Author: Paula Pasche

ALLEN PARK — After his third day of Detroit Lions’ organized team activities this week, rookie Frank Ragnow was a new-found appreciation for the NFL.

Ragnow, the first-round pick out of Arkansas, clearly sees the differences between college and the NFL.

“It’s way different. I have a lot of respect for the NFL, it’s a whole different speed and these are a lot of talented guys out here, all the way, four-deep everybody is really talented,’’ Ragnow said after Thursday’s session. “It’s been an adjustment but it’s been fun to get to work and learn every day.’’

Four things to know about Ragnow after three days of OTAs:

1. Ragnow lined up at left guard throughout the two-hour workout. When he was drafted it was unclear if he’d play left guard or center and it’s still too early to know. Coach Matt Patricia said on Thursday that no decisions have been made on positions and, in fact, several guys would line up at different positions, maybe even some they haven’t played before.

2. Ragnow said he has no preference on guard or center. “Just want to be out there helping the team. I played a lot of positions in high school, played a lot of positions in college,’’ Ragnow said. “I just like playing football. Wherever they put me I’ll be happy to be there.’’ He said he played about the same amount of snaps at guard and center at Arkansas.

3. Patricia’s early impressions of Ragnow: “I think he’s done a great job. He comes and he works extremely hard, as have all the rookies that have been in here and that’s out on the field together. It’s really, you know what’s good, when you see and go out in practice and you don’t particularly notice that there’s a guy that is wither a young player or not. He just kind of fits in with the group and fits in and plays, and you’re not really looking at it and saying, ‘That’s out of place’, like it looks like it’s out of place. I haven’t noticed that at all.” And, that’s a good thing.

4. Veteran guard T. J. Lang and guard/center Graham Glasgow, who is entering his third season, have been a help to Ragnow. “They’ve been incredible, both of them have been really incredible really helpful and have given me a lot of tips day to day,’’ Ragnow said. “It’s been a real blessing to have both of them in the room.’’ Glasgow lined up at center on Thursday.

ALLEN PARK >> Luke Willson apologized for sweating when he took the podium on Tuesday.

The Lions tight end said he didn’t usually sweat that much so apparently he’s working out hard in his first offseason in Detroit.

Willson, who signed with the Lions as a free agent, seemed totally comfortable talking to the media. He even asked for softball questions when he hopped up to the podium.

“I’m a local guy take it easy on me,’’ Willson asked, half-joking.

Five things to know:

1. He grew up in LaSalle, Ontario, (minutes from the Ambassador Bridge) and was a big Lions fan especially during the Barry Sanders and Herman Moore days. “Fun fact, David Sloan was my tight ends coach in college so we had a full-circle thing. Johnnie Morton’s brother, Chad, was out in Seattle … I liked the Lions growing up with that being said I think it’s important for me to establish the divide yeah i was a fan of the team but I’m here to do a job,’’ Willson said. Sloan was a tight end with the Lions from 1995 to 2001.

2. In his five seasons in Seattle, Willson had 89 catches for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s uncertain what his role will be with the Lions. “At this part of the offseason, phase 2, it’s too early to talk about roles. I’m here to do whatever the coaches ask me, right now with CBA rules, personally it’s about getting better each day,’’ Willson said. “A lot of individual stuff, showing the coaches what I can do and from there they’ll decide what role I’ll be playing this year.’’

3. Willson spent the last three seasons in the same tight ends room with Jimmy Graham in Seattle. With the Lions, there is not one big name guy who is a tight end on the roster. “I’d say we’re learning together. At the same time, it’s been a lot of fun in that sense where everything is new to a lot of us. Mike Rob (Roberts) has been here longest for a year. Hakeem (Valles) has been here for last year. Even for me as a veteran guy bouncing stuff off Hakeem, but it’s been fun in the sense I can tell them some stuff as far as being a little bit older and they can help me out. It’s been great, I think we all get along pretty well,’’ Willson said.

4. Willson responded, “Absolutely not” when asked if the Matt Patricia controversy that arose last week will hang over the team this season. “He spoke to the team at the team meeting what happened at the team meeting stays in there. We all support him. It’s back to football for us. We’re pretty focused right now,’’ Willson said. “To be honest I kept an open mind, I believe in Coach Patricia and listened to what he said.’’

5. Here’s what he wants fans to know about him: “You know I want, I kind of grew up in the blue collar area that this is, Windsor is an automotive city as well. My parents weren’t in the automotive industry but good friends and family are,’’ Willson said. “I think I bring a part of that to my personality and a part of that to my game playing — a little grimy here and there, a little blue collar we’ll see how it goes.’’

ALLEN PARK — Lions coach Matt Patricia was scheduled to address the media on Thursday to discuss this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

Instead he stood behind the podium for nearly seven minutes in front of a jam-packed media room, to address the Detroit News story that reported he was indicted but not tried in a sexual assault case when he was 21 years old on spring break.

“I’m here to defend my honor and clear my name,’’ Patricia said in his opening statement.

Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford, who rarely attends news conferences, was in attendance displaying her support, along with general manager Bob Quinn, team president Rod Wood and Lions counsel Jay Colvin.

The team issued a statement on Wednesday night giving their full backing to Patricia. Their attendance on Thursday emphasized their support.

“Mrs. Ford, her family, Rod and Bob are unbelievable people. I can’t express to you how amazing human beings they are, compassionate and understanding,’’ said Patricia who was hired in January to replace Jim Caldwell.

After thanking the Lions’ organization, he stated: “Twenty-two years ago I was falsely accused of something very serious, very serious allegations. There were claims made about me that never happened. I am thankful on one level that the process worked and the case was dismissed. At the same time, I was never given the opportunity to defend myself or to allow push-back with the truth to clear my name. This was something that was very traumatic to me. I was 21 years old. Once it was finally addressed I tried to put it behind me.’’

The first-time head coach said the issue never came up in the interview process with the Lions or at any time during his career.

“I started interviewing for jobs 22 years ago, in a time where one year after this incident happened where I interviewed, and these situations never came up, never asked. It was never an issue through the course of my career. The case was dismissed and I’m innocent,’’  said Patricia who spent the past 14 seasons with the New England Patriots.

Even though the charges were dismissed, it has now become an issue due to the Detroit News story which offered no update on the situation. The News reported: “The relevance of even old and untried charges raises questions for the Lions at the height of the ‘Me Too’ movement, which has brought new scrutiny to sexual misconduct allegations.’’

Patricia managed to keep his emotions intact through the press conference.

“I lived with the mental torture of a situation where facts can be completely ignored or misrepresented with disregard for the consequences and pain it would create for another person,’’ Patricia said in his statement.

“I find it unfair and upsetting that someone would bring this claim up over two decades later for the sole purpose of hurting my family, my friends and this organization with the intention of trying to damage my character and my credibility. I was innocent then and I’m innocent now,’’ he said.

Under Quinn — and even before he was hired — a player’s good character has been an important factor on whether they were drafted or signed by the Lions.

“I talked to the team today and told them exactly what I said to you guys, told them the truth,’’ Patricia said. “I also took this opportunity again to one more time focus on the fact that in this time we need to be sensitive and responsible. I used this as a learning moment with them so we can all try to be together.’’