Notes: Brad Holmes’ amazing comeback from injury in college

<div><figure> <img alt="Syndication: Detroit Free Press" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Zdy9K9pfVDloHAMYIiiqogb_kmU=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69439201/usa_today_16157644.0.jpg"> <figcaption>Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC</figcaption> </figure> <p>You’re going to want to run through a wall for him, too.</p> <p id="moBGB2">There are many reasons to admire and appreciate the current general manager of the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>, Brad Holmes. You might like <a href="https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1388206003045421061">the fire and passion he brings to the job</a>. You might like the way he is bringing the Lions organization forward in <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/3/3/22310440/detroit-lions-brad-holmes-40-yard-dash-players-speed-gps-data-film-study">using modern data analysis</a> in its decision-making. Maybe you like <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/1/19/22239622/reactions-brad-holmes-introductory-press-conference-detroit-lions">the collaborative atmosphere</a> in Allen Park. Heck, maybe you just yearn to see the team <a href="https://twitter.com/erikschlitt/status/1402952944870363140">be more economical at the running back position</a> like <a href="https://twitter.com/DetroitOnLion/status/1402952487536140294">an editor in chief who shall not be named</a>.</p> <aside id="eHRHql"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Detroit Lions fan approval poll: GM Brad Holmes (2021 post-draft) ","url":"https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/5/17/22435395/detroit-lions-fan-approval-poll-gm-brad-holmes-2021-post-draft"}]}'></div></aside><p id="AQ8g63">Justin Rogers at the Detroit News has an uplifting story to add to the pile of stuff to like. His fantastic reporting on how a college-aged Holmes successfully battled back from serious injuries sustained in an automobile accident went live on their site yesterday:</p> <div id="Y7n5Xd"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Turning around the Lions will be tough, but Brad Holmes has faced worse. In college, he was in an accident that put him in a coma and paralyzed half his body. Yet he fought back and was named a captain of his college team a year later. A remarkable story: <a href="https://t.co/NB3SX9gRVM">https://t.co/NB3SX9gRVM</a></p>— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Justin_Rogers/status/1403165805068656644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2021</a> </blockquote> </div> <p id="OkkOcf">Seeing how energetic and vital he is today you would never know it, but there are still some lingering things from the accident: “His injuries were bad, including a ruptured diaphragm. While in the hospital, he suffered a stroke and was in a coma for a week. And when he came to, that right side which still has some residual effects, was paralyzed.”</p> <p id="LK8ngv">Reading Justin Rogers’ story, you get the sense that Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell absolutely belong together. It’s a great pairing of front office and coaching staff <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/2/3/22263937/detroit-lions-dan-campbell-explains-impressive-coaching-staff">personalities that align</a> in values <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/6/9/22525998/high-energy-detroit-lions-coaches-bringing-extra-competitiveness-practice">as well as enthusiasm</a> and <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/3/25/22349289/detroit-lions-fun-again-culture-shift-dan-campbell-matt-patricia">positivity</a>. Definitely head on over and read the full story, you won’t be sorry. </p> <p id="dAf9ur">Now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:</p> <p id="QYeZoV"></p> <ul><li id="R8j98Q">Tim Twentyman from the official team site thinks <a href="https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-competition-at-receiver-is-wide-open-williams-perriman-stbrown">the competition at receiver is wide open</a>. Dave Birkett at the Detroit Free Press seems to agree, writing that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2021/06/10/detroit-lions-victor-bolden-quintez-cephus-minicamp-wide-receivers/7634938002/">Quintez Cephus and Victor Bolden</a> are two to watch. Chris Burke from The Athletic also likes Bolden and adds that <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBurkeNFL/status/1402976178055569410">Amon-Ra St. Brown “has been really solid” and Geronimo Allison “is gonna be a thing.”</a> </li></ul> <aside id="5Q1vcB"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Open thread: Which under-the-radar receiver could impress this season?","url":"https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/6/10/22526986/detroit-lions-under-the-radar-wide-receiver-impress"}]}'></div></aside><p id="Dz8Xl3"></p> <ul><li id="LQWmQU">Ben Raven at MLive wrote about how quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell’s <a href="https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/06/mark-brunells-vast-depth-of-knowledge-resonating-with-detroit-lions-quarterbacks.html">experience as an NFL quarterback is helping him teach</a> his players.</li></ul> <p id="hw0P67"></p> <ul><li id="noVZEL">The Lions worked out <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/3/24/22348111/detroit-lions-restructure-jared-goff-contract-details-2021-cap-space">some big restructures</a> this <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/3/10/22323045/jamie-collins-contract-restructure-details-detroit-lions-savings-salary-cap">offseason</a>, and it’s a complex subject. OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald just posted <a href="https://overthecap.com/looking-at-restructuring-nfl-contracts/">a stellar explainer article</a> that should be read by anyone who wants a deeper understanding of NFL contract restructures.</li></ul> <p id="wGH7Bl"></p> <ul><li id="MUHzwN">Quarterback David Blough, by his own admission, is<a href="https://purduesports.com/news/2018/11/14/football-blough-leaving-profound-mark.aspx"> not the best athlete in his household</a>. At the <a href="https://www.detroitlions.com/video/blough-on-dan-campbell">end of the media session clip posted by the Lions</a> after Day 3 of Lions minicamp, we found out Melissa Blough, his wife, has <a href="https://starlocalmedia.com/carrolltonleader/creekview-graduate-aims-for-olympics/article_719e4c1e-7d9a-11e9-ba83-1f4ba2674108.html">a good chance to make the Colombian national Olympic team to run hurdles events</a> this year in Japan. The Lions quarterback said they will find out for sure on June 29 if she makes it. We’re all pulling for her here on the Pride of Detroit staff.</li></ul> <p id="VkII6N"></p> <ul><li id="BVEyk9">Jeff Risdon at Lions Wire <a href="https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/10/lions-rams-jared-goff-worst-qb-in-2020-with-pre-snap-motion-stafford/">noticed something Lions fans are not going to like</a> in Doug Farrar’s article on “<a href="https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/worst-nfl-quarterbacks-carson-wentz-sam-darnold-drew-lock/">worst NFL quarterbacks for every type of throw</a>.”</li></ul> <p id="aAn6E6"></p> <ul><li id="wjP6qC">Looks like the Lions are expanding their analytics staff:</li></ul> <div id="wmys1u"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come join our team! We're looking for a junior dev with a passion for football to help us build web apps for our internal football departments. <br><br>If that describes you or someone you know, check out the job posting below ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/MWmzy8PcAg">https://t.co/MWmzy8PcAg</a></p>— Caio Brighenti (@CaioBrighenti) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaioBrighenti/status/1403004038904389640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2021</a> </blockquote> </div></div>