Injuries Put Dan Gronkowski at Center Stage in Lions' Training Camp

When Dan Gronkowski was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 255th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, I just shook my head. Still reeling at the questionable moves made to that point (passing on Rey Maualuga, twice, not drafting an offensive lineman until the seventh round, not addressing the middle linebacker position at all, drafting two offensive players in the first round), I could only chuckle as the next-to-last player selected became Detroit’s second tight end selection of the draft. Since Draft Day, some of those concerns have been answered. Rey Maualuga looks to have potentially been a problem child, and the Lions acquired Larry Foote to fill the middle while a younger player is groomed for it. But two tight ends? When Brandon Pettigrew is supposed to be the all-purpose, all-around, “complete” tight end? And Casey Fitzsimmons and Will Heller are already on the roster? Absurd. Or not. Though they don’t appear to be serious, Pettigrew and Fitzsimmons are ou...