss Bailey's playmaking has not matched his athleticism. He probably won't be back.


• S Idrees Bashir could be back because the Lions need depth in the secondary.


• RB Tatum Bell asked for a trade after his role was reduced last season. He promptly disappeared from the lineup. Will not be back.


• RB Aveion Cason was a favorite of Mike Martz's. The other coaches might want him back for depth.


• RB T.J. Duckett didn't get the ball much in 2007, but he ran well when he had it. The Lions want him back.


• CB Travis Fisher went from nickel back to starting corner in 2007, and the Lions would like his veteran presence in '08.


• OT George Foster struggled at right tackle and was benched multiple times -- finally permanently. Won't be back.


• LB Teddy Lehman has not been the same since suffering a serious foot injury and probably won't be back.


• QB J.T. O'Sullivan caught Martz's eye and became the surprising choice for the backup job. The Lions likely would prefer to develop draft picks Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton.


• TE John Owens might be wanted back for depth.


• DE Corey Smith is a valuable role player who finds ways to make plays. Rod Marinelli will want him back.


• CB Keith Smith has not developed as hoped, but he's still a young player and the Lions need depth.


• OL Barry Stokes was signed late in the season when the Lions had problems on the offensive line. He was cut earlier, though, and probably won't be back.


• WR Troy Walters was a solid fifth receiver and return man. The Lions would like him back.


• OL Damien Woody lost his job at right guard, but filled in late at right tackle and played well. The Lions would like him back at right tackle.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• DL Langston Moore was a valuable role player with a knack for making players. Marinelli will want him back.


• QB Dan Orlovsky has gotten virtually no chance to play since being drafted in the fifth round in 2005. The Lions might want to see what they've got.


• G Stephen Peterman beat out Damien Woody for the starting right guard job. The coaches love his toughness.


• CB Stanley Wilson has not developed as expected. He lost his job as a starting corner in 2007. But he's a young player, and the Lions need depth.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS


• DB Greg Blue played well in a brief stint at safety and could be brought back for depth.


• WR Devale Ellis spent 2007 in the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury.


• DB LaMarcus Hicks has been unremarkable, but he could be brought back for depth.


• TE Sean McHugh started at tight end after Dan Campbell was injured in 2007. It is unclear how he fits into the Lions' plans now that Campbell is healthy and Mike Martz is gone.



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